Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-07-23

said ho reCkonod it "mOut' good
while before that time.
The next day was Sunday. The
new lawyer won't to church, to DO
stared at and preached at. She sat
| far back toward the door and the
| hemming and having of the minis
ter were testimony of tho annoyance
he felt at boholding tho honorod
mombers of his flock twisting their
noCks to gazo at tho astounding nov
elty-a female barrister. She con.
Quoted herself with simple dignity,
paying respectful attention to tho
sermon, and when the Services were
done she walked straightway to tho
hotel. About the church door u
crowd gathered to discuss hor, and
in tho midst of this idle assembly
stood the old Justice of tho peace.
He was moro than honestly worried
-he was sOrely distressed. His i'm.
portanco had long hung upon his
"reminiscences of the old Judge, and
by common consent no had taken
charge OF tho great man 5 momory-
! solo executor of tho estate, bonds
and mortgages of roCOllcction-and
thus to DO intrudod upon was a
fetching blow. If tho intruder woro
only man, como with the defiance
of man 5 strength, procedure would
DO clear; but, instead, he was con.
trontod by u young and winsomo
woman. However, his duty lay he.
fore him, like straight path, and
he had but one course to pursue. He
would mako it SO unpleasant for the
woman that she would soon vacato
the old Office, If not the town. Tho
circuit judge was his friend, and that
morning they held II long conference,
and now, rs he stood in the middle
OF that idle throng, bare of his hat,
with the sun beating upon his an
cient head, he looked about him IN
til his eyes fell upon the mayor S
face, and then he said
"Speakin in the nature of a para.
bic, l may say that there is more
ways than one of KILN q dog when
you amt got a rope to hang him
with. And / want it understood
that l don { mean nothin personal,
and, Furthermore, that there ain t u
man i'll all this community that's
fonder of ladies society than am.
Do you fOllor me?" he added, nod
ding at the mayor.
"Bumpin up agin your heels" the
mayor answered.
Il thought so. No, sir; you might
git on a pert boss and ride all day
and not find q man that likes the la.
dies better than do. And the fact
that l have been married three times
is proof of the fact. Now, l know
that you gentlemen are all Interested
in what I'm doin, so I'll keep nc
secrets from you. went over to sec
the circuit judge this mornin, and he
tells mo that the young woman has
got the right to practice in his court,
and, worse than that, she can t by
any due process of law be got out
of the brick Office, but there is re,
course. The judge don't like the
idea of woman practicin law, and
well, in fact, he II make it interest
in for her from the very Jump.
Court opens tomorrow mornin, and
l want all you gontlemen to be
there "
When court assembled the next
day, Attorney Jonnett, duly enrolled,
took her scat with the other law
yers, and when the judge, following
the usual polite custom, asked the
members of the bar, one by one, il
they had any motion to make, A. c.
Jonnett, in a sweet voice, answered
mo motion, your honor
A few unimportant cases were
taken up and set aside, and ther
work on the criminal docket was be
gun. The first case was that of 9
young man named Elliott. He haG
been indicted on a charge of stealing
$40. He was tall, pale, nervous
with an intellectual expression Of
countenance. He was a stranger
had not been able to give bond, anC
for more than two months he haC
lain in Jail, and now, as he had moi
the money wherewith to employ
counsel, it was the judges duty tc
appoint lawyer to defend him. H,
was guilty, of course, and such al
appointment was genial farce, but
it was the law. The judge looked
about until his stern eye rested upor
Attorney Jonnett. His look was in
terpreted, and a litter went about
the room. The young woman blush
ed slightly, and the old Justice
nudging the mayor, whispered:
This here is the beginnin of he1
embarrassment in this town. like
the ladies society, understand
1--WE must have silencel" the
judge demanded. Then he appoint
ed Agnes G. Jonnett to defend thu
prisoner
Now there was no red of confusion
on her face. She was pale and cour
ageous. She went over to the pris
oner and sat down beside him. She
went to the hotel keeper, and shortly
afterward had the defendants bono
fixed. She announced that the de
Tense was not ready for trial, and
was given three days for prepare
ton. During that time she worked
day and night, and when the case
was called she was ready. Her ex
animation of the witnesses wa.
sharp, and the prosecuting attorney
gave her many a look of antagonistit
admiration. Finally the argument
was begun, and then she surprised
the court. Her command of Ian