Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-02-28


and talked about him. He went dowr
to Des Moines and broke into the news
papers there SO Judge Elwood re
strained the old man from telling lie.
about Shaw I don't know whethel
he'll let up or not. He says he will 81
down to Washington.
81 remember we'll the first time / go
acquainted with McGregor. l was coun-
~ attorney. McGregor came into thu
grand jury room one day. had never
seen him. There was notorious shys.
ter down in the other end of the county
and he had sold the old man cancelled
school warrants. You understand, the!
were stamped across the face, paid il
full Well it was rank fraud, o.
course. The old man told his story ant
went out.
Well. told the grand jury they hae
q beautiful case against that fellow.
told them they could bring in an indict-
ment like top.
"'You don't know the old man, dc
you?' asked one of the jurors.
Il said 1 didn't know him, but sup
posed he couldn't read or write.
Well you'd better get acquainted
with him. remarked the juror.
so called the old man back. Look
here. Mr.. McGregor, can you read ane
write?'
The old man looked at me with con-
tempt Why, yes SIR he answered.
"'Well. then, what on earth did you
buy those cancelled warrants for?'
81 want to tell YOU he said, that
can not only read and write. but l was
on the police force In New York City
five years. and / know more than any
twelve lawyers in Denison.'
THAT rather staggered me. But
asked him: Well, why do you come
in here, then, and want that fellow ar
rested?
"The old man hooked his little finger
into the other, twisted them about
looked up and said: Do you suppose
will spoil a criminal action to bring a
civil one?'
''McGregor always accuses his law
yers of selling him out if they don't win
down to Des Moines this winter to get
an attorney.
"One year McGregor had partner on
his farm. He was living down in New
York The fellow on the farm sold the
wheat and turned half the proceeds
over to McGregor That was all right.
But the old Scotchman wanted to have
him arrested. He claimed he had no
right to consult the wheat without con-
sulting him. The lawyers told him he
hadn't any ground for arrest. But he
had the fellow arrested, anyway. OF
course, he was discharged. Then he
dragged him thru all the justice courts.
"Of course. the other fellow brought
suit for damages for malicious arrest.
And he had magnificent case. Old
McGregor had hauled him fifteen miles
thru the mud one night. The old man
went out of town to get lawyers but
they wanted me to help defend him.
And / did. Well, we hadn't particle
of defense; not particle. We had just
to keep the blows from the old mans
face We worked hard for him, and
talked hard to the jury. They brought
in verdict for $1,000.
.'Connor, my present partner, was at
torney for the other side. l went to
him and told him he had better cut the
verdict and avoid an appeal. There was
a dispute as to the legality of the courts
instructions, and | used that for all it
was worth. Finally he agreed to take
$3.50.
II went out to see McGregor, pretty
we'll satisfied that 1 had cut the verdict
in two. But the old man wouldn't hear
of paying it. I tackled Conner again,
and got him to say he would consider
less. / went to McGregor and told him
1 thought could get 1T down to $500.
"The old fellow put his forefinger on
his first finger joint and said: I will cut
off the joint here, or here (pointing at
the wrisD, or here (pointing at the ell
bow, or here (pointing at the Shout
der) or here (pointing at his neck), but
not one dollar will pay.
"Then the old man accused me of
selling him out You can imagine how
that struck me. I told him l wouldn't
have anything more to do with him.
The case was carried to the supreme
court and affirmed.
Yes, 1 feel sorry for the old man;
tho he wouldn't ever believe it,"