Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-12-11
Aurlorulls department.
JOHN ALIENS FIRST LEGAL VICTORY.


"Private John Allen" of Mississip
pi, who became the wit of the house o.
representatives with the death O.
Sunset Cox, tells good story or
himself of how he came to be pro
found lawyer.
A party of members were telling
warns in the cloak room of the house
and when Aliens turn came he tolC
this one:
"I want to tell you of the greatest
legal victory of my life," said Allen, a.
he lighted a cigar and propped his fee'
against the wall in true Southern
style. "It was down in Tupelo, dur
ing the trying period just after the
war. was at that time a practicing
lawyer, that is I practiced whenever
had any cases to practice with.
zone day old uncle Pompey, one
of the old Negroes of the settlement
came into my Office and said:
"sMars John, want you to claI
me. rs gwine to be rested fer steal,
in two hams out of the cross road
store
"sWell, Pompey,' I asked. Did you
steal the hams?'
"sMars John, 1 just took 'em.'
"sDid any one see you p I asked
"sYas, boss,' said the old Negro
disconsolately, two. ole white buck
ras.' =.
"sWell, Pompey,' I replied, I can't
do anything for you under the circum'
stances
"'Now, Mars John, here's $40. !
jist want you to try :,
"Well, I consented to try" said
Allen. 1.-THE case was to be tried be-
fore an old magistrate named johnson.
He was totally uneducated, and was,
moreover, a perfect dictator, and no
Negro ever came before him who was
not fined the maximum penalty and
sent to the field to expiate his crime
in the sweat of his brow.
"The magistrate heard the case.
Every possible proof was brought to
show that Pompey stole the hams
There could be no doubt of it from the
testimony. I did not put single
question to any of the witnesses; but
when the testimony was all in, l arose
and in my most dignifed manner, ad'
dressed the magistrate: -,
"May it please your honor, it would
be useless for me to argue the position
he holds, and before one who would
adorn the superior if not the supreme
bench of this grand old commonwealth.
And may say that those VINO kno"
best saw that you would grace even the
supreme court of the United States,
the highest tribunal in the land. 1t
will be useless to dwell upon the testl-
mony. You have heard it and know
the case as we'll as / do. However, 1t
NAV not be out of order for me to call
your bonor's attention to short pass
age in the old English law, which
clearly decides the case, and which,
for the moment, your honor may nave
forgotten.
@Then I fished down into my pock-
and drew forth, with a great hoursn,
and old copy of Julius Caesar l
opened it with great dignity to the
first page, and read the line which is
familiar to every schoolboy, 'Omnla
Gallia in tres divisa est That de-
cides the case,' throwing the book
nnon the table. That clearly acquits
the defendant.
"With great dignity and solemnity
took nv seat. The old magistrate
was completely nonplussed. He look,
ed at me a moment quizzically ana
scratched his head. Then, turning TO u,
Pompey, he raised himself to his full
height, and said ,,
"sPompey, know you stole tnem
hams, but by the ingenuity OF your
lawyer, I've got to let you 60: Git
OUT said be, as he planted his No; .
in the seat of Pompey's pants, 'and II
YOU ever come here again, lawyer or
no lawyer, you git six months