The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 45, July 1941 - April, 1942 Page: 234
409 p. : ill., maps ; 24 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
piercing eyes, and prominent brow. He was an inveterate to-
bacco chewer and when he spat it was like emptying a bucket;
he dressed slouchily and his language was that of any illiterate
backwoodsman. These outward characteristics were especially
noticeable, as if deliberately emphasized in the presence of
outsiders.
Major West, his nearest neighbor, lived some miles across
country from him; the seat of the nearest court was at old
Nacogdoches, then a Fort, some 75 miles or more distant.
On one occasion, as they had on many other occasions, Major
West, Harrison, and one or two others living in their "neighbor-
hood" were on their way to court at Nacogdoches, and around
the camp fire one night while en route they were discussing
the case of a young man to be tried in Nacogdoches on the
charge of horse stealing, who, it seemed, did not have a lawyer
to defend him; and Major West jocularly remarked that he
should get Jonas to defend him; at which all the circle laughed
except Harrison, who quietly removed his pipe from his mouth,
knocked the tobacco from it on his boot heel, and looking across
the fire at Major West calmly remarked: "Well, Major West,
it might be that I could do it," at which all the circle again
laughed-except Harrison himself.
After reaching Nacogdoches, Major West, still in a jocular
vein, recommended to the young man that he procure Harrison
to defend him, the suggestion again meeting rather ribald mer-
riment on the part of those hearing it; but it came about that
Harrison did accept the engagement.
The news of the employment of "old Jonas Harrison" as a
lawyer in the case, a case which had attracted some notice and
interest, and the prospect of his appearing in court as a lawyer,
quickly spread throughout the town, and when the case was
called the crude court room was filled to overflowing for the
"show."
When Harrison entered the court room with his young client
amidst the whisperings and craning of necks of the curious and
interested, there was a shade of a new and indefinable quality
and dignity in his whole bearing and appearance. He approached
the clerk and called for the papers in the case, and, receiving
them, swiftly but critically examined them, and this finished
called for paper and pen and with his own hand and in classical234
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 45, July 1941 - April, 1942, periodical, 1942; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth146053/m1/258/: accessed May 2, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.