The Iuka vidette. (Iuka, Miss.) 1894-1912, 1894-08-02
Arp ON OLD TIMES.
Bill Has Another Reminiscent Mood
and Ge,s OF Some Stories.
He Always Wants the Last speech-Every-
thing Depends on That Especially With
the Layyers-It Was the Conclusion
That Won Him His Great Case.

The other day | asked an Atlanta man
who he was for--Candler or Livingston
for Congressman from the Fifth District.
He looked very serious and replied: Il
get the Atlanta Constitution before break
fast, and from that time until j pm. |
am for Livingston. Then the Journal
comes into my office, and | am a Candlcr
man until the next morning. l am like
the average juryman who takes his cue
from the last speech
l have thought for a long time that
the last speech ought to be abolished. but
| don't know how it is TO be done, unless
we abolish the jury and let the speeches
be made to the court Then the speeches
would be short and to the point, and it
wouldn't make any difference who spoke
last. Hail Columbia wouldn't pay be
fore the court especially if the court con
sisted of three members. The last speech
is tremendous power in the keeping of
an artful, eloquent advocate. L have
heard Judge Wright, of Rome, in many
important cases, and his closing speech
nearly always secured him verdict 1t
was more powerful than the evidence
or the charge of the court. | remember
when he sued the Rome railroad for S2l,-
600 for causing an injury TO Col. jim
Waddelrs spine. We thought that just
a lawyers trick of claiming about ten
times what he expected TO recover, but
Just before the argument began he had
the amazing cheek to ask leave to amend
his writ and raise the damages to $4,000
The lawyers all smiled and so did the
presiding Judge. But he had the last
speech and got verdict of $4,000.
A most amusing case of last speech"
occurred when | was quite young lawyer
at the Rome bar. Jim Perkins was the
Magistrate. We had elected Jim just for
fun, and he gave it TO us. He knew no
more law than necessity, and it is said
that necessity knows none, but he was
big-hearted aud full Of humor and every
body liked him. He is the same Jim
Perkins who got shot at Gaines mill.
1t was an umbilical center shot, and the
ball came out at the spine. Dr. Battey,
the famous surgeon, was the surgeon of
the regiment. After examining Jim, he
said: My poor fellow, you are MORALLY
wounded. If you have any messages to
send home you had better tell them to me
at once. If you have any will to make,
make it verbally" Jim smiled and said
1--we got nothing to will, Doctor, but is
there no chance for me at alp About
one in a Thousands" said the Doctor.
swell, if l have that many | will get
WELL" said Jim, and he smiled again.
Then his ruling passion, like Tom Hood,
provoked him to add: "Doctor--Doctor, if
| should accidentally. get over this
wouldn't it be a great navel victory!'
And he did get'over il, and was back on
duty within sixty days. M
At the first court that he held in Rome
was employed by the plaintiff in n case,
M, Al,
We We're both young lawyers and were
generally pitted against each Other We
begun that way in old Lawrencevlic, and
when we moved to Rome we kept it up
j understand that he is now candidate
for Judge, and don't blame him for want
ing an easy position at his time of life.
would like one myself. But Rome is not
in our circuit and the boys must fight it
out. Well, when my case was called,
proceeded to arugue it. and just as soon
as | concluded Perkins took his pen and
said: The court gives judgment for the
plaintiff"
Hold on," said Tom; hold on, if you
please. l haven't been heard on my
side"
Beg pardon" said Jim; Il heartily beg
your pardon. Brother Alexander, you can
proceed, SIR
ro,, olooco1- ,,,r,,,, =; H..
utes pari'inS s ne w III ~ noout zen MN,
said. "Tnd,l,nont go. MS us pen "Suln ana
"tJoId nn na,ia" nc nc, ueIeiuant'
bonnr ,,IooDo $50 s"iu l. II your
rlnsion :; 60 ""' '"'''ieu u Tue con-
"Rog ,ordor ,t,i..
.nordons p fon,o ~ ~ pes Il thousand
Va rn,, ara a So .ne tules OIL the court:
In Sbo,,t ,s''aea 10 the conclusion.
nieces and porli;n in"trs tUre ON al to
ment for tho n,a; s Heiilepiy wrote Judg-
aGantleman tb p'",m,n' as ne remarked:
and n,ni, me .ou'I was rlsnt at hrst,
woman >, e''' ''-oSpeci"ily
retirad IN ,ood ons.,
patinc in M, 20 ofGoo o, ,..s "nu was fumi-
came in and soid Ill ho m" tn Tue constable
the, courthouse Tow ny ~, De',TI 70 PACK TO
and snaol-ine, oo,i,, Aoi., Aieck "aS up
wbo+9n sail .,I1. SPeaAlns aoouC
tion ~ rooonsi,Ian ,n ie mas sot up a mo-
hurried bocl, ' an1 o .at salu ne,
time 70 loon TIM ""% go. ~ mere JUST IN
last indgment Tho Iant teseISiug MS
got him Cior;ons foi i%S. speech Always
q aond g. leiiom' 1iih' lie mas