Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-01-16
JOHN ALIENS FIRST law VICTORY.
bad Case Made Good by Profound
Opinion from tho CIassIcs.

a had Case Made Good by Profounu
Opinion from tho Classics.
! aPrivats John Allen, Of Mississippi,
who became tho wit OF the House ~
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 members were telling yarns
in the cloak room OF the House the other
day, and when ALIENS turn came he
told this one:
IL want to tell you OF tho greatest
legal victory of my life," said Allen, rs
he 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 a practising lawyer-that is.
practised whenever / had any cases to
practise with One day old Uncle Pom
Fey, one Of the old negroes Of the settle
ment, came into my office and said:
MARS John. i wants you TO crar me.
I'se gwine to lie rested for stealin of two
hams out'en de cross roads store"
"'Well Pompey,' l asked, did you
steal tho hams?'
Mars John, 1 JUS took en-
@'Did anyone see you? / asked.
".Ynr, Boss, said the old negro discon-
solately. two ole white buckras.
"'Well. Pompey,' Ireplied, L can't
do anything for you under the circum-
stances
"'Now, Mars John said old Pompey,
there's ten dollars jist want you to
try
well, consented to try" said Allen.
1The case was to be heard before an old
magistrate named Johnson. He was
totally uneducated, and was moreover
perfect dictator, and no negro came be-
fore him who was not fined the maxi
mum penalty and sent to his field to eX-
plate the crime in the sweat Of his brow.
1.-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. did
not put a single question to any OF the
witnesses, but when the testimony was
all in. arose, and in my most dignified
manner addressed tile magistrate:
MAY it please your honor, it would
be useless for me to argue the position
lie holds, and before one who would
adorn the Superior if not the Supreme
Court bench of this grand old Common.
wealth. And may say that those who
know you best say that you would even
grace 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
ba casa wall I do Hnwavar IL
may not be out of order for me to call
your honor's attention to q short passage
In the old English law, which clearly
decides this case. and which for the
moment, your Honor may have forgot
ton
Then fished down into my pocket
and drew forth " it'll great flourish, an
old copy Of Julius Caesar / opened it
10 the first page and read the line which
is familiar TO every schoolboy. 'Omnia
Gsllia in parties tres divisa est That
decides the case. said l. throwing the
book upon the table. That clearly &C
quits the defendant
with great dignity and solemnity
then took my seat. The old magistrate
was completely nonplussed. He looked
at me for moment quizzicauy 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 his No. 9 in the
seat Of Pompey's pants, and if you
ever come here again, lawyer or no
lawyer, you'll git six months.