Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-03-24

people were not arrested. They. no doubt.
noticed the detectives. and thought II was
bad time to experiment In bomb-throw-
ing"
A.. RI. Hummei, the Little Legal
Giant" OF whom oliver Wendell Holmes,
Jr, said: HE has the Judgment OF Web
ster and the wit Of Artemus Ward we'll
nigh came TO grief through that same
wit
"One day q man came to me TO DEFEND
him in a certain breach-of-promise- suit.
When he told me the circumstances ana
the name OF the woman I gave a start or
surprise; for she was one whom / had
previously defended In trial for her life.
or course. my knowledge Of her was
very comprehensive: and. though en-
deavored. through professional etiquette.
to forget everything except the things
that pertained specially to my clients
case. I found my mind reverting con-
stantly to shady portions of history that
would be OF much advantage TO me in
the present case.
SHE MEANT 1T.
while In this frame of mind I was con-
sideraby startled by the sudden appear
ance of the woman In my office: 1 heard
Mr.. Blank has engaged you to defend
him in my coming breach-of-promise case,
she said. fiercely.
"'You are correctly informed replied,
frigidly
Very well.' said she, I am going to
shoot you. Upon the trial, which will
be a public one. you will show that
have lived under three different names.
and will tell things that no one knows
bur you. Sooner than have you do that
I will kill you. l am going away now.
n a,.l han
II you still decide to take the case, you
can say your last prayer
I'm vain pleaded professional etiquette
and it's restraints upon my conduct. but
without any effect in convincing her.
actually believe she thought | would tell
the court the secrets OF a lawyers con-
fesslonal Finally, still irate. she took her
departure. And in an hour she returned
and with pistol. My clerks brought me
I'm word that she had II in her hand, and
that there was fire in her eyes.
HE FLED.
Now. am not man to retreat In the
face OF fire: and IL I had had a man with
whom to deal I should have endeavored
to match his craftsmanship. But what
can man do with only an angry woman
for an opponent? 1 thought 1t over, and
decided that discretion and valor were
one In this case, and so | fled-fed igno-
minously. There was an opening out
back: and while my lady sat studying
which was the business end OF the weapon
l slipped out, got in a cab. and drove
home to dinner. That night she settled
matters with the man, and all turned out
we'll"
DR.. Charles II. Parkhurst says en-
phatically: mo. l never in my life was
in bodily danger. l have been protected
from all that"
But were you not in danger when
you were climbing the Matterhorn?" l
asked.
mo. not at all. Some OF my friends
said / was In danger, but l didn't think
so. About the time the rope broke and |
caught myself upon Il jutting crag? Oh,
that was nothing. Just u mere travelling
mishap."
But a confidential friend of the Park
hurst family tells a dark tale Of an at
tempt to introduce poison food through
the Doctors kitchen and OF frustrated
effort TO capture him. And this not during
the TenderlOin disturbances, but lately,
on account of political scores.
CROSSING A BRIDGE.
General Grant used 10 tell a story OF
n narrow escape from death of his own.
And not only that. but also OF Miss
Dents escape-the girl to whom he was
engaged. 1t happened I'm the country
There was a picnic and a bridge to
he crossed over a swollen stream. Young
Grant arrived late after his sweetheart
and whereas the others took time TO go
by another road he must needs go over
the dangerous bridge or miss the pic
mic feast. Across the bridge the adVeh-
turous couple decided TO go. Young Grant
cracked the whip and across the TlcKetty
boards the obedient horse flew. or course.
ALI landed safely on the other side. but
the creaking of the timbers and the crash
of the bridge as 1t fell into the stream
behind them gave them sufiiclent shocN
for one day. ,,
In relating my narrowest escape from
death" most men show much pride III
the good fortune that aided them AT
critical moment. and thankfuiness 70
Providence for sparing them. Records
show that one death in ten ID violent
one and to have escaped from the very
Jaws of disaster is a cause for congratu-
atton and wonder