The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-19
LAWYER WON A CIGAR.


Schuyler Kennedy, a Charlottesville law
yer, was in town yesterday to confer with
the district attorney regarding the con-
demnation of property at Charlottesville
for use as a postoffice site. On the 23d inst
or some time thereafter Judge Anderson
will appoint a board of appraisers to fix a
value on the property which the govern
ment has in mind. While sitting in the dis
trict attorneys Office in the federal building
Mr.. Kennedy pulled leisurely at a cigar
and watched with interest the blue rings
that curled toward the ceiling. .I don't
often smoke" he said to the others in the
Office, land I'm smoking this in honor of a
friend of mine, Charles NJ. Crawford" The
latter is one of Crawfordsville's wealthiest
citizens. Mr.. Kennedy is one of Crawfords-
ville's most prominent attorneys, and his
honored father, Peter S. Kennedy, is one
OF the best known men in Indiana The
graceful blue rings that curled ceilingward
continued to remind Mr.. Kennedy of how
he got that cigar and he told the, story
Kennedy is the local attorney for the Big
Four railroad at Charlottesville Humphrey
Ristine is another well-known lawyer in
the Hoosier Athens. and he and Kennedy
and Charles M Crawford belong to the
same literary club and to Crawfordsville's
select circle. Some time ago a horse be-
longing to Mr.. Crawford strayed on to the
track of the Big Four Railroad and was
killed. Mr.. Crawford through mis- attorney,
Humphrey Ristine, brought suit against the
road on account of the animals death A
few days after the suit was brought Kenne-
dy and Ristine met. WELL" said Kennedy
Il see you have sued us for damages: Won
surely do not expect to get damages in this
case That horse was a 'stump-sucker' and
not of the value that you are asking" To
the average Montgomery county farmer no
more insulting charge could be made than
10 be accused of owning a stump-sucking
horse. Mr.. Ristine gracefully parried the
charge and passed on. Kennedy of course
was joking. A happy thought struck him.
He has brother who is clever at making
sketches. and especially so at making pic
lures Of domestic animals. Lawyer Kenne-
dy sought his brother and had him draw a
picture of a stump-sucking horse To say
the least, IL was not a graceful looking ami
NAL. A day or two later Kennedy met
been killed He put a question to him
similar to the one he had put at Attorney
Ristine. Mr.. Crawford naturally resented
the charge that his horse was stump
sucker. We'll. here's a picture of him, -
remarked Kennedy. coolly drawing the
sketch from his pocket Mr.. Crawford
looked IL over and fairly gasped. you
you-don't mean to tell me you're going to
put that III evidence" he declared with ris-
ing Indignation. 'Why not?" asked Kenne-
dy with perfectly straight face. why
why, you wouldn't dare exclaimed Craw-
ford. growing very red in the face, while
his eyes blazed with wrath. 1.-The man
who drew that picture committed a ma
licious libel" he continued. land IL is mon
strous for the defense to think OF such a
while longer and then confessed. This
is the result of my little joke" he ex-
planned. Ticking the ashes from the cigar
and blowing another graceful ring.