Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1899-01-07
AN EXCITED LAWYER
a CASE THAT. WORKED HIM UP TIC
TIE BURSTING POINT.


& and the Explanntion which
Changed the CounseI's Anger to
I.imp newlldermcnt.
"In my 30 years experience as a
praoticing lawyer, said we'll known
memhor of the bar at the Lawyers club
kho othar day. 81 don't believe I ever
went through moro exciting trial than
one took part in ont at Freehold, N.
j. When l say exciting. mean eXoit-
Ing for me- for was tho only ono who
appeared TO be concerned about the con-
duct of the man who occupied the sixth
seat in tho jury box.
1.-The case was civil action, and |
represented the plaintiff. TWAS II small
matter, and we were suing for only
$500, but as my client happened to be
personal friend, and he was moro
anxious TO establish principle than to
collect any money, l was out to win.
1.-THE judge was sedate individual,
who slept most of the time, and the
Jury looked ms though it had been draft
ed from the hayfields l scored well for
my client with the first witness and
was looking ont of the corner of my eye
TO see what effect the point had had
with the jury, when I noticed the
man in No. scowlipg furiously at me.
When l continued to make Roadway
with the next witness, he shook his
head, scowled and looked as though he'd
like to eat me up. The rest Of the jury
men kept watching him, and I began to
think was up against pretty stiff
proposition.
FINALLY I threw question at a wit
ness, which if honestly answered
knew would establish our claim to dam
ages. No. G evidently thought SO, too,
for be rose from his seat, shook his head
vigorously at the judge, and leaning
over the rail waited for the judges de-
cision, for by this time the defendant
counsel had made an objection.
1.-THE judge ruled against me, and
No. 6 fell back into his seat and laugh
ed as though it was the funniest thing
he had ever heard. | was mad clean
through by this time. Such outrageous
conduct had never seen in court.
"'Your honor, 1 began protestinely
ECO on with the case, roared his
honor.
But, sir, l began, this is the
most extraordinary
eco on with the case, interrupted
the judge once more, and seeing it was
vain to protest went on.
"Well, this thing went Oh all
through the trial. Every point made
brought scowl to the face of No 6.
Every point my opponent made brought
smiles to his face. When l summed up,
he kept shaking his head vigorously
and saying things in an ugly tone, but
under his breath. Once he threw his
hands up in the air in protest, and
got so mad that l could have hauled
him out of that box and thrashed him
with pleasure.
when the defense summed up, the
fellow arinned with delight. He shook
his head approvingly at all the lawyer
said, and once, when the lawyer induls.
ed in abuse of ME, he clapped his hands
together as though he was dying to ap-
plaud. During the judges charge he
scowled and smiled alternately, accord
ing to which side his honor favored.
We're gone, whispered to my
client, and never engaged in better
case than this. Rather than submit to
such a barefaced steal I'll fight this
case through every court in the state.
and without cent of fee too.
1.-THE judge had finished by this time,
and the jury had risen to 60 out. To
my utter establishment, No. jumped
over the rail of the jury box. and going
over to where the defendant and his
lawyer sat clapped the former on the
shoulder and said in loud voice,
You win sure Here my indigna-
ton got the better of me. Rushing over
to No. 6. I took him By the arm and
wheeled him around.
See here, sir, the jury has retired,
and you might better be with them
than talking to the defendant and his
counsel.
Why should I be with 'em? he
replied.
"'Why, good heavens, man, can the
jury deliberate while you're in the
courtroom and they re elsewhere:'
"'Don t know why not, he replied
l ain 1T no juror.
"'Then who the devil are your
demanded.
"'He's my hired man. put in the
defendant.
"'Then what was he doing in the
jury box?
Why. consarn it, there warn't an
other seat in the room, said the hired
man. Didn't suppose was goin ter
stand up, did yer?'
81 went back to my seat, completely
bewildered, and as sat down the jury
came in, having been out FIVE minutes.
They gave rue the verdict, and l was
truly the most astorished man in the
state of New Jersey at that moment.
81 found out afterward that before
began active work in the case juror No.
had been sick for week and that the
other IL jurors had been acting without
him under instruction from the court. >
New York Sun
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