The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-05-11
coRREsPoNDENcE.
SIX ETcuEs OF THE METROPOLIS.
THE COURTS OF LAW-THE SESSIONS

laiion In n crowded metropolis, are more Iedoient
with instruction when rightly considered, than The
criminal courts Within their gloomy precincts ale
gathered the bloaled victim OF inlempffanee, lhe
lynx eyed practitioner Of deception, the desPaiihs
child OF penury, and the hardened veteran w Sie".
The DISTINCTIONS between colors, grades, ages, ana
sexes, are loI in this republic OF infamy, ana one
NOT unireqnentiy meets, arraigned Ia the same docS
individuals whose outward seeming would sep rae
them "wiie as'the poles asunder," II their moral
obliQuity had not thrown them ia companianshlp
The of sessions was for great number OF years.
unde. the direction OF The Hon. RICHARD RKER, onr
late worthy recorder. The legal requirements OF
that gentleman are too widely known and apprecii-
ted TO need any euloey. As iura, profoundly learn
ed In the depths OF criminal law, Judge pussess-
ing mind al once comprehensive, discriminating,
and logical and as a man, merciiu', eonc'lia'ins,
and virtuous; his fame will continue to gather ins're
by the Lapse OF years The Hon. Rn3sar q. Nor
Rs the present recorder, and chiel JniF OF me ses
siuns, is son Of the late Goreraor MarTts, whose
history is So honorabiy idenf ID with the cary re-
riod OF The republic Mr.. Mjrri>, although his stand
ing al the bar moi relhal in The hrs rsnt @sS,
at The period of his selection, in the possession u an
extensive practice and with one or Two exceptions,
which are considered unfortunate D. our best law
yers, his decisions have been favor by rereisea.
Without any pretenson TO The experience 81 h's pre-
decessor, his knowledge of criminal law y qnile
equal TO the mosi oi his contemporaries s''ii AZ Tue
bar and time aud practice will no doub qaa'iy MN
to grasp The mot weghy questions Lieh are mool-
I'd ia our criminal Tribunals JAWS X WHITING
E.q, The district attorney, although siH young man.
has exhibited powers OF the highest order SINCE us
elevation TO his present station Bsfar.hiS appoint
raent his practice had for several years been very
extensive, and his talents and legal requirements
were highly appreciated, bu, IN several Instance
since his induction into his present responsible once,
he has elected The admiration Of hLel, tai' ahu
auditory BY the compreh>ivc grasp OF his "in', anu
his ervd and manly eoqnence. One Pronunenl
characteristic OF Mr.. Writings mind, Is mar OF
depth and Intensity Of feeling. Unlike some law
yers who consider soicisn and CALI u,nesS mus
pensabe to success in the profession The district At
orney permits the feelings Of his heart 70 go fAfl
payu with uS reason and Judgment, anal he Is thus
enabled 10 strike every chord OF sympathy IN me
hearts OF Judge and jury and 10 brig ioIlh favor
able response Ia the crosse ANIMATION 81 witness
eS his discrimination Of character is highfy ehec-
tive, and lie seldom fails to detect perjury how
ever skilfully yelled. Possessed OF vivi ina
gina,ion and armed with the lighter weapons oil
wit and SATIRE his efflrtS, when he chooses to ex-
ert his powers, present rapid succesin OF assaults
ON the delences oi his antagonist, ard skiln re-
sort TO every honorable strategy 10 ior'iiy ms own
position.
In addition to his skin as a jury lawyer, Mr. WIFI
Ting /, considered an able coun eor, and his native
b.nevuence makes him peculiarly adaped 10 The
nature Of his present duties where innocence IS ut
times, eonounded with guilt, and where the proper
discrimination between venalitv; nd confirmed b Sc
ness so frequently aids in snalchng the young de-
linquenl from The b ink OF destruction The APP
pe.rance oil the sessions during the preparations
for an exciting rial is worthy Of note The record-
er and two aldermen, who c'mpo'e the bench ot
Judges, occupy elevated seat, which comm I'D
view Of the whole auditory. Beneath them are
stationed The clerk Of the court and the crtr,
who are Il mixed on either side, within HE railing
which separates the court and It's APPENDICES from
the audience, by counsel, jury, and officers on duly
Without the railing motley assenbage are con-
greeated, exhibiting specimens OF all the various
grades Of society from the noed complexion Of
the houeess vagrant, 10 the weli-dre>Ssd hsnre OF
The fashionable +" MN abb town" Al length The
crer has uttered his nasal Oh Yes"-the Jnfy h.vs
been called and tried with mucr ceremony rs The
prisoner whom they were summoned TO julse-ihe
counsel gather up their briefs, and assume the So
cmniy proper The questionable prisoner is placed
in the dock, ami The innocent witncsses are given
over TO he tender mercies OF the legal gentlemen,
who whet their scalpels In anticipation Of The usual
cutting np .a*.
In fact Of all the raries concerned in the iill OF
ceIt brated criminal, know OF none more entitled
to our sympathy than the novice ho is 6rst placed
, on the stand MS witness.
Confronted by an array Of dignitlries, whose So
Tenn viSageS AMI imposing manner, Tighten him
from his propriety, he no sooner reaches the stand
than he Is asSled with extreme severity BY prac-
Used nelIeclu gladiator, whose blows on his con-
si>tcncy aud inlegIi fail thick ard fast, until he
relireS TO his seat overwhelmed with confusion, and
in doub whether in reality he has answered to the
nam- Of Tom J,nesor John Smith
In MANY instances the prisoner at The bar EXHIBITS
l,s feeling Than any other ind vilua IN the ass m.
bage, and have at times witnessed burst Of emo
lion throughout the crowded au :itorv while listen
ing 10 the soustirring appeals of eoquct cnnase',
while the criminal in the dock was entirely un-
moved.
In fact 1t IS sudyto view the various degrees OF
guilt as represented BY the actors in The scene, from
the trembling nerves Of The novice in cri &c, 10 The
solid indifference Of the vateran in iniquiy.
Let The young, therefore, beware OF taking the
first step in depravy lest in lis gloomy v"rsex hey
lose the power Of volitinn, and become stepped in
pollution beyond the possibility of recall lis pain
lnl /, witness the talent and adroi,ness frequently
exhibited by arragaed criminals in their Efforts I,
escap,e punshment for the same abilities, II ex-
erred in an honorable sphere, would not only insure
worldly competence, bur might have exalted the
delinquent 10 a station sufficiently elevated 10 crafty
the aSpirinss of even vaulling ambition.
WAsHiNcToN, May Z, 1892.
DIVIDE Nd Of three per cent for the last months
~ IL. l.rclr he min of