The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-03-14
The Valley Of giIlia Auto IIip

A5AlALAl1Als0l'' AsASk6U A
.rieon cnrnty are signed : by. Patrick
Henry, the author Of the sentence: =
Give me liberty or give me death:
Caesar had his Brutdss q: Charles
the First his Cromwell sg George the
Third II reason. Il treas On. ii gechoed
from every part OF the house may
profit by their example; II this be
treason make the most OF 1t. Such
were the words OF atrtck Henry
when the Revolution was brewing.
In this dilapidated old village
once the countysseat OF Bedford
county. now in Campbell county. here
it was that Patrick Henry delivered
Hook case. the account Of which is
given by his biographer.
Hook was a. Scotchman, sman OF
wealth and suspected OF being IN
friendly to the American cause.
Suit Over Steers.
During the distresses Of the
American army consequent on the
Joint invasion OF CORVALLIS and Phil
lfps-ins17T1. e Ar. Venab1e. an army
had taken two OF
Hooks steers for the use of the
FtrOOpS. $500 Sss .ssf (.
The act had not been strictly le-.
gal, and on the establishment OF
peace, Hook, on the advice Of Mr..
Cowan, gentleman Of some distinc-
ton in the law, though proper to
Mr.. Venab1e in the courtsin New Lon
don.g
Mr. Henry appeared for the de-
PENDANT, and is said to have deported
himself in this cause to the infinite
enjoyment OF his hearers, the unfor-
tunate Hook always excepted. After
Mr. Henry became animated in the
cause he appeared to have complete
control over the passions of his audi
ence. At one time he excited their
indignation, against Hook, vengeance
was visible in every countennce..
and again when he choose to relax
and ridicule him, the whole audience
was in a roar of laughter. He paint
ed the distress OF the American army,
exposed almost naked to the rfgors.
OF winter sky, and marking the.
frozen ground over which they
marched with the blood of their un-t
shod feet. Where was the man, he
said. who had an American heart in.
his bosom. who would not have
thrown open his fields, his barn, his
cellar. the doors OF his house, the
portals Of his breast. to have receiv-
ed with open arms, the meanest sol.
der in that little band of famished
patriots. Where is the man? There
he stands-but whether the heart Of
an American beats in his bosom, you.
gentlemen, are to judge He then
carried the jury by the power of his
imagination to the plains around
York, the surrender of which had
followed shortly after the act COM
planned of, he dipicted the surrender
in the mos. glowing colors of his ell
Oqusnce-the audience saw before
their eyes the humiliation and dejec-
ton of the British as they marched
out OF their tre>sc:ns-t1ey saw the
triumph which lighted up every pa
triotie face, and heard
The Shouts OF Victory
And the cry OF Washington and lib
erty as it rung and echoed through
the American ranks, and was reyer-
herated from the hills and shores of
the nighboring river-but bark.
What notes of discord are those
silence the acclama ton of liberty
they are the notes OF John Hook.
hoarsely haWling through the Ameri-
can camp. beef, beef. beef
The whole audience was convulsed.
A particular incident will give a
better idea of the effect than any
general description. Inc clerk Of the
court unable to command himself
and unwilling to commit any breach
of decorunl in his place. rushed out
of the court house and threw him
self on the grass, In the most violent
paroxysm Of Iaughter where he was
rolling when Hook, with very differ
cnt feelings. came out for relief into
the yard also. JOHNNY Steptoe, he
said to the clerk, what the devilsdo
you mena2. Mr.. steptoe was o1f--y
able to say he could not help it.
Never mind, said II ook, wait till i'll
.CoWan gets UP, he will show him the
law.
Mr. Cowan. however, was so com
.pletely overwhelmed by the torrent
which bore 11IDn his client, that
when he arose to reply to Mr.. Henry,
he was scarcely able to make an in
,telligent or audible remark. The
cause was decided by acclamation.
The jury retired for FORMS sake, and
INSTANTLY returned withaa verdict for
| the defendant
sneech stop here. The people were
So Highly Excited
10y the Tory audac1ty of such a suit,
4 that Hook began to hear around him
IL cry more terrible than that OF
t'tbeef'-it was the cry Of tar and
Feathers. from the application OF
(which. it is said. that nothing. saved
him bnt precipitated fight and the
isneed or his horse. t,t5ss. u
! IA few miles further we arm at
! Bedford City, the county seat Of B ed
ford county. formerly called Liberty.
A Randolph and Macon college Is 10
Gated here. also an Elks' home. From