The age-herald., 1900-03-24
IN HOTEL LOBBTES
 AND ELSEWHERE

SAObiHy, piOduCihEt 6ilp NS5S like yesterday seriously interfere with trade and drive half the city's population to the verge of insanity, so much of such weather at this time is almost ealamitous to farm CTS, especially to those who dwell in the Blackbelt. The wretched weather conditions prevailing since New Years have materi- ally retarded farm work, and 1t is appar- ent now that all field crops will be late. Ordinarily nearly all corn is planted by this time of the season, and everything completed for the pitching of the cotton crop. But except as to the sand lands of the counties near the gulf of Mexico, no corn has been put in the ground, and very little land has been prepared for cotton. Yet the ordinary expenses of the farms and plantations are kept up. The laborers and the mules must be fed, and that comes high in view of enforced idleness. The land is thoroughly saturated, and water stands in last years furrows. It does not follow, however. that late crop will be bad one. Some of the best crops ever made in the cotton belt were planted late; but that is not the rule At any rate, farmers are grumbling nightly, visitors from the fields say. Yesterday was the second full day of spring. It might have been the see- ond day of November
 "when the late Governor Thomas H. Watts and the late Colonel John A. FL more were partners in law practice at Montgomery they were employed to pros ecute a man who was charged with rob ping an express company said Colonel J. M Falkner. ':As usual in such eases, the express company was determined to obtain all possible evidence, and if it became clear that the accused was guilty to secure lis conviction and punishment. A detective was engaged to obtain evidence, and, If possible, get a confession from the &C., cused. Meantime Watts and Elmore re freshed their minds as to legal points, and prepared for a hard fight in court. The detective secured the confession so much needed; he entered the jail as a prisoner, and gained the confidence of the express ro5ber. After the case was called in court one of the first witnesses for the prosecu tion was the detective. As he advanced to the witness stand the accused was greatly startled; and turning to his law yer he whispered You needn't go any fur ther; that man knows erything. wish 
 quickly ended The representative of the express company approached Watts and Fillmore, congratulated them warmly, and asked them to be ready to name their fee when ne should call upon them during the afternoon. The two famous legal lights went to their office to consider matters
 "I consider hundred dollars fair fee, said Colonel Elmore. While we haven't done much work, still we were prepared for it, and the case was of great general importance
 Governor Watts stroked his chin whiskers in a reflective manner for a brief time, and. looking at Colonel Fillmore, he asked: What do you say to making it $25O? I believe they'll stand that
 "FWell, responded Colonel Emore, why not make it even s500?'
 " Or $50? suggested the great war gov ernor. Or, perhaps, an even $1 ,OoO? ' Oh they'll never stand that much urged Colonel Elmore.
 You leave it to me, then; I'll name our fee at $1 GOO, and that is not too much said the governor.
 Immediately afterwards the express man
 
 pressons of his thanks and expressing sat isfaction at the work of the lawyers. he asked what their fee was, saying that he was prepared to pay them literally for | their valuable services. Governor Watts responded with clever little argument setting forth what they had done and what they had been prepared to do, urging at the same time the importance of the case. Tn view of these facts he said, T think $000 a reasonable fec.
 "'Do you really think SO? asked the agent calmly. You believe such a fee to be fair%
 "I do,' answered the governor. T do really believe that to be a fair compen- | sation for our services
 And do you believe it to be fair, sir?' the agent asked of Colonel Elmore. "'Yes, I believe that to be quite fair Colonel Elmore responded.
 "'Very well, gentlemen, if you say it is fair and reasonable it must be so; but I am very sorry you take that view of the | matter-very sorry I had written out a | $3,OOO check for you; but, of course, can't pay you more than you ask for And tear 1 ing up the check for $S,0OO he hurriedlv
 
 attorneys, he said goodbye, and was gone! "-" -? -? II! -? Ill" Colonel A. M. Shook has gone to his | home in Nashville to rest, and to recuper- | ate after his severe attack of 'the grip" He has been very painfully ill. For about | a week he was confined to his apartments at the Morris. When he had considerably improved he went to the steel plant at Ensley, where he was kept to his bed for three days He determined to go yesterday to Nashville for a change, and left on the noon train of the Louisville and Nashville railroad.
 "The Carrollton Short Line Is rapidly nearing completion" said Thomas M. Owen. of Carrolton, last evening But for the continued rains, cars would have been run- ming by May 1. This road extends from Reform, on the Mobile and Ohio. to the town of Carrollton, which is the county town of Plckens. It runs through rich