The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-06-13
JOHN ALIENS VICTORY.
a Rad Case Made Good by a ProfOun
Op;nion frouo the ClaSsics

Opinion from the Classics.
Private John Allen" of Mississippi,
who became the wit of the House Of
Representatives with the death of Sun
set Cox, tells good story on himself OF
how he came to be a profound lawyer.
A party of mem ers were telling yarns
In the cloak room of the House, and
when Aliens turn came he told this one:
II want to tell you of the greatest
legal victory of my life" said Allen, as
be lighted cigar and propped his feet
against the wall in true Southern style.
1T was down in Tupelo, during the try.
ing period just after the war. l was at
that time practicing lawyer-that is, ]
practlced whenever / had any cases tc
practice with. One day old Uncle
Pompey, one of the old negroes of the
settlement, came into my Office and said;
Mars John, wants you to cPar me.
Ise gwine to be rested for stealin' OF
two hams out'en de cross road store.'"
'''Well, Pompey,' l asked, did you
steal the hams?"
Mars John, l just took EN-
did any one see you?' asked.
Var, Boss said the old negro, dis
consolately, two old white buckra's.'
Well, Pompey,' replied, Il can't
do any thing for you under the circum-
stances
"'Now, Mars John, said old Pompey.
here's ten dollars. jist want you to
try
We'll, I consented to try" said Allen.
'The case was to be heard before an old
magistrate named Johnson. He was
totally uneducated, and was moreover a
perfect dictator, and no negro never
came before him who was not fined the
maximum penalty and sent to his fielo
to expiate the crime in the sweat of his
brow.
''The magistrate heard the case.
Every possible proof was brought tt
show that Pompey stole the hams.
There could be no doubt Of it from the
testimony. / did not put single ques.
ton to any of the witnesses, but wher
the testimony was all in arose, and in
my most dignified manner addressed the
magistrate:
May it please your Honor, it would
be useless for me to argue the position
he holds, and before one who would
adorn the Superior if not the Supreme
Court bench of this grand old Common.
wealth. And l may say that those who
know. you best say that you would grace
even the Supreme Court of the United
States, the highest tribunal in the land.
1t will be useless to dwell upon the ties.
timony. You have heard it, and know
the case as we'll as l do. However, il
may not be out Of order for me to cal
your HonOr's attention to a short pas
sage in the old English law, which
clearly decides this case, and which, fol-
the moment, your Honor may have for
gotten
Then l fshed down into my pocket
and drew forth, with a great flourish, al
old copy of Julius Caesar 1 opened i,
with great dignity to the first page and
read the line which is familiar to every
school boy: 'Omnfa GaUi0 IN partes TIRE.
dt0asd est That decides the CASE sale
I, throwing the book upon the table
That clearly acquits the defendant
with great dignity and solemnity
then took my seat. The old magistrate
was completely nonplussed. He looked
at me moment quizzically and
scratched his head. Then turning tx
Pompey, he raised himself to his full
height and said:
"'Pompey, l know You stole them
hams, but by the ingenuity of your law
yer I've got to let you go. Git out,
said he, as he planted his No. 9 in the
seat of Pompey's pants, and if you eve,
come here again, lawyer or no lawyer,
you git six months. ATLANTA Consti.
tutiOn