The Rugby gazette and east Tennessee news. (Rugby, Morgan Co., Tenn.) 1884-188?, 1886-12-04
WILD WEST LAW.

Jurors Who Didn't Agree With Him.
We sometimes growl about the way
the modern lawyer attacks and insults
witness on the stand. but there has
really been great improvement in the
last twenty years, especially in the
West. In 1855 the writer was juror
in the case of Adams vs.. Paige. tried in
Kansas. Adams was a Boston specu-
lator, who was trying to GUST Paige
from certain lands. The lands clearly
belonged to Adams. and Paige was
clearly squatter, but the latter re
sisted and the former appealed to
the law. The Judge was a squatter,
and therefore sympathizer, while
Paige was likewise cousin of his.
When Adams came to take the stand
Paige's lawyer, whose name was Britt,
began:
NOW, Mr.. Adams. you say you
bought this land from party in Bos-
tonP''
ayes, sir"
"And you paid him s4SoP"
Eyes, sir.
"Now, sir, isn't it fact that while
this Davis, the bogus claimant to this
land, lay dying you robbed him OF his
deedp"
"No, sir"
"Be careful! We want no perjury in
this case! How often have you been
sent to State PRISON.
"Never!'
Look out! Ali see the guilty blush
on his face! Notice his confusionp
Your Honor, that man is deliberately
lying"
II object to all this!" exclaimed
Adams lawyer as he jumped up.
"Steve Bullock, you sot down.
shouted his Honor. '.I'ye known you
ever since you started out driving a
mule team. and you was allus objecting
to every thing. If this man has been
in State prison this court wants to know
it. Let him answer the question"
"Inever have been." replied Adams.
Have you ever robbed widow"
asked the lawyer.
"Your Honor, what has all this to dc
with the case on trial?" asked Adams
lawyer.
"Heaps, your Honor" replied Britt,
''If we can show that this man is a
thief, murderer and land pirate it's oul
business to do so. If wolf in Sleeps
clothing sneaks into our innocent com
munity it is our duty to expose him.
II should say it was" answered the
court. "The witness must answer the
question or I'll lock him up for con
tempt"
II never did," replied Adams.
"Then your looks belle you. Didn'
you set store afire in St. LOUISE"
"No, sir.
"Nor rob bank in st. LOUISE"
"Your Honor, l must object" sale
Bullock. "This is a case"
"Steve Bullock, sot down." ex
claimed the court "You quit driving
mules year ago and went into law
but you don't know everything yet
This court can give you half mile thu
start and beat you in. If this man ha
robbed bank we want to know it
We want to know what sort of a maj
has come among us to skeer our vim
min and children"
II did not rob bank" said Adams
49, you didn't!' sneered Britt
Elbow about burning barn in ILL
nois?"
"Your Honor, did not come here t,
be insulted," said Adams, as he turne,
to the court.
ANSWER the question:" commanded
the Judge. "I've got barn of m
own. or am going to have next spring
and if we've taken barn-burner t.
the bosom of this community wan
to know it"
For two long hours Britt continue
to ask such questions. and the judg
: obliged the witness to answer. The
the case for the defense was close
without a word in regard to il
legal aspects. Britt contended, in hi
speech to the jury, that it was pic
to rob big-hearted, good-natured cit
zen of his all. and Bullock was so di.
gusted that he refused to examine
> witness or make an argument
Gents" said the court when h
charged us, I'VE don't want no foolin
in this case. That ere land belongs
Bill Paige, and you want to return
!. verdict to that effect"
We went out, and ten of the twelv
/, were ready to agree with the cour
= Two of us hung out, and to reward i
; for producing a disagreement his Hor
or sent us to Jail for thirty-six hou
apiece Marion Smith, TN Detroit FIR