The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-05

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Colonel James Waddell. There was
no light at the depot when the train
arrived one dark night, and the colonel
stepped off the platform and injured
his spine by the fall. He fingered for
some weeks, and got we'll enough to go
about with crutches, and offered to
settle with the road for SIS, the amount
of his doctors bill. The road declined
to pay it, and Judge Wright was en-
ployed. Colonel Waddell got worse.
His spinal troubles seemed to affect bis
mind, and the judge raised his demand
from $4,000 to $4,000, and everybody
smiled. The railroad had John P. King,
of Augusta, great lawyer, and many
other lawyers for the defense, but
Judge Wright had the conclusion, and
I can never forget his picture of a live
man dead-of the wreck of a life-of
the swift and pitiful descent Of great
mind from all it's brilliant prospects
down to the gloom of despair and semi
idiocy. De Quincy never wrote like he
spoke. He, too, got down to the very
whispering Of eloquence and everybody
was in tears. It was dangerous for
even the opposing counsel to listen to
him. knew we'll that Jim Waddell
was in no such extreme condition, for I
was his companion and friend, and yet
I was completely overcome and wept
like child. The jury found for the
plaintiff So, 900, and they did it quickly
and the judge was so ashamed of the
verdict that be settled it that night for
half the amount.
Ben Hill wasa great lawyer and a
greater advocate. An old man had died
in our county.leaving a considerable
estate, but it was embarrassed by mortg-
ages, and if these were paid his widow
would be peLniless. She had been
raised in afHuence and was a refined,
cultured woman, but her second hus-
band proved to be miserly, selfish
man, and be put her in a log cabin
daubed with mud and kept her there,
Notwithstanding a good portion of the
property came by her. When she
applied for a years support five good
men gave her $4,000. DR.. Miller was
one ofthose men. They desired to make
amends to the old lady for her long
suffering, and yet the law said they
should take into consideration her ac-
customed manner of life and the condi-
ton of the estate as to its Indebtedness.
Ben Hill represented creditor with a
mortgage Of $4,000. If the award to
the widow was to stand his client would
get nothing, and so he came to Fome
and made vigorous assault upon it.
The law was clearly with him, and so
was the court. For many years the
widow had lived on less than 500. I
never saw lawyer more confident of
his case than was Ben Hill. He was
willing to allow the widow 5000 but no
more. Judge Wright was her counsel.
He half closed his eyes and seemed
calm and serene while Hill was reading
the law and laying his firm founda-
tions. It was agreed between them
that the jury should fix the amount
and their verdict should be final. Judge
Wright had another life wreck to pic
ture and this time woman. Such an
appeal was never heard in that court
room and although there were only
lO000in the administrators hands that
jury increased the award to $12,5O0,
and Ben Hill went home sadder and
wiser man. recall many cases of this
kind and have almost trembled to think
what Judge Wright could do with the
populace in revolutionary times. But
old father time has mellowed him
down. With his four score years nearly
accomplished he has ceased to court
the oraiEy struggles of the forum. He
loves his home and his personal COM
fort more than ever. He enjoys the
companionship of his family and his
friends, but he is alone in his glory. All
his professional contemporaries are
gathered to yheir fathers. How sad it
is to sail to know that ours must 60.
One by one they fall like leaves in
wintry weather. Two of mine have
gone recently-two of my classmates,
and butsix are left; six out of forty, and
yet [ am not old. No, do not feel old,
but they say that I am; and they call
me the 'old man." Kind readers, do
not pity me. 1t is all right, and I am
content. BILL ARP.