The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-14
A Distinguished Sister Who Saw
Nothing But Assessments,
AS Stakeholder in the Corpora
ton Store-SShe Didn't Like it.
When Her Monthly Bill Came
Along 1t Was Repudiated.
j. Madison Vonner Delivers Himself of
An Astrological Exordium, Which
May Have Turned the Decision
Against Him.


you ready for tral?'
ave are ready" said the plaintiff.
1--WE are ready" said the defendant.
The case was for debt; SS.45 being the
amount II seems that there is society
Known as the Seven Stars in the city.
The members pay Sl.50 initiation fee.
When they ride the goat they are taken
into fellowship in the store-a corporation
concern-by paying for share OF stock,
50. This order and store is a secret organ
iZation. The members are sworn TO make
their purchases there and nowhere else.
They are particularly enjoined from trad
trading with white people.
good many Of the good sis
tiers took stock. and the finn was
known as d. L. +. Banks q Co. Banks
is the muster mind, the general manager,
the presiding genio who runs the thing
and collects tribute. When things became
prosperous a dry goods department was
opened aud the membership assessed an-
other dollar around. Later still another
assessment was levied for the purpose Of
purchasing lot upon which TO build
east up accounts, found out what WAS
owing and so on. They never declared
dividend or gave any OF the stockholders.
II is alleged, a chance for their white
allies. Things became unpleasant, and
some OF the good sisters grew tired over
The monotonons frequency OF the assess
ments. II became irksome. Among the
iirl 10 Violently iecalci,rate was the de.
PENDANT in this case. She refused longer
20 ante, took up the limit OF her credit
and sullcnly withdrew. The suit fol-
lowed.
Get your witnesses in line that they
may DC sworn" said Justice Blackwell
There were no witnesses on either side
and an adjournment OF the case was had
for IN hour To give time TO hunt up some.
The first and only witness put on the
stand WIS Mrs. Minnie Banks wife OF the
head man. She was member OF the
Seven Stars and seemed 10 be one OF the
brightest in the constellation. She was
clerk and bookkecpcr and the firm was u.
J.. /. Banks & Co. The account was due
and unpaid, but outside OF this she did
not know much. She did not know who
was the company. She did not know II
the place had been sold TO l.. Marshall
She used 10 turn the money over 10 Banks,
now Il went 10 Marshall She didn't
know why. Mcssrs. Marshall aud Banks
were not present. Like Castor and Pol.
lux they had removed from active partici.
patton in affairs mundane. The defend.
ant, Sarah Williams. was not there in the
flesh. She was a lost ploiid from the
cluster OF seven, but she was there by at
iorney. There was but little testimony
adduccd, but grave constitutional qucs.
tons were discussed with learned elo-
quenco. Only oneoi the speeches is given
verbatim:
"May Il please the Court" said Aitor.
ney and Counsellor at law Madison Von-
ner, IL arise 10 answer for this party, de-
PENDANT. | believe that | fully under
stand my duties and the responsibilities
that rest upon me rs an officer OF this
court. An attorneys duty, as / under
stand H., continued the learned COUNSEL
lor, sis to assist the court in arriving at
correct conclusions Of law, and 10 assist
the jury In arriving at correct conclusions
Of fact. In your dual capacity ~ Judge
and jury you will have 10 hear aud weigh
carefully oil the evidence. rcconciling II
where Il conflicts, asceriaining ON which
eide Is the Irepondcnnco Of credible tcsii.
mony, and then me surfing out equal and
exact justice with what Lord Coke calls
the golden metwand Of the law This
Justice should bcgiyen TO oil alike; whether
the suitor comes In rags from his lowly
hovcl. or in purple aud fine linen from a
castle that approaches in mngnliiccncc the
Circcan walls Of lofty Tumulum.
Since" continued Counsellor Nonner,
taking a step nearer the court with arms
akimbo, ''sincc have put on the toga
viriis Of the law II has been my obscrya-
ton that In courts like this one over which
your honor prcsdcs with ~ much dignity,
Justice can be obtained swiitcr aud more
sure than in courts OF higher authority
Here YOU look at the case from n common.
sense standpoint You disiil justice In is
original purity and simplicity, unencum.
hered by prcccdenls and false and foolish
INTERPRETATIONS You are In that serene
atmosphere OF tranquility claimed by
Edmund Burke as being the attitude OF
the British House Of Commons, In refer.
encc 20 the law, with this differences That
while the House OF Commons was above
the law, greater than the law, creator Of
the law, your honOr's court Is beneath the
law and does not rise high into the con.
ilict Of fino-haired technicalitics, enjoyed
OF suffered by courts Of more extended
Jurisdiction"
Counsellor Vonner moved back one
step, let his left hand drop from his hip
and drop on a copy Of Pomeroy on Rem.
cdios and Remedial Rights that lay on
the table, then continued: ut Is well for
courts and attorneys 10 properly under.
stand the relations which they bear TO each
other, and the charge Of presumption
should not lay ut my door, IT, iorsooth,
have the temcrity TO essay recital Of the
familiar story. | believe with Tolsioi, that
] am Nineyitc with respect 10 other
Jonahs from whom ! have learned and
shall learn the truth; aud that ain q
Jonah with respect 10 other Nineyitcs TO
whom ] must transmit the truth.
My duty rs an Attorney" con-
tinucd Counsellor Vonncr, turning
over Pomeroy on Remedies aud Remedial
Rights" and placing an index finger be.
tween liz pages, my duty M an aitor.
ncy IL clear to assist In administering ius-
ticc and maintaining The supremacy OF the
law. And | believe In the ultimate Fri.
umph OF the just IL IL seldom that
punishment, though lame Of foot, hath
failed TO overiako a william, says old