The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-10-20
VESTS DOG CASE.
Remarkable Speech Once Made In Court
by the Missouri Senator.

Remarkable Speech Once Made In Couft
by the Missouri Senator.
A Washington correspondent of the
Chicago Herald tells a good
dog story on Senator Vest. Some
wears ago Mr.. Vest was down in Mis-
souri, to try q law suit. Another case,
q dog case, was on the docket just
ahead of him, and he had to wait till
this was disposed of. One of the law.
yers in the dog case asked Vest if he
wouldn't help their side, and the sen.
ator said he would. So he was paid a
retaining fee Of $3.50 by tho plaintiff
and the trial went on. Voluminous
evidence was introduced to show that
defendant had shot plaintiffs dog in
malice and quite as much to prove
that the dog was vicious and had at
tackled the defendant Then the law
yers made their addresses to the
court, going over the evidence with
great thoroughness. All this time
Senator Vest sat with his big round
head buried between his shoulders, as
was his wont, without saying q word.
He seemed to be asleep most Of the
time.
"Vest," remarked his associate
counsel, sit is now our turn to close.
You do it,"
"Eo," said the senator, "you know
more about the case than I do. You
finish it up"
"Rut you must do something to earn
your fee or our client will be sore."
So Vest rose from his chair,
Strengthened the kink out of his neck,
looked first one juror then another in
the face till he had spent several min
ptes in making the round of the twelve
good men and true, and then began:
"Gtentlemen of the Jury-.The best
friend man has in this world may
turn against him and become his enc
my. His son or daughter that he has
reared with loving care may prove un-
grateful. Those who are nearest and
dearest to US, those whom we trust
with our happiness and good name,
may become traitors to their faith.
The money that man has he may
lose. It flies away from him, per-
haps when he needs it most. A mans
reputation may be sacrificed in mo-
ment of ill.considered action. The
people who are prone to fall on their
knees to do us honor when success is
with us may be the first to throw the
stone of malice when failure settles its
cloud upon our heads. The one abso-
lutely unselfsh friend that man can
have in this unselfish world, the one
that never deserts him, the one that
never proves ungrateful or treacher.
Gus, is his dog.
"Gentlemen of the jury" the Sena-
tor continued, "a mans dog stands by
him ip prosperity and in poverty, in
health and in sickness. He will sleep
on the cold ground, where the wintry
winds blow and the snow drives
fercely, if only he may be near his
masters side. He will kiss the hand
that has no food to offer, he will lick
the wounds and sores that come in
encounter with the roughness Of the
world. He guards the sleep Of his
pauper master as if he were prince.
When all other friends desert he re-
mains. When riches take wings and
reputation falls to pieces he is as con-
slant in his love as the sun in its
Journey through the heavens. If for
tune drives the master forth an outcast
in the world, friendless and homeless,
the faithful dog asks no higher priv.
lege than that of accompanying him,
to guard against danger, to fight
against his enemies. And when the
last scene of all comes, and death
takes the master in his embrace and
his body is laid away in the cold
ground, no matter if all other friends
pursue their way, there by his grave
side will the noble Dog be found, his
head between his paws, his eyes sad,
but open in alert watchfulness, faith
full and true even unto death.
Then Vest sat down. This remark
able speech he had delivered in low
voice, without gesture. No refer
ence had he made to the merits OF the
case in hand. Not word had he ut
tered about the evidence. When he
finished Judge and jury were seen to
have tears in their eyes. The jury
filed out, and in minute or two re-
turned to the courtroom. The plain
tiff had asked for 5000 damages. The
verdict gave him $500, and several OF
the iurymen wanted to hang the de-
fendart.