The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-06-12

in business about a year with a partner
VINO was not the easiest man in the world,
ana they had frequent clashes. We had
rewritten their partnership agreement
Two or three times and had patched up
several lights, so my preceptor was not
surprised 10 learn they had been engaged
iu anofhef small yrar Isbia 80 80
rlous. our client in bis. anger had taken
a knife and mortaly cut his business as
taken to the hospital by two Of the clerks
~ the store and they had returned with
the opinions Of the d8etors to the effect
lhat deain was a matter Of hours. The
man might die in twcnty-four hours. and
ne could by nothing short of miraculous
aid survive more than forty-eight. The
wound was in the abdominal region. Al
the worst the crime committed was muir
der IN the second degree and n matter OF
commitment for life. Under the circum-
stances the offense might be regarded as
manslaughter only, and our man IN that
case would get but a twenty years sem
fence, Elthef event meant social death
and commercial ruin. wherefore the un-
fortunate business man preferred to toss
UP his business chances in the air and fly
What he wished to do was to transfer his
properly TO my preceptor and have the
Jameson will live twenty-four hours,
Will heY asked the lawyer Jllmleson
was the name OF the man in the hospi-
ta "a. Morgan was our clients name,
YES replied Morgan, the physicians
said he might live two full days
one day is long enough said the
old man; one day will do for our pur-
poses. You say no one knows OF this af-
fair but your two clerks?'
They are the only ones. They heard
our discussion and know what my provo
cation was. They saw me stab him.
. Here, BILL said my instructor In the
Jaw. go down to Mr.. Morgans ware
house and bring those two clerks here
Tell EN- TO lock up the place and come
a-runnlng.' Then he reached for Swans
Treatise. a valuable book for LAWYERS in
Ohio, and turned to the criminal forms
Il was back with the clerks in fifteen
minutes lIil!i and the old man had an am
with assault and battery upon the person
OF Samuel Jameson. took the paper over
to a ne.ghboring Justice of the peace. He
plain and matter OF fact. He could be
relied upon not to ask too many ques-
tons 50 that his fees were beyond doubt.
one OF the clerks went with me and made
oath 20 the charges. The justice at once
issued warrant, and at my request also
a witness. The constable took the war;
rant and accompanied the complaining
witness and myself to our Office. Nor
gan was arrested, the other clerk SUBJ
poenaed. and the entire party, with NV
crafty preceptor, went back to the office
OF the magistrate. Morgan pleaded gull
the circumstances. They told of the dis
pute, and said It had terminated by the
prisoner striking Jameson two blows.
Iney toid the truth, but not all OF 1t.
The justice. with some other perfunctory
advice to Morgan to bride his temper in
the future, fined him $40 and costs
THE money was paid. and my preceptor
then made the only departure from the
customary procedure. Usually when q
client is fined the lawyer does not exhibit
any mad desire to see the fact spread on
the record. This time the lawyer, Instead
OF leaving asked the magistrate to make
his docket entry OF trial and judgment at
once. The old justice demurred at first
but overcame his indisposition to labor
and spread his minutes on the office re-
cord. He signed them and entered salts
faction OF hne and judgment. Three hours
after Morgan had mortally wounded JAM
ieson he had been tried and convicted OF
assault and battery.
THE next day Jameson died. He had
no near relatives in the city, but the hos
Of Morgan and the two clerks as to the
manner in which the man had been hurt
And they also notified the police. Morgan
was arrested and was at once indicted by
the grand jury, which was then in ses-
sion. The jails Of Ohio were not bullying
with criminals and the court dockets were
not months in arrears Morgan was
charged with murder. His case came up
preceptor astonished the court and the
posecuting attorney. He interposed a plea
Of 'autrefo.ts acquit (previous conviction)
and proved 1t by the justice of the peace
and his records. There is a provision in
the constitution which prevents prose-
cutting man more than once for the
same offense and Morgan was discharged.
The poor old magistrate got warm talk
from the court, and my old preceptor was
also reproached for sharp practice"
But this is neither good law nor prac-
tice," objected a listener.
1T was good enough for Ohio at that
time, and ii certainly satisfied the pris-
Oner," returned the narrator OF the story.
1T might interest you to know" he con-
after a short time It was not cheerful
for him in Ohio. All this took place thir-
ty years ago, and Morgan is head of a
considerable business house here now."