The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-04
WON A CASE WITH A BIBLE.
The Senator Turns the Tables on an
Opposing lawyer.

Written for the Atlanta (Ga.). Journal.
1t was some twenty years ago that Sem
ator John T. Morgan won a very remark
able case in the probate court of Mobile
county Alabama, by using the Bible as
his chief book of reference before the jury.
A lady possessed OF considerable prop
erty, died and on her death bed executed
will, leaving everything she owned to
her three daughters Soon after her
death, the dwelling in which the young
ladies resided was burned, and the will
was destroyed before it was probated.
The three young daughters sought to
probate a copy of the will drawn up from
what they remembered of it's contents.
Other heirs undertook to fight the case.
Senator Morgan represented the young la
dies, and a very distinguished ex-judge of
Alabama, Judge Boyles, represented the
contestants The case came up for a
hearing before Judge Price Williams, Jr.,
who is still the probate Judge of Mobile
county. | was at that time a clerk in the
record Office and was present during the
hearing of the case. A jury was asked for
and one was empanelled. The young la
dies were represented by Senator Morgan,
were put under the rule, and while one
was testifying the other two were exclud-
ed from the court room. The first of the
ladies upon the stand testified to the con-
tents Of the alleged win, and stated that
to the best of her recollection her mother,
while sitting up in bed, wrote upon FOOLS
cap paper and with a pencil. The next
gave about the same testimony as to the
contents of the document but said it was
written on note paper and in ink. The
third corToborated her sisters as to the
contents of the will, but said that as she
remembered it the writing 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 Boyles walked into the
record room to smoke a cigar, and he
there found Senator Morgan busily en-
gagged in reading the Bible.
What are you looking for in the Holy
Book, general?' asked Judge Boyles.
ooh, a few texts between Genesis and
Revelations was the reply.
When the arguments began Judge
Boyles, with the confidence of winner.
arose and proceeded to tear the evidence
of the young ladies into smithereens. by
holding up before the jury the discrep-
ancy Of the testimony I'VE 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 all kinds of ink and pencils" He
then referred TO Senator Morgan study
ing the Bible and said lawyer was in
desperate 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 stroked his
short gray mustache. Finally 1t came
his turn to address the jury. He walked
forward with the Bible in his hand and
said:
II hold in my hand a 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 mothers holy love
guided your youthful footsteps. In this
book 1 studied the life of the Master.
and let me tell you why l believe the
four gospels have recorded the truth. If
Is because they differ in some Of the mi
nor details. II Matthew, Mark, Luke