Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 May 1884 — Wanted to Change. [ARTICLE]

Wanted to Change.

The case being argued was old Farmer Closegrip vs a railroad company for damages sustained in a collision. The old man’s lawyer was making a pitiful appeal to the jury. “Gentlemen of the jury,” he said, “just gaze upon the true, honest, time-beaten face of my client, and suppose he had been fatally wounded; think of the sad blow that his loving wife and little innocent children would have to receive; but, thank heaven, it was not so sad as that. But, O, how he must have suffered during those long days of his illness ! —how the heart-stricken companion of his life felt when they brought him home, bruised and mangled! Now, tell me, shall this poor old man go down to his grave a maimed and helpless creature, without some aid from the cause of his affliction ?” During this delivery Closegrip was noticed to be very much agitated, and, rising as the lawyer finished, he sobbed: i “Judge,, ’scuse my breakin’ in, but I must speak.” “Go on,” commanded the court. “I d'dn’t know it was so bad as it is until until the gentleman thar sot down; an’ es ye’ll let me, I’ll—l’ll—here he fainted. “You’ll what?” asked his Honor. “Just raise them figgefs on the railroad for a few dollars more. Make it a thousand instid of five hundred — won’t ye, Judge ?” It is needless to add that the Judge didn’t. —Atlanta (Ga.) Constitution.