328
The Green Bag
one line, and that line you can find in Gray's Elegy:— "The short and simple annals of the pmr'l I’
But his later life was not lacking in heroism, at least, and as one recalls the sombre and tragic circumstances of his
closing years, the words of the old Hebrew prophet seem to apply to them with singular fitness:— "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrow and acquainted with
grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him. .
But he was wounded
for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; and the chastisement of our peace was upon him." A CASE IN VERSE CORRESPONDENT sends us a clipping from a Binghamton, N. Y., paper which struck him as more clever than most attempts at forensic verse. The case in question was re called by a recent Supreme Court action, based upon a record in the same old docket which contained the versified pleadings in a suit which has won some celebrity. The old case was an action of conversion brought in 1896, both the parties residing in Deposit, N. Y. "It is the recollection of local attorneys,” to quote the Binghamton paper, "that the attorneys in the case agreed to make out all papers in the case in rhyme, and
To save his rights, in court intact, defendant here presents his facts: — First Defendant says 'twixt man and man He does not owe this African; And never did, a single cent, Since he first struck this continent. Second He further says that in this bout, He'll show the court beyond a doubt, That what they do in court aver, Did not and never will occur. Third And for a third and full defense, The statement lacks good common sense;
It fails to show a state of fact On which a court like this can act. Fourth Defendant asks this court to say, Sir Frankie, you may go your way,
And as the plaintiff's case is lost, Why, Charley you must pay the cost.
Dated Jan. 7, 1896. FRANK FENTON, Defendant. E. D. Cumming, Defendant's Attorney. ACTION FOR CONVERSION Brief The Court decreed to my great grief, That we in verse must make our brief;
So now we'll try and court the muse For language to express our views. The plaintiff here with solemn air Upon the stand doth sit and swear,
That on one day in '95 He was possessed of dollars five. This fact defendant don't deny, Nor does he see the reason why, If plaintiff was so wondrous blest, He couldn't let defendant rest.
that the matter was adjourned along and was finally discontinued because
the plaintiff's attorney could not get his poetry-producing machinery WOTk ing.” The defendant's answer was as fol lows: — JUSTICE'S COURT ‘
He says again, and this is true, He owed defendant and 'twas due; And that to him he handed o'er A dollar bill in Maley's store. He next atiirms he went outdoors, To pay a knight from Afric's shores; Sad day for Fenton then, alack, When Charley paid poor Silas Jack.
CHARLES JACKSON, Plaintifl',
v. FRANK Fenton. Defendant Before C. E. Scott, J. P.
'Twas then that Charley saw and spake, Like this, I've made a great mistake;
