Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-02-22

The distress OF Leonidas Latiolais
was so apparent that the pity OF all
feeling men went TO him when he was
summoned to the witness chair and
made TO state under oath that on the
day OF the memorable race between the
mares OF Judge Elgee and Quillebert
Leon said he was the slave of guile
bert and begged him QLatiolais) to buy
him. In an unhappy moment he had
communicated to Quillebert the jock
ey's application to him. and that indie
fatigable casemaker had by dint OF per-
sistency, wine and accommodations of
card debts argued from his memory
the ''if'' prefixed to Icons prayer:
Oakfell made no effort to replace It.
This closed the evidence for guile
bert.
There was no more striking contrast
In the entire proceeding than that be-
tween the arguments OF the two advo-
Gates.
Oakfelrs was calm, direct, unimpas-
stoned and devoid of appeal to the emo
tons. He relied solely and simply up
on a literal application OF the article
OF the code which he thought rendered
Judgment In his clients favor unavoid-
able. From Nine. Noreau's cottage
Estelle eagerly listened, catching only
at times the sound of his voice, but
never a distinguishable word.
Pratjean's dry, harsh voice vexed the
ears of the assemblage within and rat
tied upon those without for an hour
and half. Laure heard every syllable,
and often her pretty brown hands beat
together in approval. he read copious-
ly from French commentators upon the
impossibility OF courts entertaining the
pleas Of persons not sui Jurls. He
quoted numerous decisions by the state
supreme court declaring emancipation
necessary to clothe one born in slavery
with the quality OF sutton and magui-
fed into political Significance the in
slant cause which. he said the pesti-
lent abolitionists throughout the north
and their secret confederates I'm our
midst were watching with unsleeping
eyes, for it was the 6rst OF series OF
mines they had laid for the destruc-
ton of southern society. He warned
the judge against lending the aid of
the law and courts of Louisiana to
those enemies Of the Union. those as
sassins OF Caucasian civilization.
In these flights lie hoped from place
to place and threw his arms about In a
maze OF gesticulation which served his
utterances as an obligato accompanI-
ment supports wild song OF passion
Had he spoken no word his pantomimic
art would have conveyed aE Ineligible
address. Indeed II is said OF his class
In Louisiana that IL deprived of the
power Of gesture their speech would
not be Understandable TO one another.
His voice ut times broke into falsetto
tones maddening TO the sensitive ear,
but his oratory was effective. and it
was difficult for the sheriff to suppress
the applause which repeatedly broke
from the left and the spellbound groups
in the yard.
Oakfcll was unaffected by this dis
play. His reply was practically a repe.
titlon of his opening speech. reiteratiug
his dependence upon the plain meaning
of the article OF the code. He con
cluded by declaring him an enemy to
the state who would describe an appeal
to the courts OF the land for freedom
as n political menace to the common.
wealth
1t was 4 O'clock In the afternoon
when the speeches were concluded.
The judge announced that he would
give his decision ut and left the
bench
Oakfell. Father Grhe Baldouino and
Jewett induced their friends 10 remain
in and about the court. while the high.
a 81. hor al,
give noisy ovation To their Mirabeau
The frequent shouts OF Magnificent.
Grand! Gloriousr which rose from
those places evinced the happiness OF
Pratjean's admirers under the inspira
ton OF unlimited abslnth anlsette.
At the appointed hour all resumed
their places or vantage. and. while the
tension under which enforced silence
put them was painfully visible, there
was about Pratjean, Quillebert al.
their supporters an unmistakabIe q
OF confidence that the victory wa.
with them. Pratjean's grand effort
had removed every lingering doubt
from their minds.
First the sheriff came out OF the
judges retiring room, left the building
and In a moment or two returned. He
tapped the courthouse bell three times
and took position at the right of the
judges dais, facing the audience
Judge Tailleur walked slowly to his
seat. He looked inquiringly at the
sheriff and, receiving an assuring bow.
busted himself briefly in placing the
papers In the suit upon the desk before
him. From the benches every head
was stretched forward. scooped hands
were held behind strained ears. and
suppressed excitement was depicted
upon every face. Even those of stron-
Best nerves and best schooled in self
control could not wholly conceal the
effect of the situation upon them.
Jewett moved uneasily In his chair. |
Baldouino sat with arms folded upon
his mighty chest and by straining them |
together and looking at the ceiling
thought to produce an appearance of |
calmness he did not feel. rather Grhe |
took snuff Unfortunately, and Oakfen |