The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-09-19
OLDTIMER TALKS AGAIN.
INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF A RES
MARRABLE MAN.
A School Teacher Turned Lawyer and
Adopted Novel Expedients In Interests
of Clients When Common Ones kaiied'

MECKLENBURG, VA, Sept. ls.-spe-
cial.-"Yes," said the old gentleman in
answer TO a question, Il have often
thought that very few counties in any
state. had contained in the past more
remarkable men than this grand old
| county Of Mecklenburg, and amongst
! them / number with much pleasure Dan
Tel Mlddagh, Philadelphia by BIRTH
who came here in 1879 aged nineteen
years, and begun his career as an old
field school master.
"By-the-bye, what a difference there
| is In educating the young people now
| COMPARED with ye olden times! Aheh
scarcely a scholar in the school escaped
| nagellaton every day. Now 1t Is an eys1t
TO be brought before the school board II
Tom. Dick or Harry receive the dogwood'
some for idleness or impudence.
"Mr Mlddagh after teaching scnoOl
for several sessions attended Chapel Hil
College, in North Carolina, and AFTER
graduation. studied law, and became one
OF the most successful lawyers there at
the bar Of Meckienburg, Lunenburg and
| brunswick. where he practiced.
soon after beginning the practice OF
his profession, he married the widow oil
| Colonel Roger Gregory, by whom he had
a son, Thomas, and a daughter who
was the wife Of that elegant specimen OF
the old Virginia gentleman, Or. Joseph
Farrar.
1T is remarkable fact that Mr.. Md
dagh was always himself in financial
straits his children, after marrying and
settling were always financially well fix
ed. for such was the devotion OF the
father. that no sooner had he received a
fee. than he would take it TO one or the
other child, and thus keep them in af-
huence, whilst he was buffeted by law
yers and sherins constantly.
A KIND MASTER.
Mr.. Mddaugh was a very kind master
20 his slaves, and had amongst others,
family OF negroes who were coveted by
one OF his neighbors. a man who gath
cred gear by every vile"
On one occasion Mr.. Middagh, IN HIS
usual low financial state, went TO this
neighbor 10 borrow a thousand dollars,
Mr.. Skinhnt was very ready TO lend the
money, but when It came TO fixing the
security, nothing would do but a deed OF
trust. covering this favOrite family OF
negroes Mr.. Middagh strenuously OBJ
jected 10 giving them as security, but
greatly needing the money, finally con-
scented and himself wrote the deed At
the expiration Of the time for which the
money was loaned Mr.. Sldnhint demand
ed the payment
Mr.. Middagh, who was IN his usual
luck, plead for q little more time, earn
estly trying to impress upon Mr.. Skin
flint the fact, that he would have the
money due from an unquestloned source
within a short time Mr.. Skinflint, how
IA fl.
cash. or he would order the trustee to
sell the property.
Mr.. Mlddagh being unable TO raise the
amount. the trustee advertised a sale Of
a family OF most valuable slaves, the
property Of Daniel Nuddagh TO satisfy
certain debt due Mr.. Skinhint &C., &c.
THE SALE FORBID.
The day OF sale came. and quite n
crowd had gathered at South Hill. Tom
Moss, (who by-the-bye was the finest auc-
doneer 1 ever saw was on a big dry
goods box, and had proclaimed the cause
and terms OF the sale. which latter was
made cash by Mr. Skinhhint for his own
personal benefit, when Mr. Middagh step
ped forward and IN o loud and command
ing tone said that he forbid the sale
This produced quite q ripple OF excite
ment IN The crowd.
The trustee demanded 10 know "by
what authority" Mr.. Middagh interior
red.
let mo see by what authority you Of
FER 10 sell my negroes" said Mr.. Mid
dagh. The deed was promptly produc-
ed. which Mr. MddaCh took. and ascend
ing the box stood by the auctioneer and
proceeded 10 read the document. "and
said property shall be sold TO satisfy the
Indebtedness. when he. tho said Daniel
O.
Mr. Niiddagh "the said Daniel has not
directed or ordered this sale. as the
deed requires. and III be damned II he
means TO do So"
To say that there was CONSERVATION
on the part Of Mr. Skinfint Is putting it
mildly. and he was delighted az the as
surance Of the said Daniel that he should
have the money IN a few days IN which
| promise he was not disappointed.
A PRACTICAL JOKER
Mr.. Mddagh was beyonN question,
! the most practical OF practical jokers.
He was on a certain occasion, approach
! ed by the sheriff OF Boydton as he alight-
ed from his horse 10 attend Circuit
/ Court. which then lasted about two
weeks. The sheriff informed him that he
held an execution against him FOR some
small amounts. and on Mr.. Nddaghs
not having IT, levied on his saddle horse,
/ which he advertised for sale az the expi-
/ ration OF ten days.
Just previous 10 the sale, court adj
I iourned. and Mr. Anddagh sought the
| sheriff. who also ran the hotel, and paid
! the execution.
lie and the sheriff were warm person
al friends. and when the transaction was
| ended. the sheriff asked him why he aid
| not pay the execution at first, and save
! the cost Of the levy.
well, YOU see" said Daniel, "had 7
! paid Il then, you would have charged
! me 50 cents a day for feeding my horse
/ after the levy. which costs so much, the
| law allows you a shilling a day FOR keep
/ ing him, and I wanted a little Joke on
| you. hinc lilac lachrymae, which flow
/ ed from laughter"
| on another occasion he was called 70
/ defend a man who had Just ridden up
| on horseback and with a shot gun, shot
| dead a neghbor who was irving slabs
| at an old fashioned break.
The slab-getter had previously bru-
| fallv assaulted the horseman, but had no
| idea OF an attack until the horseman
| hailed him. and just as he looked up 70
see 20 whom the voice belonged, was
| sTot dead.
| OF course such an occasion created
very great excitement The man was
/ soon arrested and taken before old Colo
/ mel George Rodgers, who was the neigh
borhood magistrate. The testimony OF
! the prosecuting attorney was also entire