The Afro-American advance., 1900-08-25
THE TRUE STORY OF
HENNESSY'S LAWSUIT

I was after lunch at the club. Over
In corner Of the library where the
smoke was thiekest an old man, evil
IDENTIFY a visitor, was sitting upright
on the edge OF a big leather arm
chair. Gregory, who had introduced
the old gentleman as Mai. Barnes,
an old friend of my father's-in town
for the day" was trying to be en-
tertaining while he smokcd, but the
weather was hot and nobody helped.
Major" Gregory remarked with n
yawn, just after poor joke Of Buff
um's had fallen Hat, tell us that
story about That old lawsuit"
The majors eyes began TO twinkle.
lie respor6ed promptly.
That was the ease OF buggy ".
Hennessy. Buggy had procured a SUM
mons for Hennessy, which had been
issued aud served, and on the return
day two doubl, sledloais Of people
from the lower end of our county
came driving up and flied the little
courtroom full ! was justice Of the
peace then-am yet. In fact and have
been this 20 years. Well. case was
called james X. Buggy, plaintiff
n smooth sort OF lawyer there In our
town, answered for Buggy Gillette
was his name. Your father knew him
well. Gregory Timothy Hcnnessy, de
fendant.' and an old Yankee OF the
name OF Hadley was ON his feet for
lIennessy.
First thing In order. of course, was
reading the bill OF particulars. Tim
othy Llennessy 20 James X. Buggy,
DR., for digging n we'll "a feet deep. at
one dollar foot. S2t; credit by cash.
sii; balance, si0,'
II had hardly finished reading IL
before Hennessy's lawyer saldi That
bills all right. We admit IT,
"'You do says Gillette. You ad.
init this bill7'
ayes. certainly
"WslI. then. your honor says Gil
lette. we've nothing more 20 say We
rest
"'wcll. Mr.. Hadley' | said. what
have you To say to thiz7'
simply this, your honor, drawled
old Hadley. We want To offset our
damages, We intend Co prove that Mr.,
Henncssy's well went dry. and that.
In consequence, he was compelled to
haul water from the creeK, long
distance on, and was AT great trouble
and expense for men and teams
"'All right, lIadley, said. Cali
your witnesses
'fiannigan, come up here says
lladlcy Flannigan came stridlng~ a
big. tousle.bearded siN.footer. In a
brown kni, shirt. decorated with sus.
penders.
stand there aud be sworn saws
Hadlry Flannlgan'a 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 fiannigan shifted 10 the
right hand and foot like dancing ele.
phant,
Now. Mr., Flanagan. Hadley be,
gan, when the oath had been admin
lstered, do you know these parties >
"Flannigan pretended 10 look he
wildered. and pretended mighty well
too. PARTIES. h itP An il II a parity
then7 Shure, a thocht Il was law
suit
"HadIcy cleared his throat MIR
flannigan. he repeated, zternly, "a,
you know Mr., Hennexsy. here
"'Av coorsc ! do know him, Y,
know IL yerself that know him
An Is II a question like that yen b,
wantin' 10 az NEE"
"'very wsil-you know him. d,
you know anything about his havlni
well dugy
"'Av coorse know that Buggy dui
him a well. An Is Ii liyin' in th
wurrld ! am an seeln' nothin' will
me eyes, do ye think
'Iladley began TO get ON an awfu
dignity. Tell me what you knos
about that wells going dry9'
'DisIl biz at all know why web
go dry. I'm no well.dirger. Ak BuTs
why IL went dry
Look here. Flannigani you meas
ured that well, didn't you7'
Az eoorse I did measure IT.
"'And how deep was it9'
AN why should be after tellin' /,
that2 Shure. an it's free ehans
an We can 20 measure u ycrself II j
want 20 know
"'I don't want TO know. man
Then what did ye az me forg'
I" The court has TO know
"soehl Dlvil bit the court car,
about how dape wells are down in os
quarter
"swill you state the depth OF thl
weIly.
"'Divll a biz. Oh measure II ys
self
sAbont that time I took pity q
Hadiey and beckoncd flRnnigan I
close 10 me. See here. Flannlgag
said. . tween you and me. how tes
was that weiig I've got kind Of C
rioxity 10 know
.'Nill. thin. yer honor. I'll tell ~
he says. IN hoaFse whisper. 4 u