St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-03-06
How Bruce Won His Case.


From Ben Perley PoOres "Reminiscences
Daniel Webster was fond of a good
story, and told number illustrating
his early life in New Hampshire. One
evening at convivial party, where he
and several distinguished lawyers We're
present, the conversation happened to
turn on the legal profession. 'Whcn
was young practitioner" said Mr..
Webster, there was but one man at
the New Hampshire bar Of whom | was
afraid. and that was old Barnaby.
There were but few men who dared to
enter the list with him. On one Occa-
sion Barnaby WAS employed to defend
Il suit for ii piece Of land, brought 10y a
little, grabbed, cunning lawyer, called
Bruce. Bruce's case was looked upon
as good as lost, when it was ascer
tained that BarnabY was retained
against him. The suit came on for
trial, and Barnaby found that Bruce
had worked hard, and left no stone un-
turned to gain the victory. The testi-
mOny for the plaintiff was very strong,
and unless it could be impeached, the
case of the defendant WAS lost. The
principal witness introduced by the
plaintiff wOIe a red coat. In summing
up for the defense, old Barnaby com
menced Il furious attack on this wit
ness pulling his testimony all to pieces,
and appealing To the jury if a man who
wore Il red coat was, under any cIrCum
stances, to he believed. And who is
this relocated witness = exclaimed
BarnabY, but descendent of our com
mon enemy, who has striven to take
from us our liberty, and would EOt
hesitate now to deprive my poor client
of his land hy making any sort of red
coated statement During this speech
Bruce was 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 Whilst, however,
| Barnaby was gcsticulating, and lean
! ing forward to the jury i'll his eloquent
! appeal, his shirt bosom opened slight
ilv. and Bruce accidentally discovered
that Barnaby wore red undershirt.
! Bruce's cOuutemancc frightened mp.
/ Putting both hands in his pockets, lac
walked the bar with great confidence,
to the astOnishment of his client and
all lo0king-ou. just as Barnaby con
ciuded Bruce whispered in the ear ot
his client. ''vc got him-yom case i,
safe ; aud, approaching the jury, he
commenced his reply to the slaughter
ing argument of his adversary. Bruce
gave regular history of the ancestry
of his red coated witness, proving his
patriotism and devotion to the country
and his character for truth and veraci-
ty. But what, gentlemen of the jury, p,
broke forth Bruce, i'll loud strain %
eIoquence, while his eye flashed fire
what are Sou to expect of a man whr
stands here to defend cause based o:
no foundation of right OF Justice what
ever Of man who undertakes Il
destroy our testimony 0u the groHn'
that my witness wears red coat
when, gentlemen of the jury-when
when, gentlemen of the jury . (Her'
Bruce made spring, and catchiu!
Barnaby by the bosom of the shirt
tore it open, displaying his red fan
nell, when Mr. Baruaby himself wear
red flannel coat concealed under
blue one 2 The effect was electrical
Barnaby was beaten at his own game
and Bruce gained the cause"
There is no use in cleaning YOU
poultry houses unless yOu hurn the ol
nests They will harbor more of TIA
various kinds of poultry parasites tha
% you can ever exterminate with white
, wash brush
The man whose mouth was so niue