The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-03-07
JULY WALKERS COUNSEL.

How could he do it? you may ask.
occasion United States judge i'll
Georgia. while upon the bench, did act
as counsel for and defended before jury
prisoner upon whom he had to pass
sentence. 1t was an able defense. too.
and though the court lost his case he
made up for it afterward to his client,
as this story will show.
There are officials connected with the
United States court in Savannah who
still delight to refer to the visit there
about seven years us0 OF Judge Boerman
of Louisiana, who came to- preside in the
federal court for brief period during
the absence of Judge Emory Speer, posi-
bly, at time when the latter was absent
sitting on the court of appeals at New
Orleans. However that may be, Judge
Boarman did for a time preside in Judge
interesting incidents of that occasion that
those who were then connected with the
court still delight to repeat.
Perhaps most interesting among these
was the trial of July Walker, colored, OF
course, and charged, not unnaturally,
with retailing spirituous liquors with
out having first paid the special tax as
required by laW;p as the indictment n1ent
other than the judge himself, and in that
July was fortunate, though he was con-
yicted, however paradOXical this state
ment may seem.
Mai. William L. Gary of Augusta was
district attorney at the time for the
southern district of Georgia, and it fell
to his lot to conduct the prosecution.
Or course it was never in any sense a
pleasure to Maj. Gary to prosecute de-
PENDANT on any charge, but it is always
with pleasurable interest that he recalls
the case Of July Walker, because. no
matter how often he tells the story. he
enjoys it as greatly as does his nearer.
July Walker, retailing 1t was the
district attorney who called the next case
as Judge Boarman concluded his charge
to the jury and it's members retired.
What is the plea?" asked the court.
gaunt specimen Of the south Georgia
darkey, when finally July was located.
He was one of the old-time negroes who
had forgotten several times how old he
was, and his manner and bearing were
humbly respectful. For that reason,
perhaps also for the light degree Of his
crime, he seemed to interest the court
done.
1t developed that July was present,
ready to stand trial, without means and
without friends, sometimes the greatest
essentials in these days Of courts and
litigations.
Il will give you until day after tomor-
row to get your witnesses, July, Mr..
that this defendants witnesses are sum-
moned?" requested the. court, turning
from defendant to Mai. Gary, and the
latter promised the matter should have
prompt attention.
Two days later July sat in the court
room beside his four witnesses, some Of
them blacker and more tattered than was
he, were that possible. Pretty soon
July's case was called, and he stood be-
for the bar Of judgment.
Have you counsel?' asked Judge
Boarman.
wat data" July queried.
"A lawyer. Have you got a lawyer?"
said the judge:
..No, boss" July answered.
Then l suppose I'll have to aDDoint
one for you,' said the court.
July gave no sign OF apprehension. His
attitude and actions seemed to bespeak
confidence in the outcome Of his case.
There are the lawyers over there
said Judge 1}oarman, Indicating num-
Der of members Of the Savannah bar
who were seated within the court rail-
ing listening to the proceedings. "You
may select any one of these. I am sure
one of them will he glad to serve Won.
Which one would you like to have?''
July looked arounl;; him at the law
yers, and then he looked appealing|y Mt
the court. 1t was an interesting mo-
ment for the spectators as we'll as for
July. Finally he said:
u 1}' ia lax ter have you, boss, y
and there was an audible smile.
well, that's a little unusual, july
the court answered. but if you say 50
Ill take the case and We'll see whaf we
can do with it. Call the first witness.
Mr.. District Attorney"
And thus the trial began, with Judge
Boarman as the prisoners counsel and
ms Judge combined. 1t seems July had
gone on all excursion, as negroes will
sometimes do, leaving his little farm in
the meanwhile to take care Of itself. He
had doubtless heard stories Of how Other
"nlggers' had made fortunes by dispens.
ing "moonshine''- dollar of two is q
fortune TO- many south Georgia farm
hand-so he provided himself with a
trouble in getting rid Of it in a coach
full of negroes off on a frolic at &c
cents a drink. This in brief was the
governments case against July, and this
was the story the governments witnesses
told.
Judge boafmGn crOSS-eXamlned the
governments witnesses and endeavoreG
to find their weak points with all the
ardor Of young attorney trying his first
case. But it wouldn't work. The wit
nesses stuck to their story; July had hac
the bottle and he had sold the whisky.
1T looks pretty bad for u.s. said Judge
Boarman, counsel for the defendant
Have You got any witnesses July?"
Yes, sub: dey's here" July replied.
Call the first one," said the court, anc
Mary Wilson, fat, black negro woman
took the stand. The court began the ex
animation. Mary began to repeat some
statement she had heard July make.
Il object" said Maj. Gary.
State your grounds" said the counse
for the defense, despite the effort of the
court to get the best possible from he,
in July's behalf. 1t was the same way
with the next witnesses. 1t looked baG
for July. There was no doubt about the
fact hat he had had that liquor and that
he had peddled it. There was no doubt
about the fact that he had failed to pro
vide himself with an internal revenue
license.
They've got you in tight place." re.
marked the court. care these your best
witnesses?''
II reckon dew is hoss" answdrod tho