Telegram-herald., 1891-06-25

Justice OF the Peace Denson'a
Many Queer Decisions.
Eos Kighteen Ysars He Dsdsd All Lave
TFyiag Msxdsr Cases aud Divorce
Suits and Resigned ne LasA
Co the sorrow Of All.

An Alabama merchant. says tho New
York Evening Sun, who lived many
years In . country town in that state.
entertained a party Of friends last night
with some stories Of an old countryman
who held the Office Of Justice of tho
peace down there for many years.
"Jerry benson didn't know anything
about law books-pever read one In his
life" he said. but he had big heart
and level head. His neighbors all loved
him. and when he was elected justice
OF the peace In Mulberry township.
Ala, they knew he would deal out
pure and unadulterated justice without
any legal frills or formalities Jerry
held the Office eighteen years. being
reelected eight times without opposi-
ton.
Three different governors threat
ened to remove him. Ave grand juries
investigated him, but every time he
came out with colors flying, and Judge
Denison. ss everybody called him, be-
came one of the best-known men In tho
state
Tho Judges library consisted OF .
Bible, a form book and an almanac,
bat in time he picked up a score or
more Of legal phrases from the lawyers
who practiced In his court He had lit
tie patience with lawyers, especially
when they attempted to secure a rul-
ing In their clients favor on legal
.schnicalities-
when his neighbors quarreled and
threatened 10 go to law. Judge benson
always advised them to settle the mat
ter outside Of court II possible, and
save costs II they persisted and
bror-ht suit, he often made them re-
gre& neir failure 70 take his advice by
his bill for costs. When people went 70
law in his court somebody had to pay
the costs
Lawyers often exhausted his pa
thence by asking . witness seemingly
unnecessary questions, and then he
would take hand. and either ask tho
questions himself or answer for tho
witnesa
.No case was too large or too smell
for Judge benson. He tried men for
murder aud Lot them OF with fine Of
ten dollars and costs, granted divorcea
sentenced prisoners TO six and twelve
months hard labor on his own farm,
and enforced tho sentence. He also
tried cases resulting from family quar-
rels. suits for debts - ten Cents. suits
that had no legal bssis or statue; In
fact, I'll. IVES grist that esme 70 his
mill.
Zone day . case was on trial and the
plaintiffs lawyer was asking tho wit
ness unnecessary questions Tom
Simpson. one Of the judges neighbors,
took the stand and the lawyer began:
What did understand you TO say
your name was?'
"srom simpson
"'Mr. Simpson. where do You resids7'
"Hers Judge benson interrupted. snd
turning 70 the lawyer. sstd: HE name
Il Tom Simpson; be lives on Turkey
creek: moved there from Winston coun-
~ fowecsn yssrs ssus hsowes mo four
dollars and six bits; been OWN it nigh
on 70 rear now; he married old man
Seth Aliens Gsl Nancy.
Maybe you know Seth; he's .
brother of Steve Alien that run for
sheriff two years ago. Seth lives at the
old Bascorn place: bought ~ from Dan
Smith: give him four hundred dollars
an . spawned boss for L. Now so on
With the case. Mr.. Lawyer. and Tom,
mind you tell the truth. knowed your
cid daddy fore you was horned. an
honesser man than old Bill simpson
psvev hresshed the breath Of HE
"Afssr this eornpiete biography OF
Sbs wisu~ss the lswyT preeeeded d.
rortly TO the facts Of the Casa
The FIRST murder case Judge Den
son ever tried vss that Of . negro who
hsd killed .nethsr solosei msn The
mnrdGed nsn bod bod r~pufsttpn.
I'D Shsrs vas some provecakion ~
- deed When The case WAS called
- attendant had two lawyers and a
auw, Of wffnesseA while numerous
4rSsnds Of The Dad man were present.
Z, 80 that Justice wa done. Jud9s
Dsnscu dad net prcposs 10 waste valur
..hae time on negroes 80 he called On
lthe prisoner 70 stand up
"sNow, thers ssn'N ~ sse dsnyn'
sA.s you killed shss negro he sssi tfor
khey say ~ prufp al sgir yous eys
he needed kuhn about - hsd ~ any
enc In shis settlement and euess
sv~-ye--ty's glad 10 Be nd Of him bus
epur.. CAM worn scr noshin', prisonev.
- I'll fne ycu zen dollars and costs
The ;ue wss pssd. sRd While ths
Qlsposdtscu ~ shs esse excssed scnA
comment eoshsuG 80 evSr done sesus
n she people II she nssahsorsoui
ss-rinx N agree with Jssir- Denson
hss y ~ss q god ~sy - Set rid 81 Ne