Evening journal., 1902-08-30
BilIParSOn'S 'SCOlumn
Published Now and Then.

One day a few years ago I was sitting
in a dingy courtroom in a Pennsylvania
town. waiting for a case to come up in
which l was interested. 1t wasn't 9
pleasant wait; one by one the petty
criminals, most of whom bore in theiI
.countenances the sign of too much
liquor, were disposed Of
The occasional clash of counsel, and
the dreary citation of cases, occupied
most of the time, till the District At
torney leaned back wearily in his
chair and said: Call Mary O'Brien."
The woman who stepped into the
prisoners dock was a thin creature
with the prison pallor on on her face.
She moved listlessly. as though noth-
ing mattered. Every line of her figure
revealed dependency, and in her face
was a look that bespoke resignation to
life Of cheerless misery.
The charge was read she was held
for an assault on a man with a poker,
and with inflicting dangerous wounds
on him (which caused him much pain
and deprived him of the use Of his Ia
Dor" The fellow with an unprOnounc-
able name took the stand, and under
the direction OF the prosecuting officer
began his tale.
Not, however, till Mary OBrien had
been asked if she had counsel, and
she had replied that she had not.
Translated into fair English, the
Poles story was to the effect that HE
worked in the mines, and that Dennis
OBrien, the husband Of Mary, had been
accustomed to invite a number of his
friends over to his house to spend the
evenings, and that they passed the
time in smoking and talking, and in
drinking an occasional glass of beer.
On the evening when the assault oc-
CURED there were three or four present,
and had enjoyed a most pleasant even
ing, when O'Brien was called away to
attend to some matter by the mine
boss. Il was after his departure that
the trouble occurred
Mary O'Brien came into the room and
ordered them out, and before they could
leave. she had seized a poker and dealt
the witness a terrible blow with the
result indicated. He pointed to an
ugly scar across his head in evidence.
Here was the case Of the prosecution
and when the Pole sat down the judge
informed the woman that she might
ask the witness any questions bearing
on his testimony.
The woman remained silent
Mary" said the Judge, kindly, don't
hesitate to ask him anything that you
think proper; It is your right"
Il don't want to ask him anything,
she replied.
At this point a young man, with
flushed and eager face, arose among
the lawyers, and addressed the court.
subsequently learned that he was fresh
from the law school, and had never
appeared in a case before. He rose anC
addressed the Judge: "If your honOl
pleases, l think this woman needs coun
sell and with the courts permission
offer my services"
The Judge looked at the woman, anC
said: do you want this gentleman t
represent you?"
mo, sir" was the reply.
"Why do you refuse counsel?" asked
the Judge.
There was no reply.
"Why do you refuse counsel?" re
peated the Judge"
The woman looked around like ;
hunted animal, and said scarcely abov
a whisper: Because l have no money
sir"
The Judge smiled, and explaine,
that the lawyer had rendered his ser
vices without expecting compensation
and suspended proceedings till a shOr
conference between the lawyer and eli
ent might be held. Then the trial pro
ceeded.
Like thunderbolts, the young attor
ney hurled his questions at that stOlil
Pole. At first he assumed indifference
then he grew perturbed, and finally h
dropped his mask and admitted wha
the lawyer was seeking.
How many men were there a
OBrien's house that night?"
'OHh. several"
who were there besides yoursel.