Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-03-20
PANToMIME IN A COURT ROOM.
How YOUTHFUL LAWYER WoN A
SUIT OVER AN EXPERIENCED ADvER-
sARY.
[Columbns. OHIO, Times. |

lNulutIlDuNt OHlpi iIHice.
The attorney, at the date of the story,
was serving the Commonwealth of Ohio,
and the county Of Vin,on, in the capaci-
ty of Prosecuting Attorney at the little
town of Macarthur. He then bore ra-
ther youthful and possibly somewhat
verdant appearance for man holding so
responsible position. The most con-
spicuous parsonage known TO the Vinton
bar at that time was grave and pomp-
Gus barrister from 4 neighboring town
a man who had reached the middle age
of life. and with an extensive practice,
profitable alike in fame and pecuniary
gain man whose eloquence bent juries
to his will. and whose logic pinned them
fast: whose invec,ive and pointed sar-
casm blanched the check of the witness
or the prisoner, as might be necessary to
gain the case, and was alike dreaded
and hated by his fellow practitioners.
The attorney referred to is living yet,
one of the most prominent jurists in
Southern Ohio. His ability has not di-
minished nor has his knowledge that he
possesses ability. One day the young
prosecutor had riot case to try. and TO
his CONSERVATION he learned that the
gentleman referred TO had been retained
by the defense. The prosecutor handled
his case with great care, but from the
first did not hope to convict the prisoner.
He was stirred up, somewhat, however,
by the sneering illusions made TO him
DUNE the examination, by the imported
counsel, and so when he came to make
his opening speech he INDUCED little in
bombast. He expected to be torn up
little by the imported counsel, but was
utterly unprepared for the simeon that
swep, through the court room when the
imported counsel got fairly under way.
lie paced up and down in front Of the
Judge; he sawed the air in front of the
jurors he shook his finger in the face OF
the Young prosecutor and shiyered in
imaginary horror at thought of so youth.
tul youth undertaking to measure
swords with him. The voice was loud
and bitter in its denunciation the ges-
ticulations were violent and demonstra-
tive; the manner threatening and awe
inspiring, and with face Of scorn he sat
down with folded arms and awaited the
verdict which he did not suppose they
dared 10 refuse to render. The young
prosecutor was mad. He felt he would
ike to thrash the imported counsel out of
his boots. He rose to his feet, uncertain
for a moment what to do. A happy
thought struck him, and, throwing his
head back, he cast his left arm behind
bin and thrust his right hand in the
breast of his vest, while under oyer-arch-
ing eyebrows he scowled out at the jury.
The jury dropped on it in an instant.
So did the Judge, so did the spectators.
There was the familiar pose of the i'm
ported counsel, perfect in its imitation.
Then the young prosecutor began, and,
without opening his lips, proceeded to
copy the ges,iculations and movements
of the eminent attorney who had preceded
him. He snorted and cavorted and
stamped and rolled his eyes. He strobe
up and down in front of the Judge and
jury, following in his gesticulations pre-
cisely those of which they had just seen
the copy. He shook his finger menac-
ingly under the nose of the eminent gen.
tleman, and then assuming the states
manlke pose, he looked down upon him
disdainfully. Then he would stop and
twirl on his finger martingale ring,
which he had drawn from his pocket,
and which was intended to represent the
large seal ring on the small finger of the
left hand of the opposing counsel. 1t
was too much. The eminent attorney
appealed to the Court for protection,
while the Judge laughed until the tears
rolled down his cheeks, and the jury and
spectators chuckled audibly. The Judge
replied that the young man had done
nothing, had said nothing to him, and he
did not feel called upon to interfere with
the argument That settled it. The
imported counsel broke for the door, and
the jury, after Is minutes abse nee,
brought in a verdict of guilty.