The journal. (Hamilton, Ga.) 1887-1889, October 07, 1887, Image 6

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FRAZER & DOZIER, Wholesale and Retail HARDWARE, Columbus, Ca AMILTON JOURNAL : SUBSCRIPTION $1.00 A YEAR, J. L. Dennis, Proprietor. HAMILTON, GEORGIA, October 7,...................... 1887. JUDGE WALTER T. COLQUITT.* Mr. Editor: —Re-reading your valuable Trade Issue of the Journal of last year the fact appears that Judge Colquitt (father of Senator Col¬ quitt) held the first court in Harris county and brings vividly to mind some incidents of that remarkable man. Judge Colquitt was a man of brilliant talents, remarkable memory, fine sensibilities and a natural born orator. Clay and Preston may have excelled him in oratory but he never had a peer in Georgia. He was a great and good man—a local Meth¬ odist preacher—and had a wonderful energy of mind and body. On one occasion the judge was sitting in his office in Columbus, having just fin¬ ished up an important case, was look¬ ing out the window, observed a mid¬ dle aged lady approaching, neatly but very plainly dressed, and soon he found he had a client. Mrs. T- commenced to detail her sad afflic¬ tion, that her only son had killed a man and was in jail to be tried for murder. The judge like most lawyers was fond of a good fee and inquired how much she was able to pay. “Oh, Judge, I am poor, but I’ll give you all I’ve got in this world if you will defend my son. I’ve walk¬ ed from Early county here to get _ your services and you shill have all I’ve got.” The electric nerve had been touch¬ ed and the judge jumped to his feet and exclaimed: “Your son shall be defended with¬ out charge, and to the best of my ability. 1 could not take pay from a mother who has walked 130 miles to secure my services, no, no, no. Go with me to the Perry House and you shall have at my expense the best room and the best fare a»d you shal] go home by boat.” And so she did» The day of trial came and Judge Colquitt was at his post. The case had created great excitement and a multitude was present to witness the trial. That large court room was densely packed. The trial commen¬ ced and soon the jury was selected and testimony began. There sat the poor fellow on trial for his life, wan and pale, with all the appearances of intense suffering, and by him sat his devoted mother. The picture is da guerreotyped in memory in lasting ’ colors. The party killed was rich and his friends had able and experi¬ enced lawyers to prosecute and the case was contested at every point. The judge was ready at all points, and with wonderful ability andadroit ness turned everything to advantage. The long list of witnesses were exam¬ ined and the testimony concluded. Then began the argument and here the giants met. The state counsel with signal ability seemed to make the case desperate for the prisoner and all seemed to feel bad for his terrible fate. It was noticeable that Judge Colquitt took no notes and seemed absorbed in his own thoughts and some thought that he had despair, ed of a successful defense but that notion was soon dispelled. He rose cool and calm as a summer evening and commenced his great speech in conversational style rehearsing the testimony simply and plainly and in a way that all could understand, often repeating the very language of the witness an J sometimes his manner and gave his interpretation of l he facts. New light was shed as he progressed. He became more animated, more fervid and more eloquent So intense became the crowd and so absorbed that perfect silence prevailed. The gifteu orator had all hearts throbbing with his own emotions. He rehears¬ ed the scene in his own office with thrilling effect and in that large house there was scarcely a dry eye. Peal after peal of burning eloquence pour¬ ed forth in beautiful thoughts and in tones of sweetest music. A heart with half a pulsation could not resist the conquering eloquence of the ora¬ tor, and as a result when the jury re¬ tired to make a verdict they only took 1 time to write a verdict of “not guilty.” Looker On. PIEDMONT EXPOSITION. Editor Journal: I write in the interest of the Piedmont Exposition > to say that the report that hotel and boarding house proprietors would , charge increased rates for board du ring the exposition is totally false, j and not only wall the charges remain the same, but they, in common with all the citizens of Atlanta, vie with ; each other in making