594

77/6' Green Bag.

No practising lawyer was ever more popu lar in the courts than an obscure Irish solici tor named Barney Regan. No matter how dull the case, Barney could find out its hu morous side and brighten up the court by the laughter he was sure to provoke. Bar ney practised chiefly in the county court, a court which has jurisdiction over small debts under twenty pounds. On one occasion, a witness, stepping into the box, said, "Yer Honer, if ye plaze, sorr, oi'm not ready to sthart yet." "Why not?" asked the judge. "Oi'm waiting fur Barney Regan, sorr."" The judge was angry and felt the dignity of the court was insulted. "How dare you, sir," he exclaimed, "speak of an officer of this court in such a rude manner? It Js Mr. Regan I would have you understand." Just then Bareny entered the court, and commenced open ing his case while removing his overcoat. "You'll excuse my client's familiarity, your Honor," he said. "Famous men in all ages have been familiarly spoken of. There were Shakespeare, Milton, Macaulay, Tom Moore, Nelson, and—Barnev Regan!"

nesses, and while all averred their honest be lief that he was hopelessly insane on reli gion, they admitted he was superb on a busi ness transaction, and most of them were can did enough to cite instances where the thrifty old preacher had beat them in trades. Sev eral who were acknowledged business fail ures glibly testified the defendant wasn't mentally able to manage the large property he had created. "Brother Hicks went on the stand in his own behalf, and made a capital witness. His memory was unusually good and his answers were prompt and intelligent. "Then Attorney Payton took hold of him for cross-examination. He held on to the old man for two hours, and nearly every question brought an answer that strength ened Brother Hicks' case. He told of the first dollar he made, how he invested it, how his fortune grew, and his method of business, which was strikingly sound. He gave from memory a list of his notes and the interest due and credits entered on them. I was somewhat astonished at the elaborate detail my client was able to go into. Payton finally hung his head and looked at the floor. "A man inay be as crazy as a March hare "'Is there anything else you want to on some subjects and as wise as a states man ought to be on others," said Judge Ed- j know, Mr. Payton?' Brother Hicks asked, sweetly. ward Higbee of Lancaster, Missouri, re "The question seemed to arouse the law cently. And all the while he may be en yer. He looked the old Baptist exhorter joying excellent physical health," the judge square in the eye, and shaking his- finger went on. "Looks unreasonable, eh? I am menacingly at him, thundered: not speaking from my reading, but from per "'Elder Hicks, answer me now on your sonal observation. Not so many years solemn oath, are you not John the Baptist, back—I think it was in 1886—Elder Andrew sir?' Hicks, a well-known Baptist exhorter of my "Then there was a change in the witness. county, was haled before the probate court He threw his arms high above his head, and on his wife's application to show cause why his eyes blazed with maniacal fire. In a voice a guardian should not be appointed to man many times louder than the question had age his business affairs. Brother Hicks was been put he exclaimed: sixty-five and had accumulated considerable "'Before God, gentlemen, I was on the property. It was charged that the light of Tsle of Patmos!' his intellect had failed, and that his vast es "His frame shook as if swayed by some tate stood an excellent chance of going to iterrible emotion; his hands clasped convul the dogs unless something was done. sively; then he shrank back in his chair and "The dear-cut issue of capacity was pre sented to the jury. As counsel for Brother was. very quiet. He died. in an insane asy lum." Hicks I interrogated the applicant's wit