South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1892-06-24
A DRAMATIC SCENE.

~ OAt-uAk AZ bNLNEs
"Ten or twelve years ago | wit
messed the most dramatic situation
of my hfo i'll Philadelphia court
ROOM" said Henry j. Erskin, of
The Quaker City. ct occurred
during the trial OF an important
suit involving certain franchise
rights of the Pennsylvania Rail
road In Philadelphia. BENJAMIN
Brewster, afterwards Attorney Cen
eral of the United States, was then
the chief council of the Pcnnsylyan-
IL Company. Brewster, you know,
was a frightfully ugly man on ac-
count OF terrible disfigaration of
his face from burma, but intellect
ualiy no was giant and in deport-
ment O Chesterfield. So great was
the odmiration for tho mans pow
erfui mental parts that one soon
forgot his ugliness. He was ex-
trenIely sensitiye of his facial mis-
fortune, but never referred to it
himself, nor did any OF his thous-
sands Of friends ever ask him it's
cause.
"The trial TO which | refer was
q bitterly contested affair, and
brewster at every point got so much
the best of the opposing counsel
. that by the time argument com
menccd his leading adversary was
IN a white heet. IN denounciDg
the railroad company this lawyer,
with his voice tremulous with an
ger exclaimed: "This graspipg
corporation is as dark, devious and
sacrif ed IN its methods as is the
face OF it, chief attorney and bench
man, Benjamin Brewsterp
"This violent outbuTst OF rage
and cruel inyectivc was followed by
a breathless stiffness in the crowd
cd court room that was painful
Hundreds Of Frying eyes were riy-
eted on the poor, SCARED face Of
Brewster, expecting to 500 him
spring from hIs chair and catch his
heartless adversary by tho throat.
Neyor before had Anyone referred
TO Mr. Brewster's misfortune in
such way,or evon an any terms, in
his presence. Instead If spring. p
at the mau and killing him ike q
dog. as he audience thought was
mig dcscrt, Mr. Brewster slowly
arose and spoke com ih ng ike
this to the court
Your HOoor, ia all my career
az q lawyer hayo never dealt in
personalities; nor did ever before
feel called upon TO explain the
cause OF my physical misfortune,
but | Will do 30 now. When O boy
and my mother, God bless her
said | was pretty boy-whcn
little boy, while playing around an
open IRE one day with little sister
just beginning 70 toddlo, she fell
into the roaring flames ] rushed
TO her rescue, pulled her out be-
Tore she was seriously hurt and fell
into the iire mygolf. When they
took me out Of the Goals my face
was ss black as that mans heart"
"Ine last sentence was spoken
90 voice whose rage Was that 81
q lion. i hsd an electrical effect,
snd The applause that greeted il
vas superb, but in on instant turn
co to the most coutcmptuous Kisses
directed az the lawyer that had 80
cruelty wrougcd The great and log-
able Byewstor That lawyers pfac-
tlcc IN Philadelphia afiorward
dwind ed 20 such insgnifcance
that he bad 10 leave The city Tor
new Geld"
The bright little daughter Of a
Visited the house.
a. might DO expected. she did not
find tho proceedings especially ia.
tcrcsting. She stood a8 long as
She could, and then said
Well, I'm tired Ok this preach
in. II there isn't agoin' 10 be
my slugin' ] guess ( wili 20
home"