Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 15.pdf/385

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.
344
The Green Bag.

In such a manner he went through the whole jury, who applied to the court for pro tection, but the judge of the court said if Judge Hubbarcl thought he could win a verdict in such a way there surely was no harm in trying it. Imagine the astonishment when the jury returned a verdict for the defendant. Judge Hubbard remarked that after that he had no trouble in getting a verdict in Tama county, Iowa, for the railway company. AN old Georgia magistrate, fat and usually good natured, was trying a case involving the value of a razor-back hog. Counsel for plain tiff was "Bill," a pettifogger and shyster. Counsel for the defendant was the Colonel, a lawyer of ability and dignity. The testi mony closed before noon, and argument was to be heard immediately after dinner. The day was a hot one, and the squire was not fond of much indoor work—nor of work outof-doors, either. When the Colonel returned from dinner he was followed by a colored servant, who bore a large armful of law books. Seeing them, "Bill," determined not to be outdone in that particular preparation for battle, disappeared. In a little while he returned, followed by a negro with a wheelbarrow load of books, the most of which he had borrowed from other practitioners. When court convened the Squire ad dressed himself to the Colonel. "Colonel, do you expect to read all of those books in the argument of this case?" The Colonel was not given to joking, but this was too good an opportunity to let slip. "Yes, your Honor, this is a very important case in principle, although no great amount of money is involved. In simple justice to my client, I must discuss it as elaborately as if it involved many times the amount in dis pute." ' "Bill," said the Squire, sternly, looking at the shyster and the great pile of books the chartered negro had placed upon the table, "do you expect to read all of those books in your argument?" "Yes, may it please your Honor," said

Bill; "this case is very important in princi ple, to my client as well as to the Colonel's. In justice to my client I must argue it thor oughly, and will be compelled, I am sorry to say, to read all of the books that I have brought from my office." "H'm-m! Yes, brought from your office. Gentlemen," he continued, "what is the amount involved in this case?" "Three dollars and a half, your Honor," they both answered at the same moment. "Three dollars and a half!" He reached down into his capacious right trouser's pocket and fished forth a handful of silver. He counted out three dollars and a half, and slammed it down on the table. "There," said he, "is the money. The plaintiff can take it, and the constable can pay the costs. I'm no millionaire, but I'll grub in hell, at ten cents a day, to earn three dollars and a half, before I'll sit here and lis ten to the reading of all those blasted books, in such weather as this." DIGNITY and Prince Albert coats may cover a multitude of sins and much evidence of poverty. In a small western city two lawyers had been pitted against each other in what turned out to be a bitter legal controversy. One was tall, of dark complexion, with black hair and a form as straight as a mason's straight-edge. He wore a Prince Albert coat all during the trial and submitted with perfect grace to the bitter taunts of a sarcastic oppo nent, who never lost an opportunity to tickle the jury by an amusing reference to the "long-tailed coat." All this badinage the lawyer took with stoical good grace. He al lowed the man with the curl on • his upper lip to spend all his humor and witticism and never so much as effected a recognition of his words until the final argument came. He had nearly finished his address to the jury. It had been an eloquent argument and the court room was still as death as he paused in his remarks. Then he turned, and with a nod of his head toward his opponent said: "Gentlemen of the jury, you have heard a great deal from my worthy friend concerning my long-tailed coat. I assure you that it is