The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-09-14
WASHINGTON. D. G. Sent. 13


Tells Joke.
WASHINGTON, d. G.. Sept 3.
To-day's Post contains the following:
''Some years ago / was prosecuting at-
tornev down in North Carolina" said
Judge w. T. I.Ockett, Of that STATE at
the Hotel Page "a oolored citizen of
bad antecendents had been indicted by
the grand jury aud was on trial for the
larceny of some hogs. There wasn't a
doubt of his guilt, for he had been taken
red handed iu possession OF the stolen
swine.
1.-The prisoner had no money to pay
! an attorney, so the court appointed a
young LAWYER who, up to that time, had
never had a case, to defend the accused.
The youugster wasn't lacking in shrewd-
ness, so he called for a jury Of coiored men
as he had the right to do under the law.
| then went forward, introduced conclu
| sive testimony 10 establish the guilt Of
the prisoner, and sat down without max
ing any speech, for iC was too plain a
case to call for an argument But my
legal opponent got mp and made a fiery
harangue. He wasn't an impressive
looking man, nature having denied him
all physical graces, aud endowing him
moreover with pair Of circular shaped
legs that caused all the small boys in
the community to jeer aloud when he
appeared on the streets. But he had
talented lungs, and these he exercised
with a good effect for his client that
day.
The jury of his peers wasn't out over
ten minutes when they came back with
a verdict of mot guilty Everybody
was astonished and the Judges face red
dened with indignation. Then he let
olt and told the jurymen in plain Eng
fish what he thought of set of men who
who would render such travesty on
justice. In conclusion he said: i guess
| will have this jury polled, and was
was about to give an order to that effect
when the foreman, great strapping
fellow, a plantation hand, black as the
ace of spades, rose evidently in great
mental perturbation, and said:
" No, ledge, yer honah, please don't
poll us-poll dat little bow-legged lawyer
over dere; he was de one what told us
to find Bill Jones not guilty."
Who is Judge W. f. Lockett2
The activity of Senator Harris, of Ten
nessee, in the silver movement has called
forth reneE ed interest in that gentle
man, who is confessedly the ablest par
humanitarian in America.
Speaking Of Harris" said an old
Washington man, formerly of Tennes-
see, sit CHANGED that was in Parson
Brownlow's office-Brownlow was then |
Governor of Teunessee-when Harris |
came in to give himself up This was
just after the war. Harris was Cover |
nor of Tennessee when the war broke |
out, and among other matters he was a
man Of vigorous, active honesty. There |
was large fund of gold belonging to |
the school fund, believe. as ] now re-
call, amounting to some 100000.
1.-THE Jonfeds wanted it, but Harris |
would not give it up. He guarded it |
with the single hearted probity of a bull
dog.
Time came when the Yankee crowd |
ed nearer and more threateningly. Then |
Harris gathered up the 800, 900 and heat |
a retreat. No one knew where it went |
To, save that Harris had taken it. When |
Brownlow was made Governor he offered |
reward of $40, 900 for Harris. 1t read |
something like this:
'''Isham G. Harris; SO, 900 reward |
for his capture Is feet 10 inches tall,
has gray eyes, likes whiskey; chews to- |
baeco rapidly and is dictatorial in his
manner
mo one, however, gained the reward. |
As soon as the war was over and peace |
restored this honest old Harris returned |
every dollar of the gold, which from first
to last he had protected from all mis-
chance. IL it hadn't been for Harris |
every dollar would have been lost.
''As Harris walked into Brow nlow's
Office the latter was lying on sofa. He
was a palsied old man at the time, and
as he saw Harris CLEAN of humor Int up
bis eyes. He rose to greet him, his hands
shaking like twin aspen leaves.
"While the lamp holds out to burn
The vilest sinner may return,
said Brownlow, as he seized Harris by
the hand. That was all there was to it.
The gold came back; Harris came back.
The first was disbursed; the second was
elected TO the Senate, where he will pre-
vail, the most interesting character who
holds a seat in that sage body"
EnKE nN 6snuU -