The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-08-22
piven details of the manner in which j

was found.
Not to dwell too long on this prelude
to my story, / will say briefly that my
client and / started the next morning for
Kent, and were met at the depot by
Bowls and his daughter, who relieved
me of my charge, while I went to my
boarding house for supper and thence to
my room.
The next day filed the document in
the Office of the County Clerk, and.gave
notice to Skaggs that on the following
Monday I should move that it be ad-
mitted to probate.
But here new difficulty presented it.
self. In our anxiety to find the claimant
we had utterly overlooked the attestlng
witnesses. =,
Immediately went to Bows and
stated the difficulty.
"Ah!" said he, "why have we not
thought of this before"
"Do you know these witnesses2" said.
eyes, I know them. Tom zones lived
as tenant on the old mans farm at the
time of his death. He now lives about
ten miles out on the Lancaster road.
And, as certain as Pm sinner, Squire,
this other witness is dead, William Jack
son2 Yes-I remember him. He moved
to Texas, and died year ago."
ssThen it's all up. We can't get along
without both witnesses. Are YOU sure
that Jackson is dead9"
Il am certain. He has brother llV-
ing in this town, who received a letter
from the family in Texas at the time of
his death. There is no doubt about it. )"
'Then we may as we'll drop the mat
ter at once. The law of this State re-
auires the evidence of two witnesses,
and makes no provision for the death OF
one."
:sIt does look rather ugly, if that's the
case," said Bowls. "But let's make a
fight of it-something may turn up in
our favor"
My fears proved correct, however. We
made gallant struggle; but it was in
vain. My speech, 1 was told afterward,
was applauded privately by the Judge,
though in his Official capacity he felt
compelled to decide against me. I re-
member that spoke from full heart of
the injustice of refusing to receive a will
which everybody knew to be that Of
Morgan, merely because one of the wit
nesses had died.
My fair client still remained at my
friend Bowls's. "My eldest daughter
has come to love her as sister," he
said. ''Bessie, as you must have seen, is
unusually intelligent. She had received
quite good education, too, before old
Mr.. Morgan died. The cheerful man
ner in which she bore her subsequent
poverty is, as Mrs. Benham says, a
proof of an unusually n"ble character.
Now we have invented an excuse that
we want nursery governess, for she is
too proud to stay as mere pensioner,
and her aunt" has consented to the ar
rangement, saying that it is a sin to bury
Bessie among the hills"
One day in the following summer I
was in the clerks office searching some
old records, when l came upon a page
that almost took my breath away. After
reading it carefully I closed the book
and returned to my Office.
The next day Simon Skaggs was served
with summons to answer suit of
ejectment in the name of Elizabeth
Morgan, for all the real property held by
him, which he 'laimed as heir atlaw OF
the late James Morgan; and great was
the excitement in the villege when it
was known that this suit was begun.
"What could it mean2" asked every
body.
told no one. Even to Bessie I only
represented that 1 thought saw chance
to recover; but I was careful not to ap-
pear too sanguine.
In two months the Circuit Court came
on. Again the cour. was crowded. The
excitement was even greater than it had
been before. 1 had prepared no brief:
Not even memorandum or book did
I carry to court.
Morgan vs.. Shaggs," called the
Clerk, and shortly afterward l said:
"Call Mr.. Bowls"
The Sheriff called him, He came into
the court room, took the witness-stand
and was sworn.
The most intense silence now reigned.
My fair client was seated by my side,
pale and quiet. The defendant was
seated near his counsel, calm, confident,
and de ant.
Examine the Witness" said the
Judge.
"Mr. Bowls I began, care you ac-
quainted with the plaintiff"
81 am"
"Do you know where she lived, from
the time she was three years old, up to
the time she was sixteen?"
81 do.n
"Where?"
sWith the late James Morgan
care you certain that this plaintiff is
the same persona"
"I am"
"That's all wish to ask" said I to
the Court.
"Cross examine, gentlemen" said the
Judge.
"We don't wish to ask anything"
said the opposing counsel-two of the
able lawyers in the country.
"Let the witness stand aside" said
the Court. "Call your next"
"Nay it please your Honor, we have
no other witnesses that we wish sworn
at present." said I, rising to my feet and
looking around the room.
A murmur of disappointment ran
through the crowd.
"Then you rest your case here2" said
the Judge with smile.
No, your Honor; we have some record
evidence that we wish to Introduce"
and as I spoke l drew it from my
pocket. 'sIt is an authenticated copy
from the records of the country for the
year 1s-. 1t proves that this young