On the next morning he made his first appearance in Court, and in person, air and manner, he had become one to arrest attention, in a crowd, such as thronged the court room; and when his name transpired, he was at once identified as a prominent person in the detection and arrest of Brown & Co., whose name had become widely known; and men scanned him with unusual interest.  Some noticed and commented upon the brown moustache, that shaded the rather too soft and bland mouth; and observed the elegant tone of his dress, which, when it was examined, resolved itself rather into the way his clothes were worn.  Ford introduced him to the lawyers present, with whom his quiet, modest manner deepened the impression made by his person.  As he took his seat, his eye fully met the eager gaze of Judge Markham, from the bench.  Bart felt the earnest, anxious look of the Judge, and the Judge thought he saw a shadow of sadness in the frank eyes of Bart.

A case on trial ran until late in the afternoon, when Fisk vs.  Cole was called, was ready, and a jury sworn.  Mr. Kelly, of Cleveland, appeared for the plaintiff, a very accomplished lawyer and a courteous gentleman.  He produced the record of the old Conn.  Land Co., an allotment and map of the lands showing that the tract in dispute was originally the property of one John Williams.  He then made proof of the death of Williams, and that certain parties were his heirs-at-law; and produced and proved a deed from these to the plaintiff.  This made what lawyers call a paper title, when the plaintiff rested his case.

For the defendant, Barton said he would produce and prove a deed from John Williams, junior, only child of Williams, mentioned by the plaintiff, to the defendant, directly, dated January, 1816, under which he took possession of the land in January, 1817; and that he also found a man in possession of the premises, who had possessed and claimed the land for years, and whose right he purchased.  It would thus appear, whatever might be said of his written title, that he had complete right by possession, adverse to the plaintiff, for twenty years.

“You will do well if you sustain that claim,” said Kelly, incredulously.

“I shall labor for your commendation,” was Bart’s pleasant reply.

The deed was proven, as well as the relationship of John and John, Jr.  Bart also produced a book of the Probate records of Geauga County, which he said contained a record of the administration of one Hiram Fowler, which he might want to refer to, for a date, thereafter, and if the Court would permit, he would refer to, if it became necessary.  He wished the record to be considered in evidence, for what it was competent to prove.

“Certainly,” from the Court, who made a note of it.