Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 15.pdf/516

 Eli Bassett—Judge. The first two are crimes, the third a mis demeanor. It was evident from the first that Mre. Labori, not expecting to secure an ac quittal, was steering toward a conviction upon the minor charge alone. He handled the evidence with great skill, and, while strongly tempted to take advantage of the popular feeling by arousing the prejudice of the jury against the government, in view of its failure to put a speedier check upon the predatory career of the Humberts, he used this weapon sparingly. He was direct and bold, but not violent or vituperative. The result of the trial was unavoidable. The con duct of the defence will detract nothing from the enviable reputation of this brilliant and fearless advocate, distinguished at the French bar as the one mani of eminence who faces

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the mob or the government with equal courage. At the close of the twelve days' trial, after deliberating four hours, the jury found the prisoners guilty upon all the charges. The verdict was clearly in accord with the evi dence, the views of the judges, and intelli gent public opinion. The penalty imposed, of five years' reclnsion (solitary or separate confinement, but less severe than penal servi tude) for the Humberts, and three and two years' imprisonment respectively for the Daurignacs, is remarkable for its mod eration. If justice is only placated by this result, it was reached with commendable ex pedition, and without the appearance of any disposition to press the power of the govern ment unduly in view of the aggravated char acter of the offence.

ELI BASSETT -JUDGE. BY GEORGE WE don't have much call for law up our way, because our neighbors in the town of Jasper, State of Maine, are law-abiding citizens. But once in a while some one has a little difference to settle and on such occa sions Trial Justice Bassett puts aside his farming and assumes the robes of judge with great satisfaction to all concerned. No one has ever been known to dissent from his rul ings, and his findings, for plaintiff or defend ant whichever it may be, is the end of that particular case. One day in August Joel Spear had a little trouble with Hank Ridley over a cow which Joel had bought from Hank with the under standing that the cow was new milch and all right in every respect. Constable Obed True served the writ, the return was made and the case duly entered in court. The court was

O. BLUME. always held in the back of Orrin Chase's store down at the village, which was a large, roorny place accommodating about twenty people by crowding. Judge Bassett drove up to the Chase's the day set for the trial and hitched his gray mare. The Judge didn't live but about half a mile up the road, but he always hitched up and drove clown at court time, as he wished to uphold the dignity of his office. The Judge mounted to the bench and rapped for order, while Hen Bailey, who was clerk of the court, called the case of Spear v. Ridley. The day was hot and lowry, and the Judge was plainly uneasy about something. Just after Hen Bailey got through, Jud<re Bassett, looking out of the open window at the sky overhead, said: "Boys, looks ter me ez ef we wuz goin' ter hev a shower; wind's