Democratic Sentinel, Volume 21, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 January 1897 — Mispiaced Eloquence. [ARTICLE]

Mispiaced Eloquence.

He was a bright, dapper young lawyer, full of spirits, and possibly a little too smart. For some time the Judge of the District Court had been watting an opportunity to suppress a trifle of this smartness, as it became a bore when constantly opposed to his Honor’s long experience. The young lawyer jumped up to defend a case of stealing In which the accused had retained him. Unfortunately he had failed to thoroughly acquaint himself with tlie facts of the case, other than that his client had been arrested for stealing. “Your Honor,” he cried, “1 ask you does the prisoner look like a man that would steal? Does he look like a man that would suffer his honesty to be demeaned by appropriating another man’s gold? No! a thousand times No! He Is a patriotic citizen of the country, one of the proud upholders of our grand republic, and l say it is au outrage for the plaintiff to accuse such a gentleman of* theft. Think of his friends that will weep over his disgrace undeservedly thrust upon him. Think of the blight upon this man's existence. I say the accused is too manly, too generous, too noble a specimen of hum ” Smash! went the Judge’s gavel as he roared out, “Quit that! Young man, this is a case of hog-stealing!”—Har-per's Round Table.