verted to those far-off times, and he asked about the company and the name of some member whom he had partially forgotten.

There are, perhaps, people now living in Logan County, Kentucky, who remember Judge Broadnax. He was a stately, high-toned Virginia gentleman, who dressed in shorts, silk stockings, and top-boots; he had an exalted sense of the dignity of the court, and a great contempt for meanness, rascality, and all low rowdyism. Mr. Crittenden used to describe, in his most inimitable manner, a scene which took place in the courtroom, in Logan, where Judge Broadnax presided. A man had been indicted for biting off another man's ear, in a street brawl. This was a penitentiary offense, and Mr. Crittenden was engaged to defend the prisoner.

Judge Broadnax was a warm friend and admirer of Mr. Crittenden, but he railed at him fiercely for taking fees of such low rascals. The judge was, at heart, an aristocrat.

In this case, after great difficulty and delay, eleven jurymen had been obtained. Many respectable-looking men had been summoned, and rejected by the counsel for the prisoner, and both the judge and sheriff were much exasperated. At last an ill-looking fellow, with a tattered straw hat on his head, half the brim being torn off, a piece of his nose gone, and his face bearing many other evidences of drunken brawls, was brought in. After looking at him a moment and asking him a few questions, Mr. Crittenden said, "Well, judge, rather than be the cause of any more delay, I'll take this man."

The judge, who had been looking on angrily, could no longer control himself. He sprang to his feet, exclaiming, "I knew it; yes, I knew it !-the moment I laid my eyes on the fellow I knew you would accept him." Then, taking a contemptuous survey of the jury, he exclaimed, aloud, "Did any living man ever see such a jury before ?"

Mr. Crittenden quietly replied, "Why, your Honor, I pronounce this a most respectable jury."

After that speech of the judge, Mr. Crittenden said his mind was at ease about his client; he knew he would be acquitted, and he was.

CHAPTER II.

1811-1814.

Elected to the House of Representatives of Kentucky from Logan County-Made Speaker of the House-Marriage-Children-Letter from Mr. Clay on the Death of his First Wife-Woodford County Courts-Criminal Trials-Canvassing in Kentucky-Preston Blair.

W

'HEN Mr. Crittenden was first elected to the House of Representatives from Logan County, Kentucky, he took his wife to her brother-in-law's, Mr. Sam. Wallace, in Woodford, Kentucky. From this point he rode to Frankfort on horseback, and was joined on the way by an old gentleman. They were utter strangers, but conversed pleasantly together, and when they reached Frankfort they separated, not even knowing each other's names.

The House met the next day, and, after some other nominations had been made, the same old gentleman, Mr. Paine, of Fayette, nominated J. J. Crittenden, of Logan County, for Speaker of the House. Mr. Crittenden rose and protested against the nomination in a modest but impressive speech, and positively declined the honor. Mr. Paine replied that the speech itself removed all doubt as to the expediency of electing Mr. Crittenden. He persisted in his nomination, and Mr. Crittenden was unanimously chosen Speaker.

In 1811, Mr. Crittenden was married to Sallie O. Lee, daughter of Major John Lee, of Woodford County. Major Lee was a descendant of Hancock Lee, the elder branch of the same family from which General R. E. Lee descended.

Mrs. Crittenden died in 1824, leaving three sons and four daughters,-George, Thomas, and Robert, Ann Mary, Cornelia, Eugenia, and Maria. The eldest son was a graduate of West Point he became a lieutenant-colonel in the Federal army,

resigned during the late war, and served for a time as majorgeneral in the Confederate army.

Thomas L. Crittenden was aid to General Taylor in the battle of Buena Vista. He was afterwards sent by General Taylor as consul to Liverpool. He entered the army during the late war, and was promoted to the rank of major-general, resigned before the close of the war; but soon after its close, he was again commissioned, with the rank of colonel. Eugenia Crittenden died unmarried, at the age of twenty-one. Ann Mary, the eldest daughter, married Chapman Coleman, of Kentucky, and has been a widow for twenty years. Cornelia married Rev. John C. Young, President of Danville College, Kentucky, and is now a widow. Maria Crittenden married Dr. Edward Watson, of Frankfort, Kentucky, and is also a widow. Robert Henry, the youngest son, has always been engaged in commercial pursuits. On the occasion of Mrs. Crittenden's death, Mr. Crittenden received the following letter from Mr. Clay:

ASHLAND, 17th September, 1824.

MY DEAR SIR,-Although I know how utterly unavailing are the condolences of friends, however sincere, and that nothing but time can assuage the grief which is excited by a loss so irreparable and afflicting as that which you have recently sustained, I cannot deny to myself the melancholy satisfaction of expressing to you my deepest sympathy for your heavy bereavement.

