The Great India-Rubber Case.
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that upon him — receiving indignation and that side whose testimony was considered by the defense important in their favor, was ridicule from his friends," and after all, writ ing in a good spirit and cheerful vein, an that of Richard Collins of Baltimore, who affecting letter from the debtors'jail in Boston. claimed that as far back as 1833 he had in In speaking on this matter further of vented the same thing in regard to vulcan Goodyear, he continued as follows : " He izing rubber that Goodyear claimed by his says it is as good a lodging as he may ex invention. pect this side the grave; he hopes his friends Mr. Webster's ability, sarcasm, ridicule will come and see him on the subject of and humor were used effectively in dissect India Rubber Manufacture; and then he ing Collins' testimony and showing its worthspoke of his family and of his wife. He lessness. had but two objects, his family and his dis After pursuing him at some length, covery. In all his distress and in all his Judge Grier interrupted him and said : " Mr. trials, she was willing to participate in his Webster you need not trouble yourself fur sufferings, and endure everything, and hope ther with the testimony of Richard Collins." everything; she was willing to go to prison The learned Judge said further, that he had if it was necessary, when he went to prison; tried a great many patent cases and he had she was willing to share with him every never tried one but some feller had come thing, and that was his only solace. forward and sworn that he had invented the "May it please your Honors, there is same thing in some garret in Boston, New nothing upon the earth that can compare York, Philadelphia, New Orleans or Balti with the attachment of a wife; no creature more and lately all those fellers came from Baltimore, and that counsel need not trouble who for the object of her love is so indom itable, so persevering, so ready to suffer and himself with any such testimony as the court would not pay any attention to it. to die. Under the most depressing circum Mr. Webster in his usual impressive man stances, woman's weakness becomes fearless courage; all her shrinking and sinking ner said " I am very much obliged to your passes away, and her spirit acquires the Honor for I wish to abbreviate my labors in firmness of marble, adamantine firmness, this case, as well as those of your Honor. when circumstances drive her to put forth It seems to be your Honor's opinion that I all her energies under the inspiration of her may let Mr. Collins go, and I propose to send Mr. Elisha Pratt and Mr. Stoddard to affection." While depicting Goodyear's sufferings and bear him company on his way. I shall say making the beautiful allusion to the devotion no more about them." of his wife, Mr. Webster had the advantage Mr. Webster's powers of invective were of Goodyear's presence in his wasted appear 'shown in unexceptionable language in com ance, bent form and with his white locks, menting on Day's course, showing the latter's which added to the effect in his favor, while inconsistencies, his falsehoods and attempts Day, younger, robust with his apparent thrift, to defraud Goodyear by every device that his was not calculated by his appearance to gain fertile mind could produce. It did not seem that anything more scath favor with the spectators. Mr. Webster reviewed the material parts ing and severe could be said, and the full force and effect of what was said can be of the testimony very thoroughly and dis sected that of the defense with great care appreciated only by hearing Mr. Webster's voice and seeing his manner and the expres and ability, showing its fallacies, contradic tions and want of credibility in the most con sion of his face. No written description can clusive manner. Among the witnesses on do justice to the occasion.
