Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 22.pdf/449

 The Editor's Bag ward's son told him: ‘If you come from ten kings you shall not; for I know my father's disposition to be such that if he be disturbed in his sleep he will not be ﬁt for any business.’ so the messenger waited. Promptly at three a. m. Sir Edward rung a little bell to call his servant. and at once arose and saw the messenger and transacted the King's busi ness." A

HABIT

ACQUIRED ROOM

IN

THE

SICK

HE late Justice Brewer was presiding, years ago, over a civil case in which one of the important witnesses was a horse doctor named Williams. The doctor was a small man with a weak little voiue, and the counsel on both sides. as well as the Court and jury. had great difficulty in hearing his testimony. During cross-examination the counsel for the plaintiﬁ became exasperated and began to prod and harry the little man. "Dr. Williams," he shouted, “if we are ever going to get anywhere with this case you must speak up so the Court will hear you. Speak up loud and strong, sir!" The small-sized veterinary tried, but it was evidently no use. Whether from em barrassrnent or inability the sound would not come.

“Well, your Honor——" began the counsel. indignantly, when Judge Brewer stopped him with a gesture. Leaning over the bench, he said. in his kindly tone : "Mr. Attorney, you must be patient with the doctor. He cannot help it. Years spent in the sick-room have apparently made speaking low a second nature with him."

NOT FIT FOR A DECENT PERSON

YOUNG assistant prosecuting attorney was conducting a case where one woman had unused the arrest of another for assault

ing and calling her a lot of unmentionable

425

"Why, it's not fit for any decent person to hear!" "Oh, well then," he said cheerfully, "just step up and whisper it to his Honor." NOT DURING SESSION HEY have the reputation. down in Florida, of not respecting the law as wholesomely as it deserves. But a certain preacher of the "revivalist" type testiﬁed to me the other day that these Southerners do most assuredly respect the ﬁndings of the Grand Jury. He was conducting a series of religious meetings, lately, in one of the peninsula's

little county towns, during the very week of

the jury's session.

It was a wicked little

town, with several notorious sinners among its prominent citizens. One of these, a hoary-headed reprobate, kept coming up to the "mourners' bench," groaning more heavily each night. and appar ently wrestling in prayer, yet making no further progress towards the desired end, of "getting religion." “Confess your sins, brother, confess your sins. and be saved," the minister continued to adjure him. But the week drew towards its close, and still confession and conversion seemed far off i'rom the hoary penitent. On the last night of the meeting, the preacher made his most stirring appeal, and closed with the direct exhortation to his particular sinner:— "Stand up, man, stand up and confess your sins before the Lord and the brethren!" Groaning yet more deeply, the reprobate

still shook his gray head.

“I can't, O, I

can't, Pahson!"

"But why not?" pursued the servant of the Cross. “There is no other way to find the true religion but by confession of sin. Arise, then, brother, and acknowledge your errors. The Lord is merciful and will forgive." “Yes, Pahson, yes—I understand that. But, Pahson, the Lord ain't foreman of the Grand Jury!"

names. He put the woman on the stand and directed her to tell the Judge just what AN ADROIT STROKE the other woman had called her. "But I can't do that," she said, with sur-. IR JAMES SCARLETT, the famous English lawyer, held that verdicts could prise. "Oh, yes, you can,” replied the young be won without eloquence, and he proved it prosecutor. "As a matter of fact, you'll many a time in his own career. His skill in turning a failure into a success was wonderful. have to." "But I just can't,” insisted the woman. In a breach of promise case the defendant,