visitors have a pleasant time. As I have had occassion to write you this, I will give you some legisla live items. The legislature will ad¬ journ on the 20th. During the term I have seen a great deal of the legis lalive conduct of your representa tives, Hons. T. F. Brewster and B. H. Williams. They are among the most faithful members of the house of representatives, and are highly es¬ teemed by their colleagues of the house and the members of the sen ate. They are alive to all measures that affect the people of Harris coun¬ ty. Your county has reason to be proud'of the faithful members. The Supreme court convened this morning, with Judge Simmons, the new judge in his seat. The Piedment Exposition promises to be the grandest exposition of the industries and resources of our peo¬ ple ever seen in the south. Dan. Atlanta, Ga., Oct. 3, 1887. A VISIT TO CHIPLEY. Mr. Editor : —From West Point to Chipley is 22 miles and passes thiough a beautiful country of hill and dale, dotted by beautiful homes ' and in a high cultivation. Nearing Chipley you strike the gray land belt which in many respects posseses su¬ perior advantages. The town of Chipley is situated on the C. & R. railroad, 8 miles from Hamilton in Harris county. The place has about 500 inhabitants and like what Tohn Randolph said about Washington city, is a “city of longi tudinal proportions and magnificent distances,” and only needs people and houses to make a city indeed. The first view of the town as you ap¬ proach it presents a pretty picture, but leaves you in doubt whether its projectors intended to make a town or a cotton patch. On nearer ap proach it assumes quite a town ap¬ pearance. The Chipley Hotel kept by Mr. McKigney is first class and very inviting to the weary traveler. The hotel fronts the depot. The de pot itself is a very tame auair. Cross-! i ing the railroad and going up Eas Railroad avenue, on your right is the Farmer’s Warehouse, fronting both on the avenue and Main St, owned by Flournoy & Allen, now rented and controlled by Mr. Sledge, who seems to be the very picture of good humor and accommodation and is receiving “lots of cotton” which he handles O. K. Above the warehouse and adjoin ing it is Flournoy & Allen’s large, commodious wholesale and retai store and presents quite a city appear ance. 1 his firm carries every lint of goods—dry goods, grocene hard wire, shoes, in fact everythin needed by the country. In th same building Miss Sue Surles has full line of millinery goods and ever thing to please the ladies. East H them is Mr. Surles with a good lin] ? of furniture at low rates. At the corner next to McDougald Avenuii comes Murrah Bros., with a largjl variety of goods, in fact planters sup* plies in general. On the corner of McDougald avenue and Main stre 4 is the dry goods house of R. Spivq /1 who resides in -Greenville and business here is conducted by Ml] Wisdom and Mr. Dunlap, and he*; ( is the Beehive of fine goods and lo$ prices. Next, westward, is HogaJ and Phillips, dry goods, shoes hatdj oil paintings, &c., at living neatest store in town. Next j f George A. Pearce, fa.ncy confecfiorl eries, cigars, tobacco, every varietjj of candies, fruits, in fact everythiiL to please the taste, Mr. Chambers dry goods, groceries, &c., on th corner, for trade. and offers good inducement^ Going up east railroad avenae t Dallas warehouse is the right, now under charge of Mr. Joe Tucker hi In this building is the post office • ' with the efficient and accommoda ting post master, Dr. Pursell in charge. Fronting the next I street is the big house of and Layfield, dry goods and a eral supply store at cheap rates.! Fronting west R. R. avenue, is the elegant buggy and wagon factory Champion & Co., and they do a gen era! repair business. South of the Methodist church is the shop factory of Vardeman and Surles” where you can get anything made of: I wood, iron, or steel, especially th'et 7 best harrow and the best scrape, Chipley has two fine churche§ Methodist and Baptist, an excellent school in charge of Prof. W. (). John) son an ^ a h ne academy building Fionting on Main street is the ele g ant ^ ru S store of Glass Bros., wit!, man y attractions and polite atten tlon * Though last, not least, Mr Whit Moss has opened at the Ware* 7^ house corner wdth many things £v please the public. 7 j Altogether Chipley is a pleasan^ town with a homogeneous peopl an ^ some great possibilities tor ih|, future. Yisitoj