Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 09.pdf/47

 20

would adjourn court to attend a wolf-hunt, join in the sport, be hale-fellow-well-met in customary conviviality, but under all circum stances he was the dignified judge, urbane and gracious, but tolerating no familiarity. Judge Dunn gained the unpleasant noto riety of a mention in Dickcns's "American Notes." In 1842, during a session of the legislative council, high words arose be tween Charles C. P. Arndt and James R. Vineyard, two of the members, over an exec utive nomination. Arndt approached Vine yard in a threatening manner. The president called order, and, before bystanders could part the combatants, Vineyard drew pistol and shot Arndt dead. This event created intense excitement, for it was as shocking to the prevailing sentiment in Wis consin as such a tragedy would have been in the Boston State-house. Vineyard, the homicide, was soon after brought before Judge Dunn on habeas corpus, to be granted bail. After a careful examination into the facts of the case the Judge admitted him to bail, and he was subsequently tried and ac quitted on the ground that he acted in selfdefense. This event Dickens seized upon, and published newspaper items in his "Notes" to convey the idea that, in Wisconsin, life was so cheap that one legislator could shoot an other in session for words spoken in debate and be discharged by Judge Dunn on bail. After the organization of the State courts he retired to private practice, and a large clientage thronged to his country seat at Bel mont, where he kept his office. His pro fessional education had been very thorough for a western man. He was an excellent classical scholar. He was, however, too modest and too dignified to seek civil office or push himself forward in candidacy. He served in the constitutional convention which framed the organic law, as chairman of the judiciary committee, and exercised a com manding influence over that body. He was State senator from 1853 to 1856. He "ran" for Congress in 1858, and for justice of the

supreme court in 1860, but being in the mi nority party and sturdy in his political con victions, he had no thought of election. He died at Belmont, April/, 1872. He was regard ed by all the members of the bar who knew him as " a great man in private station." Edward G. Ryan says of him: "He ranked the superior of most and the equal of any of his contemporaries. He might have ennobled many positions filled by them; none could have ennobled him; for, truly, he was a great man in private station. While his intellect was calm, it was solid; while it was not brilliant, it was comprehensive and far reaching. It was deliberate, discriminating, clear, wise and just. His character was solid, strong and resolute, but not stern or harsh. His stronger qualities were softened by great sense of humor and great kindness of heart. His temper was singularly genial. He was generous and trustful to a fault. His foibles — for like all born of woman he had them — all arose from his generous charac ter, the warmth of his heart and the kind ness of his temper. Strong in character among the strongest; he was, in carriage and manner, gentle among the gentlest; eminently modest and unobtrusive in de meanor. His culture was of a high order, in and out of his profession; like himself, useful and thorough, not superficial or showy. His knowledge of men and things, of the world and its ways, was pro found It is little to say that he was the soul,of honor. He could be nothing that is false or mean. He did not know what treason was. That which he believed, that which he loved, that to which he gave his faith, were part of himself. He could not desert faith, a friend, or duty without betraying his own life. Dishonor in him would have been moral suicide." These warm words of praise express the sentiment of all who knew Judge Dunn. It is seldom that a man is so endeared to his professional brethren as he was to the cmi