The Republican., 1900-09-06
THE TRUE STORY OF
HENNESSY'S LAWSUIT

IT was after lunch at the club. Over
in corner of the library where the
smoke was thickest an old man, evil
IDENTIFY visitor, was sitting upright
on the edge of a big leather arm
chair. Gregory. who had introduced
the old gentleman as Maj. Barnes,
an old friend of my father's-in town
for the day." was trying to be en-
pertaining while he smoked but the
weather was hot and nobody helped.
Major" Gregory remarked with a
yawn, just after poor joke of Buff
um's had fallen fiat, tell us that
story about that old lawsuit"
The majors eyes began to twinkle.
He Responded promptly.
''That was the case of Buggy VS..
Hennessy. Buggy had procured sum-
mons for Hennessy, which had been
issued and served, and on the return
day two double sledloads of people
from the lower end of our county
came driving up and filled the little
courtroom full. l was justice of the
peace then-am yet, in fact, and have
been this 40 years. Well, case was
called. James X. Buggy, plaintiff, :
a smooth sort of lawyer there in our
town, answered for Buggy. Gillette
was his name. Your father knew him
well, Gregory. Timothy Hennessy, de-
fendant,' and an old Yankee of the
name of Hadley was on his feet for
Hennessy.
First thing in order, of course, was
reading the bill of particulars. Tim
othy Hennessy to James X. Buggy,
DR., for digging a well "a feet deep, at
one dollar foot, $24; credit by cash,
$14; balance, $1o.'
Il had hardly finished reading it
before Hennessy's lawyer said: That
bills all right. We admit it.
"'You do says Gillette. You ad-
NIT this bill?
"'Yes, certainly
"'Well, then, your honor says Gil
iette, we've nothing more to say. We
rest
"'Well, Mr.. Hadley I said, what
have you to say to this?
Simply this, your honor drawled
old Hadley. We want to offset our
damages. We intend to prove that Mr..
Hennessy's well went dry, and that,
in consequence, he was compelled to
haul water from the creek, long
distance off, and was at great trouble
and expense for men and teams
'''All right, Hadley,' 1 said. Call
your witnesses
Flanagan, come up here says
Hadley. Flanagan came striding-a
big, tousle-bearded six-footer, in a
brown knit shirt, decorated with sus-
penders.
"'Stand there and be sworn says
Hadley. Flannigan's left hand went
up and his big left foot went out,
planting itself half-yard in front of
the other-so. Right hand, snapped
Hadley, and Flanagan shifted to the
right hand and foot like dancing ele-
phant.
Now, Mr.. Flannigan,' Hadley be-
gan, when the oath had been admin
istered, do you know these parties p
"Flannigan pretended to look be-
wildered, and pretended mighty well.
too. PARTIES, is it? An is it PARTY.
then? Shure, a l thocht it was law
suit
''Hadley cleared his throat. Mr..
Flanagan he repeated, sternly, do
you know Mr.. Hennessy, here?
"'Av coorse / do know him! Ye
know it yerself that l know him.
An is it question like that ye'll be
wantin' to ak me?"
"'Very well-you know him. Do
you know anything about his having
a well dug?'
'Av coorse know that Buggy dug
him well. An is it livin' in the
wurrld l am an seein notkin' with
me eyes, do ye think?'
"Hadley began to get on an awful
dignity. Tell me what you know
about that wells going dry"
"'Divil bit at all know whv wells
go dry. I'm no well-digger. AK Buggy
why it went dry.
Look here, Flannigan you meas
ured that well, didn't youY
"'Av coorse did measure it,
"'And how deep was it@
San why should 1 be after tellin' We
that? Shure, an it's free chance
an ye can go measure it yerseh if We
want to know
~ don't want to know, man.
"'Then what did we ak me for?'
~"The court has to know