The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-02-05
LEGAL STRATEGY.

Charles Lamb gives a funny account OF
6he origin OF roast pig. The owner Of u lit
ter OF Juvenile porkerS. roasted to death by
she casual burning of the family sty, in
picking about among the ruins and sorrow
fully handling the crisp remains, chanCed
to burn his fingers. Clapping them to his
mouth, he tasted a pleasure SO exquisite
that 1t made him at once forget his pain
and loss. Pouncing Oh the prize, he not
only dispatched the whole barbecue at "A
sitting, but licked his lips for more
The story got wind, and the entire coun
try was ablaze with burning pigpens, nor
was 1t till many years after that some ad-
venturoUs innovatOr shocked the adhereutS
Of cOnserv ative cookery by proposing a new
and less expensive process of preparing a
favorite dish
1t Is not for us lawyers to laugh at this
None has been more prone than we TO
roast pigs according to precedent. All of
US can remember when, in every action to
recover the value of one mans property
wrongfully appropriated by another, it was
necessary to allege fictitious losing by the
former and finding by the latter, and all
because the first case Of the sort, hundreds
Of years ago, happened to be one Of real los
ing and finding. Nay. have even known
the loss and finding of a patch Of cabbages
to be soemnly averred, and no lawyer
thought of smiling at it.
In the department of evidence we have
been especially slow to learn If you want
to know how cramped and artificial it's
rules are, just get into the witness box to
tell all you know about some case and see
how much you'll be let to tell
Twenty years ago it was worse No one
Il
either party to the record or interested
to a cents worth in the controversy The
consequence was frequent imposslbility
Of proving by competent witnesses un-
doubted facts, which neither of the liti.
gants, had they been suffered to speak,
would have thought of denying The devices
to which counsel and client were driven by
rule so unreasonable were often amusing.
Very adroit was the march that Lie
LOOMS stole on the statute of limita-
tions." Lille was the factotum of Guys
Neck. He did miscellaneous business as
carpe atsr cow doctor and coffin maker
adding to hiS.other functions that Of under
taking to the county poorhouse. He was
withal an easy, good natured fellow, free
to trust and most indulgent creditor
Among the others whom Lie had trusted
to his cost was Greg Grimes, without excep-
tion the greatest promise maker and break.
ar In Guys Neck. verify believe he would,
II possible, have put a creditor of to the
last Judgment and then, on the score of its
being busy day. have begged him to wait
till tomorrow.
Greg had wheedled Lige with promises
I'LL the latter's claim was ''outlawed"
Losing patience at last. Lije took his ac-
count over to the squire's, when, to his no
small discontinue, he learned that unless
he could get new promise from his debt
or, with a witness to it, he might whistle
for his bill
Such fellows as Greg always know good
deal Of law, especially the sharp points of
it. Greg would talk as freely and was as
full OF promises IA ever when he and Lie
were alone, but before OF hers would either
evade the subject or else remain provok-
ingly mum.
One day Lie drove up to Gregs door
with his old gray mare and spring wagon,
plain pine coffin-one Of those fat topped
affairs deemed good enough for poor folks
being visible behind the seat
"Mornin, neigh bor," said Lie
Same to yOu," said Greg Coin to
plant a pauper, see"
"Y-a-a-s. Old Boke took rather suddent
leave last night and went to try the charity
Of another world"
(which Is no more'n fair" said Greg,
'seein how long he's lived on the charity of
this
Would you mind gittin in and comm
along, neighbor?' said Lije It's mighty
dull goin to funeral all alone by ones
SELF
Greg didn't mind and straightway
mounted by Lije's side.
The two chatted away after a sort to
prove how cheerful good company can ren-
der even grave occasion.
II s'pose you hevn't forgot that little bill
O minef' Lije at last took the liberty to
hint.
Not by no Means" said Greg. Lets
see, nOw-hOw much did YOU say it was?
| misremember rightly"
Even $50, besides seven years interest"
Quite right Greg assented II rec,
ollect it now"
"Ef it's at all inconvenicnt to pay it,"
said LlJe, don, you put yourself out on no
account
I've been threatenin to settle it for
month back" said Greg, but times hev
been tight, an-an how would Monday
week do?''
TO dot,' answered Lille.
III send it round,' said Greg
curious sound came from the coffin.
The ghost of a chuckle, Durdles would
have called it. Greg gave one jump and
"Ht' in All adjacent cow pasture. Look
ing back, he saw Lijes prentice, the most
mischevious in Guys Neck, but with plen-
ty of sense and of lawful aye to be wit
ness, sitting up in the coffin laughing like
mad
Greg took in the situation at glance
He had been duped into committing him
self before a witness.
ITS a dirty, nasty. mean trick"' he
cried.
What is it?" said Lie
why, trifiin with body's feelins about
old Boke, maxim b'lieve he's dead"
An 80 he is," said Lije, "only was
Huin arter the buddy, instid of fetchin it
away"
Greg turned off in disgust, Lje bawling
after him.:
Don't forgit Monday week, an p'rhaps
1t save US both some trOuble'
Greg didn't forget, but he has never more
than half enjoyed himself at funeral
Sim"" FXchau4,