Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 08.pdf/325

 296

When Judge William Kent was succeeded cept it; for whatsoever is read from a law by John W. Edmonds as circuit judge — a book is the real bona fide law and no very accomplished civil, but not at all a mistake." At the end of a long trial, that resulted criminal lawyer — the latter asked the for mer for a leaf from his experience in trials in acquitting a wronged woman for killing of accused, so as to escape error; and the her lover, although the testimony was answer came, " Decide all legal questions in pretty clear for murder, while the popular favor of the prisoner, but in your charge sympathy was strongly with her, Court, give him the devil on the facts." counsel and jury retired to a neighboring During a homicide trial in which Mr. hotel for supper. Recorder Tallmadge rose Clinton was junior counsel, Ex-Attorney- to propose the health of the foreman, and General Ambrose Jordan, known at the in these words: " He nobly did his duty, bar as " the vitriolic," had while before a notwithstanding his oath." rural jury heaped villification upon New During an argument by John Van Buren York City; but was retorted upon by its upon an appeal, the presiding judge re District Attorney with the exclamation, marked: " We do not see anything in your "Why, if it be so vile, did the counsel first point." long ago leave peaceful practice in his "Then, your honors, I shall proceed to native town on the peaceful shores of the my second point." Hudson River, and permanently resume A similar observation was made by the practice in the horrible city?" judge to that also, followed by Van Buren "I only removed there as a missionary," going unrufnedly to the next, and so on was the quiet and happy retort. until a sixth point was reached. The judge In the same trial Mr. Clinton's client interrupted again and added : " We have was a woman charged with murder and been looking over your whole book of arson, of whom museum manager Barnum points, and really see nothing in any one had made a hideous and libelous wax fig of them." ure and placed on exhibition. She wished "Neither did I when I made them; but him sued at once for libel; but of course, as your three honors were much better pending trial, the project was dissuaded lawyers than I am, I fancied you might by her counsel. When, after having been discover reason in them." once erroneously convicted and sentenced Another Recorder (Riker), in sentencing to death, she was on this second trial, to an exceedingly loquacious female, who had the astonishment of the public, acquitted, repeatedly interrupted witnesses and coun the only remark she made on the announce sel during her trial, said to her: "I send ment of her luck was in exultant tone to you to prison. There will be hard fare, her counsel, " And now we can sue Bar with which, perhaps, using fortitude, you can bear. But it will require all possible num." There is a characteristic anecdote of fortitude and prove a heavy burden of pun Recorder Scott of New York, whom as a ishment upon you to sustain the months layman his political party had put upon of silence that I now sentence you to en the criminal bench. Counsel, during a dure." Samuel Jones, the second, after having trial before him, read repeatedly and volu minously from some law-books to the jury; been Chancellor, became, when chancery was constitutionally abolished in New York, and Scott, when he charged, said : " Gen tlemen, you have heard what counsel for a judge. He was often observed on the bench to be drowsing and to all appear the prisoner read to you. You may ac