Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-07-07
THE COLONEL.

The most interesting figure in the
group is Colonel B., large old man with
a commanding port, red face, anu a
slvery hair. From head to- foot he Is
attired in white linen, his voice Is mel
low, and he has what the darkie5 call
"a mask on him" When we rode up TO
the store he took his feet from the top
rail of the gallery, where they obstructeu
the view, and, uncoverlng stood bOWins
until We passed. lie addressed Polly VINO
is the age of his granddaughter, as "fair
cousin" and Philistina as "one OF south
ron's most celebrated daughters, which
speech she gloated over as cnlid over
sweets. 1t makes very little dhIeiehce
what is the character OF the compliment
paid Philstina, for all she wishes is the
fatter:'. -
IF one were TO praise my golden mar
and blue eyes" she has been known 10
assert, II should be just as pleased DARK
as | am. It's the motive l respect IN inc
person who praises me"
Colonel u. is great criminal law
| yer. and is warranted 10 clear any
| bodv If he can practice with his life
| long partner, Mr.. Y. In any famous case
the Colonel makes the speech and Mr..
| T.. sits in front OF the jury, and at all
| the affecting passages sheds coplous
| tears. and no jury has ever been known
TO resist the eloquence OF the one ana
the piteous sobs OF the other But re-
Gently Colonel b. had for client man
who had murdered in cold blood one OF
| his neighbors. The Courant reported the
| trial at the time, and joined with the
| Virginia press in condemnng the verdict,
which set the accused free. You did not
| know what was done 10 pcryert the
minds Of the jurymen. Scvera! eloquent
counsel from Richmond made stirring
speeches. but the murderer, who was a
wise fellow, chose that the old Colonel
close for the defence. Every legal point
had been taken by his colleagues. a brill
liant poet had done the boring for water
appropriate TO the occasion: another had
argued against the crime OF capital pun
ishment Everybody wondered what line
was left for the senior counsel The old
fellow walked into the courtroom about
. o'clock on q sweltering May afternoon
and, hopping his face with his red SIX
handkerchief, addressed the jury. Not
one word in defence Of the crime or the
criminal did he say but he talked TO each
man. He told one how he used TO know
him when he was a shaver, and another
that he went to the old field school with
his father. He praised an0ther's tobacco,
and complimented a third on his gray
mare.
To each one Of the twelve he had some
thing familiar. fiatterng. or reminiscent
10 say, ana tntD, on tnc StDIr VI oit
times and ancient friendship, he asked
them to clear his client.
I'm an old man, gentlemen" he raid
with n husky note In his voice, THE
shadows are Engineering. Soon my sun
will set, and your strong arms viii bear
me TO my last home"
At this juncture. Mr.. r., the weeping
member of the firm. began TO sob. The
old Colonel swallowed his emotion, and
went o.:
This is probably my last speech in
defence OF an innocent man iii this court.
ROOM Shall he suffer for my failing
power? Because | no longer thrill you
with eloquence, move you with logic?
Gentlemen of the jury. your old friend
your fathers old friend, asks you TO let
him go free"
The jury quilted the room to return the
verdict of not guilty-after five minutes
consultation. This is Il specimen Of the
personal influence Of person whose
chiefest quality is that subtle thing, per-
sonalitv.