The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1885-11-19
COBB SUPERIOR COURT.

Cobb Superior Court convened last Mon
day morning. Judge Joel Branham, of the
Rome Circuit is presiding this week in try
ing some Railroad cases in which Judge
Brown is disqualified Judge Brown is
holding court at Cedartown for Judge Bran
ham. Solicitor Gober is on hand as usual
aud is interchangeable in the performance of
his court duties. The charge of Judge
Branham to the Grand Jury was strikingly
forcible, and particularly so in expounding
the duties of working the public roads. In
regard to breaking up the practice OF carry
ing concealed weapons he gave an illustra-
ton that came under his observation while
a practicing attorney in Rome. He had
clerk IN his law office who was in the habit
OF carrying derringer pistol in each of his
vest pockets. This he tried to persuade the
clerk not to do, but he was persistent in his
purpose. A client made remark to the
clerk after he (Branham) had lost his case,
that he made no effort to do his duty in the
matter. On accoshng the client about it he
denied making the statement
The clerk and the client and Judge Bran.
ham all met in the law office when the
clerk wanted to know of the client if he de-
MED making the aforesaid remark. The
client emphatically denied it, when the
clerk, who was seated at a table writing
looked up and simply remarked, We'll, YOU
have lied, that's all The client, large
muscular fellow, picked up the tongs and
was intending to brain the clerk, when the
aforesaid clerk placed his fingers in his vest
pocket and pulled out derringer, and
without getting up from his seat, rested his
hand on the table and exclaimed You put
down those tongs" The man very pru-
IDENTITY put down the tongs When he had
left, the clerk said to Judge Branham you
have always insisted that should not carry
pistol as | would have no need of it.
Now, suppose that had not had that weap-
on, that fellow would have killed me with
those tongs." Not at all probable" replied
Judge Branham "WhyY' Intercepted the
surprised clerk. Because" replied Judge
Branham, IF you had been without pistol.
you would not have called the fellow liar"
This was revelation to the clerk and he
abandoned the practice of carrying con-
cealed weapons. When a man knows he
has deadly weapon on his person, he feels
he is equipped for any emergency, and is
emboldened by cowardly courage to insult
people, whereas ifhe had no weapon he would
be cautious enough to find loop hole to
get out of by mild and gentle reasoning
Therefore 1t is best to break up pernicious
practice that serves no good purpose, but
results frequently in bloodshed
The following gentlemen compose the
Grand Jury for this week: j B. Blackwell
Foreman; Robt T. Nesbit, Clerk; Orlando
Awtry, Hartwel A. Baldwin, Joseph L.
Camp Alvin &. Dempsey, Billing S. Flor
ence James T. Gault, William +. Grower.
James II. Howell Richard P Hardawav,
Joseph Lacy, Joseph B. Moon, Joshua P.
| OgIetree, Elijah n Ragsdale Hardy J..
Randall, John K. Seals, Walker w. Scott.
Joseph V. Stanback, Terrell T. Sewell John
Tate John f. p Lindey and John T. Lind
ley.
Our readers will remember the killing
Of Engineer S. A. Mcdonald by the terrible
wreck of the train at the washout of the
| culvert at Dobbs' creek on the w & A. r.
r., over a year ago. Mrs Mcdonald, in be-
half of herself and six children, brought
suit against the w & A Railroad Co. for
S25 600 damages. The trial of this case
was commenced last Tuesday, and, at the
time we go to press Wednesday 1.-THE discuss
ion before the jury is going on. Hoke
Smith, of Atlanta, and Clay & Blair, of Ma
rietta, are the attorneys for Mrs. Mcdonald,
and Julius Brown, of Atlanta, W. J. Whn
and Phillips & Sessions, of Marietta, are the
attorneys for the w & A. Railroad.