The National tribune., 1900-12-06
A YANKEE SOLDIER AT LAW.
How He Won His Case Before a Southern
Court by a shrewd Move.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: While
our regiment, the I'd n. Y. Vet. Cav, was
stationed in Alabama at the close of the
war, got permission of the Colonel to stay
out with a planter to act as his safeguard.
One day his daughter, Mrs. Kidd, who
lived about a mile further up the road,
came to me in great distress. Her hus-
band owned coal mine, which he had
commenced to work before the war, but
his buildings had been burned and machin-
cry destroyed. He was now i'll New York
trying to engage capitalists in the enter
prise to develop the mines. man with
| whom he had a running account started
| the rumOr that Kidd had run away, and
brought suit against the estate. The suit
was to be heard the next day, and Kidd
had not returned, and Mrs. Kidd wanted
me TO go and get the case continued to the
next term of court.
"Why." | said, Mrs. Kidd, l know
nothing about law in my own State, and
certainly less about the laws of Alabama.
| oh" she said, but you are Yankee,
and I know you are shrewd enough TO
manage the affair. They don't know much
about law over there in Sinclair County,
| anyway"
rather deal with rascality than ignorance;
and, besides, if | am Yankee. They are
all cx-rebels, and some of them eX-guerril-
las over there, and it would be all my life
is worth to so there, and especially on such
an errand."
Il have thought of that too" she said.
'and have engaged a couple OF ex.Gonfed-
crate soldiers to go with you. As they are
well known | don't think anyone will harm
you. Do, please, CO."
"Wei," | said at last, III GO"
So, we started at daylight. My escort
were brothers named Ochiltree. They
were very cOmpanionable. One had been
an officer and the other a private in the
rebel army.
We crossed the CoOsa River in bat
teau and reached our destination.
The court was held in grove at the
rear of a log schoolhouse, which had
neither door, windows nor floor, and | was
told it had never had any of these, as they
were considered unnecessary appendages.
Court was well attended. There were
several cases. As spectators there were
about 20 men armed with a rifle and two
reyolyers each. ! took n seat on one of
the benches and listened to The calling of
the cases, and when the name Stegal was
called man near me answered here.
.'I[idd" was called. / answered here"
The Judge asked me if | appeared for
Mr.. Kidd. l answered | did.
"Well, counsel, you and Mr.. Stegal had
better get together and see if you. can set
tie your affairs"
said, IAN right Mr.. Stegal, what have
You got against Mr.. KiddF'
He produced an account book with
long list of articles. | looked over the
column until | came to the item, 30 sad
die trees, SIG each" l knew saddle
tree was worth about $3.50, so | said:
ut seems to me that is big price for
saddle-trees."
"Oh," lie replied, these prices are in
Confederate money"
ooh" said l, and passing the book over
to the Judge, twill your honor please foot
up that account and I'll pay it, and reach
ing in my pocket pulled out about 1000
in Confederate bills. '"That money isn't
good now" quickly interposed Stegal.
81 can't help that. l propose to pay
this account in the very money for which
it was made"
Said he: 81 had rather put this over
until the next term of court"
The Judge said / had better allow it to
go over, so | consented.
Mounting our horses, we returned home
and l was well satisfied with my first and
last case as counsel and attorney -at-law-
L. J. GROOM. Chief Bugler, I'd N. z. Vet.
Cav, Glens Falls, n. Y.