The Editor's Bag of Marion county before Notary D. R. Hughes, recently. Depositions were being taken in a land case and attorneys were here from Kirks ville, Palmyra and Canton. Samuel Ellison and Joseph Reiger of Kirksville represented the plaintiffs. When the witnesses were lined up before the notary to take the oath Mr. Watterson refused to hold up his hand. "Raise your hand and be sworn with the rest, Mr. Watterson," said Ellison, pleasantly.
"I come a long ways," replied Mr. Watter son, “leaving the farm and everything, and I don't do any testifying till I get my money! I live in another county." "Your money's good," returned the attor~ ney. "The plaintiffs have a bond and you'll be paid well for your trip and your day in court. Raise your hand, please." “I want my money right now," said the farmer, determinedly.
"You can't yank me
over the country and make me give evidence without you pay me for my time." "Mr. Stenographer," said Ellison, with astonishing good humor, "please make a note on the record there that Mr. Watterson has come a long ways and be formally de mands his mileage right now because of that fact. Now, that fixes it all right, Mr. Watter son. Hold up your right hand." "I want my money right there,” said the witness holding out his hand. "You can send me to jail if you like, but I won't testify till I'm paid my fees." "I take it you're a law-abiding citizen and a fair man, Mr. Watterson, and that you want to do what is right?" said the lawyer, adopt ing a new tack. "Of course. I try to deal fair with every body." "I knew it," said Ellison. “The minute I laid eyes on you I knew there was a man we could trust—-a straightforward, honest citziren who always did right by his fellow men." "You're right there, mister," returned the farmer, evidently pleased. “I felt sure of it. And being that sort of a man you are always open to reason. Now, I take it further, that you believe in the good old Democratic principle of the greatest good to the greatest number-in other words, that majority rules?” "I—-I guess so." "Quite right. That being true, I'm going to ask all those present who think Mr. Watter
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son ought to testify in this case to hold up their hands." "The two attorneys for plaintiffs held up their hands. "Two in favor of his testifying," said Elli son. "Now those who don't want to hear Mr. Watterson testify will please make it known by the same sign." No hands were raised in approval of this curious proposition. "The motion seems to have carried, Mr. Watterson," said the attorney, calmly; "will you please hold up your hand now and be sworn?" It all happened so smoothly that Watter~ son's hand went up and he took the oath with the rest almost before he had time to know what had happened. “I lost my fees on a case of this kind once," he explained afterwards, "and I vowed and declared I'd never be caught'again, but that fellow acted so fair about it that it looked mean to stand out any longer." A SONG IN EVIDENCE "Sam Dysart and I were law partners at Lancaster, Mo., some twenty-five or thirty years ago, and it was one of the most con genial associations I have ever enjoyed," remarked Judge N. M. Shelton of the Second Judicial Circuit, recently. “Sam had served his country in the Civil War, and came out with badly affected lungs and a shattered arm. But he was full of animation, and had the faculty of getting more out of life than the average man. He was a born humorist, and as often won cases by his keen satire as by his knowledge of law. "One spring Sam was employed to defend a lot of country boys and girls who were charged with disturbing religious worship. The information alleged that by their boister ous laughter and unseemly conduct they had broken up the meeting. The worst of it was there seemed be to no defense. They admitted they laughed loudly right in the midst of the services. "Brother T. Spears, the preacher, was the
prosecuting witness. He was a tall, serious man, and dreadfully in earnest about this case.
The prosecutor, T. C. Tadlock, shared
Brother Spears’s indignation over the ‘out rage’; nothing could be more sacr'ilegious than for youngsters to cut up in church. In his opening statement to the jury in Justice Bailey's court the prosecutor said here was a
