The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-26
A COURT sFELLING-BEE.
a Curious Incident in a Baltimore
Court
From the Baltimore News.

From the Baltimore News.
There was a speling-bee in the court Of
common pleas recently, a country Justice
being the performer He could give cards
and spades to the whole race Of volapuk-
lists.
Justice jenkins, who for six years dis
pensed rural justice in the vicinity of
Back river, Baltimore county, said
on the witness stand that his failing eye
sight caused him to withdraw from the
magistrates bench He was giving testi-
mony in the now celebrated damage suit
Of Beees against Rosenblatt A release
executed by Bees had been signed before
him, and lie was explaining why he did
not read the paper himself, but got Pol
lock and another man, who were interest
ed in the case TO read ii to him.
Richard S. Culbreth, who, with Alonzo
Hurlock, was conducting Bees case, hint
ed that a defect in early training had
something to do with the separation of the
justice and his office after six years of
honorable association, and they proceeded
70 have a civil service examination right
in court. 1t was also limited that this same
defect in early training might have had
something to do with getting others to
read papers which were executed before
the justice.
The test was spelling. Justice Jenkins,
who is not a young man and who wears
Nm
Attorney William Cotton, turneds half
about in his chair and set himself for the
onset. AS no list OF words had been fur
nished the irlpromptu civil service com
mission, the words in the release were
pressed into service.
q" Squire, will you please spell the word
court?' asked Lawyer Culbreth, with
great suavity.
"C-o-a-r-t," said the justice, without
much hesitation.
Now, spell consideration" urged the
lawyer.
The squire Lesitated and was lost He
stumbled as he jerkily emitted Coon
c-l-d-e-r-a-e- i-o-n-considerati
Spell Rosenblatt,' said the lawyer. .
"R-o-s-e-n-b-l-o-k," spelled The justice,
laboring under the mental strain.
Spell imaginary" still persisted the I'M
appeased attorney.
The beads of perspiration were standing
on Justice jenkins forehead as he labor
ed forth ''a-m-e-g-n-a-r-y."
His version of dismissed was dis
m-i-s-t" He did damages into dam
i-g-e-s' His assault was "a-s-a-u-l-t.'
He spelled other things. and tod of the
passes to which his eyesight had brought
him until the jurors, the court and the
lawyers were filled with sympathy and
hilarity. Then the Justice left the stand
with the proud consciousness that he had
convinced all OF tnOSe present tnat ne was
fully justified in giving up the place Of
magistrate-on account Of defective eye
sight.
Sigmund Rosenblatt. the defendant in
the case, then took the stand and he die
his best not to be outdone in the ofIicia
mangling of Uncle Sans English. He told
| of Bees coming 20 his place in an early
stage of inebriety, and proceeded to draw
distinctions between being lively" ant
drunk" Rosenblatt clinched the bust
ness by affirming that Bees was not il
such a condition but he was able TO mo
nopolate.
''Monopolating," he explained later
meant going about the store, expectorat
| ing tobacco juice, swearing, turning
down" one clerk after another, and finally
| smashing the proprietor, Rosenblatt, il
| the jaw.
Yet Rosenblatt gave Bees more beer. II
excuse he explained sadly: I'VE sell t,
many men who are under the influence O
| liquor. 1t is not our business to ask
man whether he is drunk when we can sci
him goods. We would stand a great dea
from a customer in order to sell hin
| goods"