Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1890-04-11
JOHN ALIENS LEGAL VICTORY
had Case Made Good by q PY0foun
Opinion from the Classics.

Opinion from the Classics.
[From the Atlanta constitutional
"Private John Allen" of Mississippi, who
became the wit of the house of represents
tives with the death of Sunset Cox, tells q
good story on himself of how he came to be .
profound lawyer.
A party of members were telling yarns in
when Aliens turn came he told this one:
II want to tell you Of the greatest legal
victory of my life" said Allen, az he lighted
a cigar and dropped his feet against the wall
in true southern style. ''It was down in
Tupelo, during the trying period just after
the war. was at that time praotioing
lawyer-that is, practiced whenever had
any cases to practice with. One day old
uncle Pompey, one of the old negroes
of the settlement, came into my Office and
said:
"'Mars John,I want you to cl'ar me. 1'se
gwine to be rested for stealin' of two hams
out'en de cross road store"
"'Well, Pompsey,' asked, did you steal
the hams?"
"'Mars John, I just took 'sm.'
"'Did any one see your I asked.
"sYar, boss said the old negro disoon-
solately, two ole white buckra's.'
"'Well, Pompey,'I replied, 4 can't do
anything for you under the circumstances.
"'Now, Mara John,' said old Pompey,
there's ten dollars. I jist want you to try
"Well, consented to try" said Allen.
rThe case was to be heard before an old
magistrate named johnson. He was totally
uneducated, and was moreover perfect die
tator, and no negro ever came before him
who was not fined the maximum penalty and
sent to his field to expiate the crime in the
sweat of his. brow. - i.'e+
"The magistrate heard the case. Every
possible proof was brought to show that
Pompey stole the hams. There could be no
doubt of it from the testimony. I did not
put a single question to any of the witnesses,
but when the testimony was all in arose,
the nsgistrase:
"'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 commonwealth. And / 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. It will be useless to dwell upon
the testimony. You have heard 1t, and
know the case as well as do. However, it
may not be out of order for me to call your
honor's attention to short passage in the
old English law, which clearly decides this
case, and which, for the moment, your
honor may have forgotten
"Then fshed down into my pocket and
drew forth, with great flourish, an old
copy of Julius Csssar.' opened it with
great dignity to the first page and read the
line which is familiar to every schoolboy.
'Omnia Gallia in parties tres divisa est
THAT decides the case,' said 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 COM
pletely nonplussed. He looked at me q
moment quizzically and scratched his head.
Then, turning to Pompey, he raised himself
to his full height and said:
'Pompey, know you stole them hams,
but by the ingenuity of your lawyer I've got
to let you go. Git out, said he, as he planted
Nos in the seat of Pompey's pants'and If you
ever come here again, lawyer or no lawyer,
you git Elk MONTHS"