Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1908-08-18
A lawyers First Lost Case
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loriTlnal.I
 N{yron Woodwork was an attornc. just passing middle age. He was known as the lawyer who had never IOst case. Whether this was because be would not take q case that he was N0f sure of or was so reSOurceful that his opponents could never defeat him does not appear. The fact remains that until the Yardlcy case was tried u0 judge or jury had ever brought q 6r1al decision or verdict against him. Upon that case hangs q tale.
 Mrs. Yardley died, leaving some $1O., OOG to d sister, Mrs. Hunt who had nUyScd her ill her last illness, cutting off her own daughter, Julia Scott. Il young married woman living in diff ferent place. Mrs. Scott undertook to break the will on the ground that her aunt had influenced her mother while under the effect of opiates to leave her property to the aunt. No one doubted up to the last moment that WOodworth would win. for he had established every point needed to establish his plea. There was but one more witness
 
 supposed to be important.
 The defendants counsel called for Margaret Hunt. and the name was re- peafed by the clerk with no more rev erence than he would have spoken the name of q habitual criminal. There was q rustic of wOman'S dress. and a Y0Eng girl-She was the daughter of J ,]op If Io Ia stand. Her very appearance begot an unconscious difference in every man in fha courtroom.
 Woodwork at the moment of her en- trance was chatting with q fellow at tarney. When he turned his eyes to tEe witness they rested upon vision Of aoVelineSS. Not only he but judge. juGy-jndeed every one in the court- fell under the spell of her presence, IU a voice low and sweet she respond ed to the questions put to her by he defendants counsel who eliciled from her testimony which if not shaken might yet turn the case against the plaintiff But those who knew Wooa- worth did not fear. It waS upon cross
 
 strong Indeed. as he listened to her evidence he saw q weak point that de. stroyed it's value She had repeated q conversation she had heard between her mother and the teStator in which the former urged the latter to lenNe her property to her daughter. Julia Scott. But the witness had said that she was not in the room and did not see those who were talking
 When Woodwortl took the witness for cross eXamina ion and stood fram- ing his first question a slight tremor passed over the girl. and she cast d quick glance at the judge as if to be seech protection. Then she turned her eyes back on the lawyer. bit her lip as if to gain courage and submitted her self to be tormented. She did not doubt for q moment that Woodwork would prove her periurer.
 Miss Hunt" he said, Chow far was the room in which you were when you overheard the conversation you have mentioned from the room in which the conversation occurrcd?"
 A troubled look passed over the face of Yhc witness and Slfe did not answer the question
 Tbe husband of the stestator had been a physician, and his house-the house In which the conversation occurred. was fitted with q speaking tube be- tween the front door and the doctors bedroom. His widow occupied tue bedroom to which the tube led. Miss Hunt. standing at the front door di- rectly before the lower tube mouth awaiting admittance. had heard the conversation through thc tube Wood worth knew this and, Was prepared to make the statementl appear mprob- able. He might force her to admit that she was not in the house at all. then deny her q chance toairll how she had overheard the conversation.
 He stood looking at the girl. who looked at him with all the gentle re- DroachtulncSS of q faWn rpgaidin" a hunier about to plunge a knife into it's throat. Then her cyes became dimmed with tears
 NoodWorth's case was lost An he ''.ANt tp Ntp u III II NuS 10 lf.lM Dllt the girls testimony so as to mako it appear to 1he jury a weak iuyoat.on, He knew in fact. as well as by her gulltless bearing. that she spo,r he truth. At the moment of triumph he gave up victory, gave up his clients case which he was in duty bound to win.
 Let me sec" he said, looking own at some notes he had made on q bit of paper, Perhaps I can get at it in an- other way
 : The other way did not lead to the speaking tube or to anything ,.,. would compromise the witness. Alter asking number of irrelevant c'i", tions he released her from turthei ,.x, animation
 Every one wondered. f'he ie"s brought in d verdict for the .ANn '7s.
 Woodworth went from t.., rl.u, room to his office where he \. .ote a note 10 his client informing her that fine ease had been lost thrOurh his own