Mexico weekly ledger., 1901-04-25

dOhO hoA AAOti hhOWAh6 VhO bnDito Va
mule, ETC., would not have been
guilty of such a careless and negli.
gent act as to turn the mules loose
in that manner. He would have
taken the ropes off. Judge Forrist
saw that my speech was having
some effect on the jury, and when
he came to reply he said:
"Gentlemen of the jury, ! neve
was farmer, my father before me
was not farmer, and to my per-
sonal knowledge / don't know
whether pumpkins grow on grape
vines OF apple trees, but there is
one thing do know, il my young
friend knows as much about farm
ing as he says he does his father has
spoiled damn good farmer to make
very poor lawyer.
almost felt like acquitting him
of his kindly act in having my
license granted some time before.
A short time after this l became
city attorney and was prosecuting q
druggist for a violation of the
liquor law, and Judge Forrist de.
Tended. He characterized my c
tion by saying: "His young friend
prosecuted with zeal. but not &C.
cording to knowledge"
When l came to reply stated to
the jury that the judge and myself
were good friends, but he always
took delight in criticising my pro-
fessional and official conduct; that ]
had stood it long enough and was
becoming tired of it; that If be
would only reflect moment and
call to mind the fact that in every
case where be had appeared upon
the one side 1 had appeared upon
the other, the jury had in every
case decided in my favor, he would
change bis course of conduct; that
1t was neither pleasant to me nor
profitable to his clients. After the
case was submitted be said. "Tom.
you don't want to pay any atten-
ton to my little pleasantries; l did
not mean any harm; you know ]
like you and mean no disrespect to
you," etc. told him frankly il
was not pleasant to me and he never
resorted to ridicule with me again.
On the contrary, soon after this, be
defended one of the bloodiest mur.
der cases / ever saw in court.
was employed to assist Mr.. Mod.
Trimble, who ives at that time pros
ecuting attorney, in the pros
ecution. made the opening argu-
ment for the state. When Judge
Forrist came to reply the court
house was thronged with people.
he started In this way:
"Gentlemen of the jury, my sun
has reached its meridian height and
is slowly sinking to the west, and at
/ go down the hillside of my profes-
sional career, 1 like to scatter flow.
ers in the pathway of my young
professional brethren who are to
come after me-" And in striking
contrast to his former conduct be
passed a much higher compliment
upon my argument than it de
served. He, however, pleased me
and my friends and offended no one
BY these tactful methods he saved
the neck OF his client and achieved
a signal victory over one of the
sblest and most vigorous prosecu
tors this state ever had, aided by
such efforts as was able to give
Ever after that Judge Forrist stud
led never to offend me in a law suit
not that he feared me, however, bu
because his kindly nature would no
allow him to injure the feelings o.
one he liked, after once being in
formed his friends did not relish it
In that town it was the custom o
the merchants to send their bill col
lectors around on the first day o
each mouth, with statements for col
lection. On one of such days tn
judge was kept busy answering thI
salutatiOns Of these "human pests,
as he called them, but not bill dit
he pSy. After the days run haI
been completed ard about done
Judge Forrist came to my room AM
said to me:
tom, new idea struck me today
The merchants of this town hav
not a grain of sense they have a
abOminable habit of sending thei
bills around to me on the first day Q
each month. l have resolved {
break il up. aud l never mean to pa
another bill bill on tue first day G
the month. The idea Of them thinl
ing us lawyers have more money o
the fret day of the month than o
the other twenty nine is toolisl
Now if they would send around afts
each term Of court, there would B