Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-09-13
THE JUDGES WIFE.

Judge Shickleton, oae of the most
prominent jurists in Arkansaw, at a
banquet the other night, related IN
interesting "reminiscences of the early
days Of Arkansaw.
Il came here" said the Judge, Just
after l had been admitted TO the bar
In n Northern State. Like the ave
rage young lawyer, | was poor, and
actually thirsted for n case shortly
after | arrived, went to a mountain
district, and stopped at small town
where court was in session. There
was considerable excitement in the
town over the trial of young man
who had been indicted for murder.
The older lawyers were 10th to engage
in the prosecution, so the young prose
cutting attorney was working single
handed l met him the second day
after my arrival, and when he learned
that l was a lawyer, he said:
~ am glad to see you, for | know
that, as a young man in the profes-
sion, you of course want an intrOduc-
tion to the people Of the state.
Nothing so quickly and efIcctually
introduces a man like participanry
in an important case. | am at pres
ent prosecuting for murder, young
fellow named Dawes. He Is "a guilty
as guilty can be- and should by all
means hang, yet fear, with so much
opposition, that l will not be able to AS
sist justice TO a proper punishment Of
the terrible crime. Now. what | want
you to do is to assist me-
Il did not at all relish the idea
that my first case should be one Of
tragedy, and that my first money
derived from law should be blood
money but seeing no other opening.
and fearing that none other would
present itself. l consented. Just be
fore we reached the argument in the
case, the prosecuting attorney was
taken violently i'll, leaving the entire
conduct of the case deyolying upon
me This. to me, put a dreadful
phase on the affair, and for time |
meditated whether or not | would run
away from the country and seek my
fortune elsewhere, but finally deciding
that | could never become a lawyer
without making sacrifices in the dis
charge Of my duty, resolved to re-
main and do my best. | studied the
case carefully. I went to the place, a
short distance away, and examined
the ground where the murder had
been committed. found a witness
who had not been summoned, and
upon the whole did good detective
work. The arguments began.
neryed myself TO the point, and made
the best speech l could possibly for
mulate. was somewhat surprised
at my own powers, and at the interest
I was taking in the case. The pris-
oner, a handsome fellow, would at
times look at me in mute appeal. but
l knew that he was guilty. | estab-
lished the fact that the defendant
had quarreled with an old man named
Shannon, and that shortly afterwards
he went to ShannOn's field and shot
him from the fence. | made every
point so clear that / could see the
iurymen shaking their heads when an
illustration was strikingly vivid. The
counsel for the defense. composed OF
old lawyers. whose fame had long
since been established. looked at me
in astOnishment. They met me, and
wanted a compromise l knew
nothing but justice, and justice knew
no compromise. Finally. the cas-,
went to the jury Within five minute,
afterward verdict Of guilty was rem
dered.
"An appeal TO the supreme cour
was taken, but the decision Of the cOur
below was sustained, and the younJ
man was hanged.
"I did not settle in the town, 70
the scene became repulsive.
moved to another part Of the State
where 1 soon established goo
practice.
lone day, about three years after
ward, 1 met, at a northern watering
place, a beautiful young woman. who's
husband was dying Of consumption
She seemed so devoted to him. con
suited his every whim, and was 5
Anxious about his comfort, that