The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1895-12-07
HIS WITS SAVED HIM.
An Incident In = Lawyers Career Tn
Won Case.

Won Case.
"a man who has his wits about
him." remarked a learned judge, lis
greater than he who conquers city,
or words to that effect, for he is always
sure of getting there"
I'm respect of what?' was the in
quiry, made with the Interior purpose
of drawing the judge out, for he knew
good many things worth the telling.
.In many" he went on, 'sbut in this
particular case refer to an experience
had when was practicing for two or
three years, and had an idea that Coke.
blackstone, ct al were scarcely in 1t
with me in the ordinary business OF
the courts. There were lot of young
fellows at our bar. and am free to
confess that we did not always main
tain the dignity of the law, which Is
one of its strongest points. Sometimes
we even exceeded the limits, and now
and then somebody had a fine to pay
for contempt We had fun at times
with visiting lawyers, and the best
practical joker in the lot was always
held in great respect by the rest of us.
Zone day an old lawyer from the
neighboring county seat was defend
ing prisoner for stealing COW, be-
lieve, and had the other side and was
quite sure of making my case. The
old fellow had been in our courts many
times and he was the slowest and
longest talker think l ever listened
to. He didn't seem to know when to
let up. Well, on this occasion he had
been talking until the young fellows
were worn out and they thought they
would teach him a lesson and at the
same time help me in downing him.
So they quie thy went out to the tele-
graph office, got blank and an envel-
ope and fixed up telegram which
read: Great Cesar, governor, won't
you ever stop tallzing?'
Then they got boy to bring the
| message into the court room, and they
| sat around the bar to see the old man
I! fall dead when he read the dispatch.
The boy came in all right and the sher-
if promptly delivered the message.
OF course everything became quiet
when the point was reached and the
lawyer asked permission of the court
to read the message. he tore it open
amid breathless silence, everybody
watching him, and those who were in
the joke expecting an explosion as
soon as the end had been reached. But
there was nothing of the kind Tic
read it over slowly once, then more
slowly again, and then he looked 'ut
at the Judge and over to the jury.
"sMay it please the court he said II
tremulous tones, 4 have just received
message announcing the death OF
very near and dear relative, one who,
and his lip quivered, was more to ma
than can tell, and must ask to b
excused from speaking further
| 'sThis was an entirely unexpected
turn to the affair. and of course thu
iokers were powerless to change tn
current. They simply sat dumbfound
ed, while the old fellow was asked t
finish his speech. He finished yer.
briefly, but it was to the point, ant
when my turn came to end the bust
dess I was not in it with the grief
stricken man by my side, and the jur.
gave the case to my opponent withon
leaving the room.
After it was all over the old lawyc
/ called one of the crowd aside and sal
something to him with mild sort OF
smile that resulted in his taking up
collection among us sufficient to pa.
for fine dinner for the entire bar.
Washington Star.