Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1883-03-24

nunciation. His powers of vocal
mimicry were extraordinary, and il
there was anything peculiar, quaint
or ludicrous in the voice or deport-
ment of the witnesses, he could re-
produce them at the bar in mannar
to convulse the Court room with
laughter. He was the only lawyer l
ever saw who could literally "laugh
case" out of court. His keen
sense Of the ridiculous was such,
that he would seize upon every incl,
dent in the progress of q trial that
was capable of being perverted into
a source of humor and fun, and
drive the poor plaintiff or defendant
out of Court, amidst the laughter of
bench, bar, jury and bystanders.
His style of writing was rich, classi'
cal, perspicuous and condensed, the
best specimens of which, that have
seen, were his 4th Of July grafton,
deived in 1926 and printed in the
Martinsburg Gazette, of that period,
and his Masonic grafton, delived in
1926 in the old Presbyterian church
on King street, now ruin. heard
them both and was delighted with
their delivery, and have often since
read them with much pleasure.
When youth, just from college,
ten saunter to the Court house to
hear the able lawyers, than practic-
ing at this bar. The cases which
now dwell most especially in his
memory, were those of James Par
sons vs.. James Gibson, and William
Vance vs.. James Parsons, all lead
ing and influential men. They were
both causes and removed from
Hampshire to this county, and both
cowhiding assaults and batteries,
growing out of the same ugly feud.
Among the consul engaged were AL
fred H. Powell, John r. Cooke,
Moses Hunter, VIM. Nayler and
Elisha Boyd. They gave rise to
much eloquent speaking, but were
finally compromised, to the salts
faction of all parties.
The case of Alexander Stephens
and Isaac S Lauck VS.. Matthew
RansOne was also among the causes
celetres in its day. Both plaintiffs
and defendants were owners of
large merchant mills near Martins
burg, and all were men oflarge influ-
ence and great wealth. Ransone was
charged with deliberately diverLing
the TuscarOra stream, so as to de-
prive the lower rival mill of its prop.
er supply of water. The case was
fought with determined zeal and oh
stInacy on both sides. Cookies open
ing, was in his finest style of per-
spicuous narrative. Powell and
Boyd put forth their strongest pow
ers in the defence. Hunter COM
menced his closing argument with
the quotation:
"'When Greek meets Greek,
| Then comes the tug of war"
abiding to the wealth, energy and
! influence of the contestants,a and fol-
lowed it with one of the most strik.
ing and mastery arguments that
L have ever heard at our bar. The
jury brought in a small verdict for
the plaintiffS-but it was accepted
without COSTA sort of drawn bat
tie
The first civil case in which | ever
appeared at the bar was an action of
Ejectment, brought by my client,
Jonas Hedges vs.. the well known
Hunter John Myers, to recov-r
tract of land on the Meadow
Branch, west Of the North Noun
tain. Both had patents for the same
land, but Hedges held the elder
patent. The case was in the Coun-
ty Court. Hunter was my opponent.
He vehemently assailed the validity
of the Hedges patent for vagueuess
in its entry, and irregularity in its
issue. He dwelt with power and eff.
feet upon the ungenerous conduct
of Hedges in securing his patent, in
the manner he did, and upon
the noble and primitive virtues of
the great Natty Bumppo of Berke
ley. 1t was in vain that presented
the clear and indisputable law bear.
ing on the subject-he carried Court
and jury by storm. The law was
submerged under the flood of his
eloquence. My client was turned
out of Court. But his triumph was
only short lived. removed the
case by writ Of supersedeas, to the
Superior Court, where the ruling of
the County Court, admitting
improper evidence and giving wrong
instructions, were reversed, the ver'
dict set aside, and the case sent back
with such instructions as precluded
all further controversy. Hedges re-
covered his land with costs in both
courts.
Some idea may be formed of the
high powers OF Mr.. Hunter, as an
advocate and jurist, when we find the
following notice Of his first effort at
the bar, in written opinion, deliv-
cred by Chancellor Carr in the Dis
trict Court of Chancery, held at
Winchester
"These points were maintained
with great ability, and 1 must be
permitted to saw that I have seldom