The Tupelo journal., 1905-11-17
FRIDAY NOVEMBER II. 1905.
PEN-pICTURES OF THE OLDEN Time
BY col w /. CLAYTON.

We used to have some very
interesting incidents to occur out
in the country before the justice
courts in my early days. Irecall
now an incident that occurred be-
tween j. L. Finley and me at
old Smack some ten miles east of
Fulton. It was in the spring or
summer of 1859, soon after we
began the practice of law, when
neither Finley nor | was burden
ed with legal knowledge, but in
this particular instance, | had
this advantage of Finley, | went
to the court knowing what was
seeking, and had prepared myself
in the case, and had carefully
written out a plea in abatement,
and in those olden days such a
plea was none too short, after
putting in all the requirements
of Coke and Blackstone; and so
when the instrument was presen-
ted to the court and counsel it
had rather a formidable appear
ance. The court had doubtless
never seen such a plea, and it was
rather a sumner to Finley also,
but he was fine on retort and
burlesque and ridicule. He pick
ed up the plea very delicately,
holding it high up between the
fingers Of one hand, with the
other hand raised rather depricat-
ingly, turned the paper up and
down, round and over several
times, looked wise, and at the
same time incredulous that such
a document should be offered in
that court, and then with a kind
Of blow from his lips he called
out, what is this thing? what
do you call it? Name it. Name
this child" The effect was what
might have been expected. The
Justice Of the Peace, supposing
Finley really did not know what
it was, and that as the lawyer
did not know what it was, he was
not supposed to be wiser than
the attorney, and being on the
Plaintiffs side any way, he
brought one sweep of his hand
and swiped the paper out of his
court, and continued the case
that | might have time to pre-
pare something the court and
counsel could comprehend. Fin
ley laughed at me no little about
the manner in which he disposed
of my plea in abatement without
making an argument, and often
down through the receding years,
| have enjoyed hearing him tell
the incident.
Uncle Reuben Wiygle was JUS
tice of the peace at old Fulton
when I came to the bar, and for
many years thereafter. He was
quite a character in many respects
He was very independent, knew
no man nor set of men, and de-
cided as his judgement and con-
science dictated, and was very
much averse to any one question
ing any thing he might do. In
those days it was the usual thing
to do to move to quash every
thing that was issued by a justice
Of the peace, and some times we
had extended arguments, and
read many authorities on such
notions. j. J. Lindsey, being
employed for the defendant in
an attachment case before Esq.
Wiygle, in which the justice
himself had written out the pa
pers, made a motion to quash the
affidavit, and arose and with prop
er respect and decorum said,
IF your Hon. please, 1move the
court to quash the affidavit in
this case'. Uncle Reuben, with
out waiting for Lindsey to have
time to give his reasons for the
motion, promptly said, no you
don't, / wrote that affidavit my
self, and I shall uphold it good
or bad" Lindsey was smartly
crest fallen, but the Justice ruled
with a mailed hand and tolerated
no dallying.
Reuben Wiygle kept the hotel
at Fulton for many years, and
was a great favorite with all who
became acquainted with him, but
before one became familiar with
his manner, he frequently made
them open their eyes in wonder
lment. For instance, if. astranger
Ashould ride up or drive up to the
khotel and call for the proprietor,
EUncle Reuben would appear,
some times without shoes, some
times with shoes, but having no
socks. He was none Of your pa
Ilaver kind Of land lords, but if