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 The Supreme Court of Vermont.

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confused common minds, with ease and direct a verdict for the plaintiff. This and rapidity. His application of the principles like modes of speedy trial of cases caused of law in such cases was quick and conclu some criticism, characterizing it as a de sive.

His power of rapidly dispatching capitation of the case rather than a trial. judicial business has not been equalled in He was a delightful man in social life, had Vermont. His clear and quick legal per a fine sense of humor, loved to converse, ception enabled him to discern, at once, the was free in the expression of his opirlions, decisive point in the case and to confine the full of anecdote, a capital story teller, of case to it; his thorough acquaintance with keen wit, enjoyed the ludicrous and was the rules of evidence inclined to be satir ical; he was, how abridged discussion on such points, and ever, reserved except enabled him to ex among his intimate and congenial friends. clude all that was im This was the result of material. He could direct juries with his sensitive nature, great precision; his but among his inti control over the busi mate friends, his gen ness shortened trials ial and companion and prevented waste able qualities shone of time. At one term out and his discourse in Rutland, not ex was charming and ceeding four weeks, instructive. the juries returned When in the Sen forty-three verdicts. ate, Mr. Webster pro He was strong in nounced him one of the exposure of a the ablest lawyers in legal fallacy, was a the body, then full of great master of sar great lawyers. Chief casm, sometimes bit Justice Chase, who ter; his apprehen served in the Senate sion was so quick that with him, said that in JOHN MATTOCKS he saw or seemed to power of clear, con see the end from the vincing statement, he beginning, so that with the impatience of had no peer in the Senate, and at that time, Webster, Clay, Calhoun, Wright, Benton, such a mind at the movements of the slug gish, he not unfrequently tried cases and Crittenden and others of national reputation directed verdicts upon the statement of were members. counsel. He would inquire as to the case While senator, he argued several causes as claimed by the plaintiff, and on its being in the Supreme Court with great ability; stated, it was like him to say, " You cannot one, the West River bridge case, in which maintain this action upon your statement," he prevailed against the arguments of Mr. and direct a verdict for the defendant. Or, Webster, is a leading case in constitutional the plaintiff's case being stated, he would law, and Judge McLean, of the United States inquire of the defendant's counsel, "What is Supreme Court, pronounced his argument your answer to this?" and that being stated, in the Woodworth Planing Machine Patent he might say, "That is no defense," and case, the ablest address to the court at that