The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1885-05-12
SERGEANT BUZFUZ.
a Tribute to a Legal Luminary by an Hi.
nois Lawyer.

a Tribute to a Legal Luminary by an ILL
nois Lawyer.
Of the veteran lawyers who rode the
circuit with Abe Lincoln. one of the
sharpest set was o. B. Ficklin, or ''Old
Flick, as he is Familiarity known. The
following good story of his ability to
squirm out of bad hole is tod by
Hon. George NJ. Haynes, of the city
law department:
Hon. G. w. Wall, who is now one of
the Judges of the Appellate Court of
the Fourth District, was some years
ago attorney for the Illinois Gen.
trail Railroad Company. The COM
pany was sued in the Circuit Court at
Efiingham. in this State. for the killing
of stock, and Judge Wall went up to
attend to the matter for the railroad.
The plaintiff was represented by the
venerable and ever ready o. B. Ficklin,
and another attorney whose name is
not now remembered. The evidence
was all in and counsel went to the Jury.
Ficklin's associate opened the case for
the plaintiff, and instead of argument
the burden of his song was bunkum
and bombast about giant corporations
and soulless DorOpol;es, etc. Wall in
reply. in very clear and dignified
manner, presented the defense, and in
conclusion took occasion to refer to the
gentleman who had preceded him as
a demagogue, and compared him to
Dickens famous character, Sergeant
Buzfuz. in no very complimentary terms
TO either Buzfuz or the gentleman who
had last addressed the jury. He made a
strong speech, and it was thought by
those who had heard the case to be en-
trely in favor of the defense. Wall
c.osed in full confidence of a verdict.
But he had not counted upon the re-
sources of Ficklin. The latter had
given close attention to the remarks of
Wall, and, while Wall had provoked
much Amusement among the bvstand-
ers, had neve.. smiled, but, upon the
contrary, he seemed to be deeply Of
Tended at Wallis remarks. The latter
finished, and Ficklin arose to close the |
case for the plaintiff. After a little at
tention to the evidence lin which there |
was hut little consolation ttor his side). |
he con rluded in the following vein of |
pathetic and injured innocence: Aud |
now, gentlemen Of the jury, it becomes
my painful duty to reply to the malig- !
nant and uncailed-for attack upon one |
of the best men this country ever pro- |
duced; a man who has long since slept |
with his fathers, and upon whose Just /
and upright character no man until to- |
day, has dared to cast shadow of sils-
piciCn. allude, gentlemen of the Jury. |
to the unmanly attack of my friend Wall /
upon the memory of that good and kind
man Sergent Buzfuz. Gentlemen. it
perhaps was not your privilege Is it was
mine To have known him personally.
him well in the early and try
ing times of this country. He assisted
TO cut out the roads through this coun-
try. He was the early pioneer to
whom the present generation owe
so much ever ready and willing
with honest heart and active hand
to aid friend or neighbor in distress.
Your fathers. gentlemen, were doubt
less recipients of his kindness. In fact,
gentlemen, there are few men, living or
dead, this country owes more to than it
does TO Sergeant Buzfuz. 1t is true,
gentlemen. that he was somewhat plain
and assuming, and perhaps blunt in his
way, but his every action was prompted
by noble and honest motive. He was
not blessed with the brilliant accom-
plishments of my young friend. He
wore no starched shirt and red neckties;
he was humble and retired. In his
leather leggins and hunting-shir he
went about the country, not as the rep
of a rich railroad monopoly.
but as an humble citizen, doing good
TO his fellow man. His bones have long
since moldered to dust; the sod grows
green over his grave; his work is done,
and he is gone from among us forever.
was surprised to hear his blameless
life held up to ridicule in the manner it
mas been here to-day, and it is impossi-
Die for me, his last remaining friend, to
permit it to 60 by unnoticed. and to
YOU, sir" turning to Wall, who was by
this time completely dumbfounded, II
say no better man ever lived than he
whom you have so unjustly abused.
Youth, sir, should have more respect
for the men who have made life pleas
int for those who come after them than
10 assail their character as you have
done"
At the close the jury found for the
plaintiff in the full amount claimed
without leaving their seats. and, it is
said, had TO be reStra ned by the Sheriff
rom doing Wall personal violence
IIhicd0o Times