St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1891-08-15
AN ALABAMA JUDGE.
Justice OF the Pecce Denson'l
Many Queer Decisions.


An Alabama merchant, says the New
York Evening Sum. who lived many
yeaEs In . country town in that state,
entertained party of friends last night
with some stories Of an old countryman
Who held the Office Of justice Of the
peace down there for many years
'Jcrry benson didn't know anything
about law books-never read one in his
Liz" /" he said. 'but he had big heart
and level head. His neighbors all loved
him. and when he was elected Justice
Of tho peace in Mulberry township
Ala, they knew he would deal out
pure and unadulterated justice without
ony legal frills or formalitics Jerry
held the of8cc eighteen years. being
reelected eight times without opposi-
ton.
s.Threc different governors threat
ened to remove him. FIVE grand juries
investigated him, but every time he
came ont with colors flying, and Judge
Dcnison. rs every body called him, be-
came ono Of the best-known men in tho
state.
THE judges library consisted Of >
Bible, . form book and IN almanac.
but in time he picked mp a score or
moro Of legal phrases from the lawyers
who practiced in his court He had lit
tle patience with lawyers. especially
when they attempted to secure rul-
ing In their clients favor on legal
technicalities.
:.sWhen his neighbors quarrelcd and
threatened to 60 to law, Judge benson
always advised them to settle the mat
ter outside Of court if possible, and
save costs II they persisted and
brought suit, he often made them re-
Rret their failure to take his advice by
his bill for costs. When people went to
law In his court somebody had to pay
the costs
"Lawyers often exhausted his pa
tience BY asking witness seemingly
unnecessary questions, and then he
would take . hand. and either ask the
ouestious himself or answer for the
witness
mo case was too large or too small
for Judge benson. He tried men for
murder and let them on with q fine OF
ten dollars and costs, granted divorces.
sentenced prisoners to six and twelve
months hard labor on his own farm,
and enforced the sentence He also
tried cases resulting from family quar-
rela. suits for debts of ten cents, suits
that had no legal basis or status; in
fact, al was grist that came to his
mill
..Onc day . case was on trial and the
plaintiffs lawyer was asking the wit
ness unnecessary questions Tom
Simpson. one of the judges neighbors.
took the stand and the lawyer began:
..What did understand you to say
vour name Was"
"'Tom Simpson
"sMr. Simpson. where do you residc?'
"Herc Judge benson interrupted, and
turning to the lawyer, said: His name
is Tom Simpson; he lives on Turkey
creek: moved there from Winston coun-
" fourteen years ago; he owes me four
dollars and six bits; been OWN it nigh
on 70 . year now: he married old man
seth Aliens gal Nancy.
MAYBE you know Seth; he's .
brother OF Steve Allen that run for
sheriff two years ago Seth lives 1t the
old Bascon place; bought it from Dan
smith; give him four hundred dollars
m. ! spawned hoss for it. Now 60 on
With the case, Mr.. Lawyer, and Tom.
mind you tell the truth. ! knowed your
old daddy fore you was borned. an .
honester man than old Bill Simpson
never brcathcd the breath of lifc.'
AFTER this complete biography OF
che witness the lawyer proceeded d.
rectly to the facts of the case.
.The Grst murder case Judgs Dem
son ever tried was that of . negro who
had killed another colored man. The
murdered man had bad reputation.
and there was some provoca.ion for
the deed. When the case was called
the defendant had two lawyers and q
scorc Of witnesses. while numerous
friends Of the dead man werc present
"a see that justice was done. Judge
benson did not propose to waste valu-
able time on negroes. SO he called ON
the prisoner 20 stand up
...Now. there amt no use dcnyin'