Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 18.pdf/688

 THADDEUS STEVENS

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ens' special aversion; Isaac E. Hiester, who which south of Mason and Dixon line is re beat Stevens for Congress in 1852, and upon garded as no less horrible than murder, Mr. whom Stevens revenged himself in 1854 by Stevens actually illustrated the trite Eliza beating him with ex-Sheriff Roberts; the bethan story with sword and scabbard, and meteor of the Bar, "Wash" Barton, and acquitted the defendant. the brilliant John R. Montgomery, who sur That Stevens was not unwilling at times vives in tradition as the star of first magni to risk the reproach supposed to attach to a tude in our local constellation; A. Hen- lawyer who presents his own cause, appears Smith, who became one of Mr. Stevens' suc from a number of reported cases to which he cessors in Congress and served there more himself was a party. Adjoining his furnace years continuously than the "old Com and timber lands to which, after his native moner" himself; Judge D. W. Patterson, county in Vermont, he gave the name "Cale Judge John B. Livingston, who studied donia," were the estates of a Hughes family, under Stevens, and Hugh M. North, who, rival iron masters of that day. As far back full of years and honors, yet connects us as 3 Watts and Sergeant, 465, heard at Harwith what at least is secure — a glorious risburg in May, 1842, in an action of tres pass quare clansem jregit, Stevens had won past. Although, as previously noted, he was not his title to the disputed locus in quo "on the welcomed to the Lancaster Bar, and his in headwaters of the Conococheague in the vasion of it was regarded jealously by most South Mountain." Years afterward the of its members, he was especially antago strife was renewed in Stevens v. Hughes (31 nized at the outset by Benjamin Champneys Pa., 331), where he sharply reversed the — later attorney general under Governor lower court's binding instructions against Shunk — an active and pugnacious, but him and secured from Justice Strong the withal learned lawyer. The traditions of assertion of the principle that "one judg the local Bar are replete with stories of their ment upon the title to real estate in an action collisions. Stevens was wont to sneer at of trespass is so conclusive as to preclude the Champneys' copious citations of English same parties or their privies from afterward authorities, and sometimes, it is to be feared, controverting it." displayed the character of the demagogue in On the new trial Stevens recovered $500 court. When Champneys blustered, how damages. He had been indignant at his ever, Stevens was cool and sarcastic. On summary treatment by the court on the first one occasion when his antagonist "rode the hearing, but was now quite as much as whirlwind," Mr. Stevens slyly expressed the tounded when, in jocose mind, he moved hope that the jury would "not be taken by the court to assess treble damage, to have storm " — "nor by strategy," hissed Champ the court promptly raise the verdict to $i,500 neys, dreading the effect of his opponent's and enter judgment for that amount. An sarcasm. When a railroad attorney vigor appeal being taken Colonel McClure (who ously objected to Stevens' "leading" one of was of counsel for record and is my authority the witnesses on the other side, Stevens for the statement) scarcely had the hardi raised a laugh among the jurymen by ob hood to print a paper book in defense of the serving "he looked so young and innocent I judgment, and Stevens, who, after dodging felt it my duty to lead him." When in an all other responsibility for the appeal, had arbitration at a tavern his antagonist hurled agreed to argue it, disappeared at the criti an inkstand at him; Stevens dodged it and cal moment. His associate promptly lost dryly said: "You don't seem competent to the case, and when Stevens himself re-ap put ink to better use." In his defense of a peared and learned the outcome, he grimly voung man charged with that odious crime said he had expected it, he "knew it all the