The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-10-29
LAW STORIES.
The Green Justice, the Country Attorney
and the Troubled Wife.

knowledge of law, but on their acquaint-
ance with human nature He was one of
the best specimens of the class too. Stories
OF his rotorts and witty sayings are told
all over his own and the adjoining coun-
ties.
1.-THE first time I ever heard him was in
the case of 3 man who was on trial for
shooting into a party that had come to
horn him, q form of country celebration
that you haTo probably heard about.
Keeny appeared for the defendant 1t was
shown that She gun with which tho shoot
ing was done was loaded with dried peas
instead OF lead. Finally a very dirty look
ing witness was called, and testified that
he had been shot in the right leg On
cross examination the fellow appeared
rather shifty, and finally Keeny asked him
to show the jury the exact spot where the
peas took effect The follow demurrcd,
saying that the shooting had beeBdone six
weeks before and the wound had healed.
At last, with great reluctance, the witness
drew up his right trousers leg, exposing a
limb we'll covered with dirt. Pointing to
q spot which, if possible was blacker than
the rest. the witness said:
GO There! That's where they went in
"Keony turned TO the jury, and in his
most impressive manner said:
Gentlemen, I leave it to your knoWl-
edge of crops. If peas had been planted in
that soil six weeks ago, they would be in
blossom now
1.-THE witness retired in confusion, and
Keony won his CASE
"When first began practice out in west
err New York, " said the man who had
moved TO the city, 81 had an experience
with one of those old fashioned lawyers
that taught me an important lesson in
dealing with rural juries. l was fresh
from college, and of course had q good
opinion of my own abilities. The only
other lawyer in tho town was ;sn old fellow
who knew no law, but was acquainted
with every man, woman and child for 90
miles around. My first case was against
him and was over the sale Of horse. I
had perfectly clear case and congratulate
ed myself or my good fortune. On the
day of the trial I drove out to the place
and found my adversary already there.
The case proceeded, and the other side put
up practically no defense at ALL but it
didn't take that jury 10 minutes to find
for tho defendant.
81 v7as astounded, but the old Justice of
the peace before whom the trial took place
afterward explained it to me. 1t seems
that the old lawyer had gone to the scene
of the trial early in the morning and had
told the men sittingabout the corner gro
Gerry store that Il young college dude was
coming over to try Il suit. Then he gave
a description of mo that was well calculat-
ed to prejudice the rural mind. He paint
ed me as q young fop who wore q plug
hat, felt above speaking to common folks
and beyond all things needed taking
down. His remarks were hacked up by a
large flask Ct Kentucky whisky When 1
appeared on the scene and they saw tie
silk hat, it settled my fate. After that L
was more careful
Il can also relate an experience with
rural justice, said the third man. II
once had Il case before a newly elected JUS
tice of the peace, who was also farmer.
The defendant was represented by an old
pettifogger named E:nmons. On the day
OF the trial I drove half q dozen miles out
into the country to tho Justices house No
one was Oh hand except the justice him
self, and 1 asked him if he was not ready
to go on with the trial.
g There VIII be no trial., said he THE
defendant has decided to withdraw the
case and pay the costs.
q Great hadesn I yelled. 1.-THE de-
PENDANT can't withdraw a suit
g But he has withdrawn it,, said tho
justice, and it is so entered III the records
of the court. The case has been dismissed
1T was quito true. My opponent, find
ing that he had no case, had stolen q
march on me and had the case dismissed
by tie verGant justice, paying the trifing
costs"
Eyes" said tie Cedar street lawyer,
"thcro are many funny incidents in the
law business, but there is n sad side to
some of them, too, which makes me reflect
on how small proportion of all human
wrongs and misfortunes we arc able to re
lieve. One Gay soon after l began practice
n handsome and fashionably dressed voln-
an came into my Office. From her looks
1 judged that she was not much over 20
years OF age, and I learned afterward that
she had been married only q short tilno
before. She told me that sho had been
sent by n Clergyman who was q friend of
mine and after some hesitation added
that she had had trouble with her hus-
band.
Il supposed that my visitor was seeking
to be released from HyInen's bonds and
asked if there was any evidence on which
she could base an action for divorce. She
seemed to be Mortified as tho thought and
said:
g oh, no, sir; don't want Il divorce. ,
50 Well. then, 1 said, probably you can
/ get q separation And l enumerated the
grounds on which it could be obtained.
81 But wouldn't havo a separation if I
could get it, said she
81 was becoming a trifle puzzled, but I
1 hazarded another suggestion.
/ Better go up TO Judge Blank, I said,
naming one Of inc ponce Jtlstlces- ne
will give you warrant, and you can bring
/ your husband into court and mako him
I contribute q fixed sum per week to your
4 support
| q I don't want him to contribute to my
I support, said the woman, almost crying
by this time. I can make moro money
\ than he can.
i This was exasperating, SO I said:
I" Well, madam, you can't get and don t
! want Il divorce OF u separation, and you
/ don wish to compel your husband to con-
+ tribute TO your support. You must par
+ don me if I fail to see how 1 can advise
I you, for I have no idea as to what yea do
\ WANT
Tears wellea up in the young woman
| eyes, and, ciasping her hands, she faltered
1 plaintiYclY: