Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1884-12-11

Mother George Wipes Away the
IntimntiOn of COntempt.


Mrs. Compton, or as she is better known
IN Eureka, Mother George, got into a little
difficulty the other day. Some gloves be-
longing to Joseph Hausmann disappeared.
He charged her with having appropriated
these goods and had her arrested for the
alleged theft. The case came up for trial
yesterday in the court of His Honor,
Justice Harmon. Mother George pleaded
her own case without professional aid
from the bar. She did 80 with such
vigor, and so much vehement ~eloouence,
that the suit was full of fire and a touch of
birthstone troubled the air. She went
after the complaining witness in terms
mat We are afraid nobody can consider
strictly impersonal, that is, she abused
him like q p~ick-pocket. In fact, His
Honor was much disturbed by the bitter
ness of her remarks and mildly remon-
strated with her. She was Gained for the
moment, but kept breaking out each time
IN a fresh place. Justice Harmon strug-
gled hard to suppress her with the most
emphatic admonition he could command
for the occasion, but his words were either
too high for the mark, or too honeyed and
slow to strike terror TO the Mothers heart.
He grew visibly red in the face. In his
embarrassment he leaned over towards Mr..
CARRIER, the Prosecuting Attorney, and
uttered, as he thought, in q whisper, but
really in loud and husky tones, these
broken words:
"Say, young man-Mr. Attorney-can't
you stop-I mean, sit down on that turbu-
lent, female lawyer"
The Prosecutor smiled and said he
passed; that he didn't feel strong enough
to call Mrs. George, and he knew that q
bluff wouldn't work.
His Honor thereupon tugged at his
collar, which seemed to have got stuck to
his neck. He spoke with a voice of one
confident OF his authority, though a slight
tremor could have been detected in his
voice, and he said:
Nov look here. This is running a
little too high. You must understand that
the Court there came another pull on the
other side) has q certain dignity to main
tain. Personalities amt any good, and
don't go down worth q cent; 80 look out
now and don't subject yourself to con-
tempt. / warn you not to overstep the
bounds of Judicial propriety."
A solemn silence prevailed for the next
minute, broken only by the noise which
his Honor made in trying to fix himself
more securely in his chair, after the effort
he had Just put forth. He was still en-
gagged trying to get comfortably estsb-
lished in his seat. when Mrs. George
arose and spoke to the point of contempt:
you Honah mus excuse me for what l
said in de excitement of dis case. II dere's
anybody l respect in Eureka, Mr.. Har-
mon, it's youself. You has seen a great
deal Of dis worl' and has got . heap of
human wisdom in you head. His
Honor hates taffy, but this shot rather
struck him, and he smiled q sickly smile
in response to the compliment, though
endeavoring to look very digni6ed and
! sour. He took another twist in his
chair. But you mustn't forgit dere's a
big difference between you and me in de
! matter Of age. His Honor gives ear.
I'm a young woman yet. and has de
| v~anities Of dis wicked world still strong
| in my mind and heart, and l have to
| struggle agin EN-. To you, all SIGH is
OF the dead past. His Honor, who is
| not really much the senior Of Mrs.
| George, started to say "WhatP" but the
| word stopped in his throat. You have
| to rastle no longer wild the flesh and de
| devil, as l nave to. You've got nothin'
| left before you now principly but to pre-
| pare for the change. The audience be-
| gin 10 smile and His Honor wonders il
the female lawyer is not after all inspired
TO speak to him Gabriel's trump is de only
music thatll wake you up again and make
you feel like when you used to trot aroun
down South, barfooted, with a tow shirt
on. Broad grins all over the house, His
Honor willing rapidly. l couldn't treat
you with contempt. 1t amt in me nor
ANYBODY else to do it. But Judge, you and
me has ben friends too long TO get to quar-
relin', now. I got off in my talk q while
ago, but / was mad and / wasn't able to
help it. I'll try and put a stopper on dis
unruly member of mine after this. for the
Good Book says: "He dat control his
tongue is greater than he dat conquers a
city," I'm a chile OF nature though, and
in nv future remarks to you and the gen.
tlemen Of the jury, I don't want you to
forgit it. Give me a little room for my
elbow. When my dander raises I'll let
'em have it shuah, as for dis Joe Haus-
man, de -. Well, I caught myself. But
please don't bother me any more If
Won can give me q little swing. For
Jedge, I'm my own lawyer in dis hur
suit, You said somethin' about the
bounds OF propriety. Now. you know dat
ebery lawyer in the wuld steps over the
bounds; and no Court can stop 'em. Oar,
now den, as a lawyer on dis occasion, l
claim the indulgence OBJ dis Honorable
Court. I appear now as a member OF the
profesh'; don't bodder me.
This was q thorough eraser OF the charge
Of contempt. Mr.. CARRIER spoke right Out
in Court: ,,
Judge, she's got you by q little"
His Honor-Go on with the case. ANY
little Misunderstanding like that l com.
planned Of Q while ago will not be possible
hereafter.
The jury deliberated a minute
Verdict, not guilty.