The Monroe journal., 1922-02-10
PETER PLEAD OWN CASE
AND WORSTED THE DOCTOR
Rich Georgia Story Of the Old Days
of Alexander II. Stephens and
Bob Toombs in Court Case

i Do0 loomDs IN IOurt 0ase
A doctor named Royston had sued
Peter Bennett for his bill, long over
due, for attending the wife Of the
latterS, says a clipping from an old
newspaper. Alexander II Stephens
was on the Bennett side, and Robert
Toombs, then Senator of the United
States, was for DIR. Royston. The
doctor proved his number of visits.
their value according to local custom.
and his own authority to do medical
practice. Mr.. Stephens told his eli
ent that the physician had made out
his case, and as there was nothing
Herewith to rebut or Offset the claim,
The only thing left to do was to pay il.
No" said Peter; Il hired you to
speak 10 my case, and now speak"
Mr.. Stephens told him there was
nothing to say; he had looked on to
see that il was made out, and il was.
Peter was. obstinate, and at last Mr..
stephens told him TO make a speech
himself, if he thought one could be
| made.
Il WILL" said Peter Bennett, "if
Bobby Toombs won't be too hard on
me-"
Senator Toombs promised. and
Peer began
Gentlemen of the jury-You and
is plain farmers, and if we don't
stick together, these ere lawyers and
doctors will get the advantage of US.
| amt no lawyer nor doctor, and
amt no objections to them in their
proper place; but thew amt farmers.
gentlemen of the jury. Now, this man
| hoyston was new doctor, and
went for him to come an doctor my
wife's sore leg. And he come an put
some salve truck into it and some
rags, but It never done it one bit of
good, gentlemen Of the jury. | don't
believe he's no doctor, no way. There
S doctors as is doctors, sure enough;
but this man don't earn his money,
and if you send for him, as Mrs.
Sarah Atkinson did, for a negro boy
as is worth 81 900, he just kills him
and wants pay for it."
81 didn't" Numbered the doctor.
"Did you cure him ?" asked Peter
with the slow accents of Judge with
black cap on.
The doctor was silent, and Peter
proceeded
"As ! was sayin', gentlemen of the
jury, we farmers when we sell our
cotton, has got to give Xally for the
money we ask, and doctors amt none
too good to be put to the same rule.
And | don't believe this Sam Royston
is no doctor, nohow."
The physician again put in his oar
with "Look at my diploma if you
think | am no Doctor"
His diplomat" exclaimd the new
fiedged orator with contempt. "His
diploma? Gentlemen, that is a big
word for printed sheepskin, and it
didn't make no doctor of the sheep
as first wore it, nor does it of the
man as now carries it. A good news
paper has more in it, and I'll pint out
to ye that he amt no doctor at ALL"
The man Of medicine was now in
fury, and screamed out, ASK my pa
tients If | am not doctorw
81 asked my wife," retorted Peter,
IAN she said as how she thought you
wasn't"
ASK my other PATIENTS" said DR..
Royston.
This seemed to be the straw that
broke the camel's back, for Peter
replied with a look and tone of un-
utterable Sadness
THAT is hard sayin'. rentlemen
of the jury, and one that requires
me to die or to have powers as I've
hern tell ceased to be exercised since
the apostles. Does he expect me to
bring the angel Gabriel down to toot
his horn before his time, and cry
aloud, Awake, ye dead, and tell this
court and jury your opinion of Roy
ston's practice?' Am | to go to the
lonely graveyard and rap to the silent
tomb, and say to 'em as is at rest
from phys.c and doctors bills, Get
up here, you and state if you died
natural death, or was hurried up some
by doctors?' He says ask his patients,
and, gentlemen of the jury, they're all
dead. Where is Mrs. Beazley's man
Sam? Go ask the worms in the
graveyard where he lies. Mrs. Peake's
woman Sarah was attended by him,
and her funeral was app'inted, and
he had the corpse ready. Where is
that likely Bill as belonging to Mr..
Mitchell? Now in glory a-expressin'
his opinion of Royston's doctorin'.
Where is that baby gal of Harry
Stephens? She are where doctors
cease from troublin' and infants are
at rest
Gentlemen of the jury, he has eat
chicken enough at my house to pay
for his salve, and / furnished him
with rags, and l don't suppose he
charges me for maxim her worse, an
he even don't pretend to charge for
curin' Of her, and | am humby thank
full that he never give her nothin' for
her inwards, as he did his other pa
tients, for somethin' made 'em die
mighty sudden"-Here the applause
made the speaker sit down in great
confusion, and in spite of logical
restatement of the case by Senator
Toombs, the doctor lost and Peter
Bennett won.