DeSoto times. (Hernando, Miss.) 1879-1898, 1890-12-18
MARSHALl'S READY WIT.
How the Great Orator silenced a Petty
Jogging Lawyer.

no" the Great orator Suenced q Pettys
fogging Lawyer
Heard good story yesterday" said
Lawyer Case to several of his brother
attorneys during recess in the course
OF trial few days ago. They were
sitting in Judge Tuley's courtroom and
conversing socially on variety Of
topics, when Case sprung his story.
Lets have it," was asked, as the
others edged up close to the story-teller.
"lt's about Tom Marshall, that brill
liant and gifted Kentucky lawyer who
fourished in the time of Henry Clay.
The story may be chestnut, but never
heard 1T but once. "ss ,aR-s
zone day an old friend of Marshall's
got into some sort of trouble out in the
country and he was hauled up before
the nearest justice of the peace-an old
fellow who barely knew enough to make
out peace-warrant But what he
lacked in legal knowledge he made up
in dignity and well-carried-ou pom
posity. Like most all of the minor
courts, there were several shysters who
them was an old rooster who talked of
Chitty and Blackstone as familiarly as
though he had known them all his life.
well, whom Tom Marshall got into
the country town he proceeded at once
to the courtroom, and there took up the
case for his friend and astonished the
court with his clear reasoning, He was
very young at the time, and the old
shyster who was pitted against him grew
indignant at the effrontery of such a
youngster assuming to oppose him.
Your honor he said, after Tom had
finished his argument Your honor, in
Kent, PCT, you'll find that the Su.
preme Court has held that the
very self-same evidence which I have
offered is thoroughly proper, though
this young man from the city assumes
to deny it. have practiced law before
he was born and am thoroughly con.
versant with the many intricate points
involved in the matter at ISSUE The
Supreme Court has held, say, tn at the
evidence l have offered is admissible,
and in reference quote you Kent, page
267. -s.-,.. -a.-.
"Well, Tom knew the old fellow had
no grounds for his citation, and in fact
there was no such case before the Su
preme Court. He had not brought his
law books with him, nor did the old
justice have any thing but the statutes.
1t would not do for him to refute
the shyster without an authority,
for the court would not believe him. He
could readily see that the court was i'm.
himself was looked upon as presumptu-
Gus young snob. After moments
thought he frightened up, and, rising,
he bowed politely to the old shyster and
said to the court: "My learned old friend
is correct in his citation. I know that
there was such a case before the Su.
preme Court, for I myself was engaged as
counsel for the defense. But he does not
60 far enough. The case was appealed,
and the Court Of Appeals reversed the
decision Of the Supreme Court, holding
that the evidence as introduced in the
case was clearly inadmissihle.
This coup d. etat on TOMS part fairly
knocked the old shyster out. He
knew he had lied in his quotation,
but had depended on Toms igno-
rance to let his alleged authority go
through. But he was not prepared
for Toms ready wit He fairly
raved as he jumped to his feet and cried
out: It's lie. There was never any
such case before the Supreme Court, and
lied when I quoted it, and you lied
when you said that the Court of Ap'
peals had reversed the decision
The old justice grew angry at being
imposed on, and not only did he decide
in Tom Marshall's favor, but fined the
old shyster for contempt. Mail.