The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-01-14
a STRIKING ENANIpLlS.
How Senator Morgan Won u Case
With tho Bible in Hand.

How Senator Morgan Won u Cas-
With tho Bible in Hand.
G. n. H. in Atlanta Journal.
1t was some twenty years ago tina
Senator John Il. Morgan won very
remarkablo case in the probate court
OF Mobile County, Ala, by using the
blolo rs his chief book Of reference
before tho jury.
-- A lady possessed of considerable
property, died and on hor deathb
executed q will, leaving everything
she owned to hcr throe daughters.
Soon after her death, the dwelling in
which tho young ladies resided was
burned, and tho will was destroyed
before it was prObatcd.
Tho three young daughters sought
TO probate u copy OF the Will drawn up
from what they remembered Of its con-
tents. Othor hcirs undertook to fight
the case. Senator Morgan represented
the young ladies, and worry distin-
guishcd eN-judgo OF Alabama repre-
scntcd tho COntcstant5. The case
came up for IL hearing before Judge
Price Williams, Jr., who is still the
probate Judge Of Mobile County.
was at that timo Il clerk in the record
| Office and was present during the near
ing of the case. A jury was asked for
AMI one was cmpancllcd. The young
| ladies were put under tho rule, and
while ono was tcstifying the other two
were excluded from tho courtroom.
| The first Of the ladies upon the stand
| testified to the contents Of the alleged
| will, and stated that to the best Of her
| recollection her mother, while sitting
up in bed, wrote upon fOolsclp paper
| and with Il pencil. The next gave
| about the samo testimony us to the
| contents Of tho document, but said it
| was written on note paper and in ink.
! The third corroborutcd her sisters as
| 10 the contents Of the will, but said
that as she remembered in tho writ
ing was on letter paper and in purple
ink.
At the conclusion Of the evidence
for the applicants the court took a
short recess, and Judge Boylcs walked
| into the record room to smoke cigar,
ana lie there found Senator Morgan
busiiy engaged in reading the Bible.
What are you looking for in the
Holy Book, General ~ asked Judge
| BoyIus.
"Oh, Il few texts between Genesis
! and Revelations" was the reply.
When the arguments began Judge
| t}oylrs, with the confidence Of Il win
ncr, arose and proceeded to tear the
evidence Of the yourg ladies into
smithcrcens, by holding up before the
jury the discrepancy OF the testimony.
We fortunately put them under the
rule" he exclaimed, land not one of
them agreed as to how that will was
written. Just think, they had it ON
all sorts OF paper and written with al!
kinds Of ink and pencils" He then
referred to Senator Morgan studying
the Bible and said IL lawyer was in dcs.
pcrutc straits when he had to leave his
law books and take refuge in the Word
Of God.
Senator Morgan leaned back in his
chair, listened, smiled and str0k cd his
short gray mustachc. Finally it came
his turn to address the jury. He walk
cd forward with Bible IN his hand and
| said
IL hold in my hand Il Book that
WAS taught to believe and to reverence
AT my mothers knee. Gentlemen Of
the jury, know that every one Of you
learned to look upon this sacred volume
with respect when IL mothers holy
! love Tuidcd your youthful footsteps.
In this book studied the lito Of tnc
, Master, and let me tell you why | be-
), licvc the four gospels have recorded
. the truth. 1t is because they ditlcr in
r some Of the minor details. If Matthew,
. Mark, Luke and John were in collusion
. and got together to frame Il fictitious
history. they would have been eX-
. cCcdngiy careful to fix the details ;,
: 4, to exclude any discrepancies. la
Matthew we read that Christ, when on
, trial, was clothed with u scarlet robe
In Mark, Luke and John it is recorded
that tie wore Il purple robe. In Mat.
thew, Mark and Luke we read that one
Simon, OF Cyrcnc, bore the cross tC
the place OF crucltiXiOn. In John it IL
written that Jesus bore the cross him.
self. All diilcr as to the words writ.
This is Jesus the King of the Jews;
Mark: The King Of the Jews : Luke
This is the King Of tho Jcws > John;
+ Jesus OF Nazareth, the King of tho
' Jcws.' | say to you that these very
\ differences stamp tho gospels with
l Divine truth. Now if the young latlie
=. had gotten together in collusion to tel
, Il story of tho writing Of ~ will tina
never existed, they would have agree
upon the details as to the paper, ink
J. etc. This would have been their frs
. thought. Their rccOllcctiOnS diifc
because tho act OF which they hav
: : testified occurred when their soul
were troubled at tho death bed Of tn hci
l beloved mother. AS with the gospels
the discrepancies Of their evidence i
Il testimony OF the truth Of what the,
utter"
Senator Morgan won tho case.