In the lamented death of Mrs. Crittenden, I do not merely recognize the loss of the wife of a friend, but that of a friend herself. I knew her, I believe, before you did, and although her residence in another and distant part of the State prevented my seeing her for many years, I never ceased to feel the respect and esteem for her which was inspired by my early acquaintance. Although thus early deprived of a mother's care and a mother's tenderness, it must be some consolation to you to know that your children will find their mother's place supplied, as far as that is possible, in the affections and attentions of Mrs. Wilkinson and Mrs. Price.

One would be almost inclined to think that our State in these last years had lost divine favor; its afflictions by death have been numerous and extreme. I have myself had a slight fever.

With best wishes, I remain, faithfully, your friend,
H. CLAY.

On the 15th of November, 1826, Mr. Crittenden married Mrs. Maria K. Todd, daughter of Judge Harry Innes, of Franklin County, Kentucky; she died in 1851, leaving two sons,-John J. Crittenden and Eugene. John died at the age of twenty-two, and Eugene is now a major in the Federal

army.

On the 27th of February, 1853, Mr. Crittenden married Mrs. Elizabeth Ashley, who is now residing in New York.

Thinking of Mr. Crittenden's early life and its surroundings, I recall many curious customs in Kentucky which have, no doubt, passed away. At that time ladies were in the habit of attending criminal trials, and I have gone with them to the adjoining counties for this purpose. Mr. Crittenden was born in Woodford County, about twelve miles from Frankfort, and the admiration and love cherished for him there was unsurpassed. Every man in that county felt that he had a sort of right in Mr. Crittenden, and criminals from other counties were always trying first to engage him to defend them, and then to have the trial transferred to Woodford, well knowing that a jury could scarcely be found in the county that could resist his arguments and eloquence. Indeed, there were many old men there who declared they could not conscientiously serve on the jury with John J. Crittenden as counsel for the prisoner; they were so completely fascinated by his eye and voice that justice and the law were lost sight of. I remember something of a famous trial for murder in Woodford which I will endeavor to relate. The name of the man who was murdered was, I think, Cole. Court-day is a great day in small inland towns in the West. All business to be done in the towns is, if possible, deferred until that day, and the plowing, planting, and reaping are stopped without remorse. The plow-horses are fastened to the long lines of fence, and the yeomanry gather in groups about the taverns and court-house. Any important trial brought together the prominent speakers, and the chance of announcing and spreading one's opinions, by a lusty fight or two, was an ever-new delight.

Mr. Cole and a friend named Gillespie, of the like calibre and tastes, rode into the little town of Versailles on court-day. Everything was propitious: they drank, played cards, and were

merry. Late in the day they rode most amicably, side by side, out of Versailles, going home together. Unfortunately they had both cards and whisky in their pockets, and of the latter they partook freely. They rode slowly, and were benighted. Passing a dismantled log cabin by the wayside, they determined to stop and rest, tied their horses, struck a light, and concluded to play "High, low, jack, and the game," and take a little grog from time to time, by way of refreshment, till the morning.

As might have been expected, they grew quarrelsome and abusive. It is a short step from words to blows. Gillespie struck at his friend Cole with a knife, and killed him instantly. The sight of the blood and of the dead man, his friend from boyhood, sobered him fully, and his sorrow and remorse were indescribable. No thought of concealment of his crime or flight from justice was in his heart; he sprang on his horse, and galloped to the nearest house, told his story with groans, lamentations, and tears, and gave himself up to answer for his deed of blood and violence. There was, of course, no witness, the testimony rested upon his simple statement. Mr. Crittenden was employed to defend him, and he was acquitted.

Mr. Crittenden's speech was pronounced a masterpiece of oratory. Almost the entire assembly was moved to sobs and tears; the attempt was made to invalidate or set aside Gillespie's testimony; he acknowledged the murder, and his statement of the circumstances was the single point in his favor. Mr. Crittenden's reply to this effort on the part of the prosecutor is all I can recall of his speech. In fact, I remember but the sentiment he expressed; the voice, the eloquent lip, the living eye, it is impossible to portray.

Can any man in his senses, with a throbbing heart in his bosom, doubt this man's testimony? No, gentlemen of the jury, the truth gushed from his burdened heart in that hour of agony as pure as the water from the rock when smitten by the hand of the prophet."

Mr. Crittenden seemed inspired, and his aspect and words carried conviction with them, not only to the sympathetic audience, but to the stern jury.

I think it was of this man Gillespie that I once heard