The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1884-08-06
0kE Of IKEBSTER'S STORIES.
How . Lawsuit was Won in New Hamp-
shire.

How . Lawsuit Was Won in New Hamp-
shire.
Daniel Webster was fond of a good
story, and told q few illustrating his
early life in New Hampshire. One
evening at u convivial party, where he
and several distinguished lawyers were
present, the conversation happened to
turn on the legal profession. when I
was a young practitioner" said Mr..
Webster, there was but one man at
the New Hampshire bar of whom T
was afraid, and that was old Barnaby.
There were but few men who dared to
enter the lists with him. On one occa-
sion Barnaby was employed to defend
a suit for a piece of land, brought by a
little, grabbed. cunning lawyer called
Bruce. Bruce's case was looked upon
as good as lost when it was ascertained
that Barnaby was retained against him.
The suit came on for trial, and Barnaby
found thaS Bruce had worked hard. and
left 10 stone unturned to gain the vic
tory. The Testimony for the plaintiff
was very strong, and, unless It could
be impeached, the case of the defend
ant was lost. The principal witness
intro luced by the plaintiff wore a red
coat. In summing up for the defense,
old Harnaby commenced a furious at
tack on this witness, pulling his testi-
mony all to pieces, and appealing to
the jury if a man who wore a red coat
was, under any circumstances, to be
believed. AMI who is this relocated
witnessg exclaimed Barnaby, but a
descendant of our common enemy,
who has striven to take from us our
liberty, and would not hesitate now to
deprive my poor client of his land, by
making any sort of relocated state.
mentv During this speech, Bruce vas
walking up and down the bar, greatly
excited, and convinced that his case
was gone, knowing, as he did, the
prejudice Of the jury against anything
British. While, however, Barnaby was
g~esticulating and leaning forward to
the jury in his appeal. his shirt-hosom
opened slightly, and Bruce accidentally
discovered that Barnaby wore a red
undershirt. Bruce's countenance bright
ened up. Putting both hands in his
coat-pockets, he walked to the bar
with great confidence, to the astonish=
ment of his client and all lookers-on.
Just as Rarnahy concluded, Bruce
whispered in the q of his client, I've
got him-your case is safe;' and, ap-
preaching the jury, he commenced his
reply to the slaughtering argument al
his adversary. Bruce gave a regular
history Of the apcestry Of his relocated
witness, proving his patriotism and de-
yotion to the country, and his charactey
for truth and veracity. But what,
gentler<en Of the Jury broke forth
Bruce in a loud strain of eloquence.
while his eye flashed fire, what ara
you to expect of q man who stands
here to defend a cause based on no
foundation of right Or justice whatever,
Of a man who undertakes to destroy
our testimony on the ground that my
witness wears a red coat, when, gentle
men Of the jury-wheu, when, when,
gentlemen Of the Jury there Bruce made
a spring, and, catching Barnaby by the
bosom Of the shirt, tore it open, dis
his red fannel>, when Mr.,
Barnaby himself wears q red flannel
coat concealed under a blue one? The
effect was electrical; Barnaby wa beat.
en- at his own game, and Bruce gained
the cause"