Mobile register and journal. [volume] (Mobile, Ala.) 1841-1849, 1845-09-20


Tie foilowias from Nes York paper gives iuOre
Ia detail tho aec1nnt Of the soas between Mr. Van
Buren, the Attorney General of New York and MI.
A L. Jordsni
| FRAcAslN couRr AT UuDsos.--1udge Ed
monds is holding the Oyer and Termner at Hudson.
aud for some dave an attempt Inns been made to
procure jury for the trial Of "Big Thunder, p Bough-
ton, the Anti-renter; who is defended by Mr.. Am
brose l.. Jordan, Of this city, whose well earned
cognonen il Aqua tpfls Jordan. In the progress OF
The Mr. Jordan betrayed his us,, virnlence, and
ultimately called Mr.. Attorney General Van Buren, a
liar, which accustomed personal conflict, of which
we have the following details in a contemporary:
Wednesday and Thursday were occupied IN get
| ting only two Jurors This morning, when the Court
opened, Mr. Jordan one Of the counsel for the pris-
| oner, not present, and when he came in, in IA
bout fifteen minutes some progress had been made
/ in examining two jurors Very soon after he
had taken his seat, some words occurred between
HIM aud the Attorney General, which were not gen.
1 orally heard
| The first remark which was loud enough to attract
| attention, was expression by Mr.. Jordan 10 MIR.
Van Buren,; sYn u are liar" MIR. Jordan was ait
ling at the table immediately behind Mr.. Van Buren,
and instantly Mr.. Jordan used this offensive Ian
guage, Mr.. Van Buren, struck him in the face with
| his right elbow. Mr.. Jordan returned The blow by
with his fist, winch hii the Attorney General in
| the back of his head. They both rose from their
faced each other, and exchanged several blows.
| This was all done with great rapidity, and Judge
Edmonds Instantly ordered both TO take their sc Is
and ordered The sheriff to take Them both into GUS
tad..
The Judge, after briel consultation with his col
leagues, announced their determination 10 punish 81
| fragrant violation cf order. lie directed The clerk
to enter AN order committing both the gentlemen 10
the common Jail.
| The Attorney General then rose, and in very
calm and respectful manner apoogised to the Court
for the ndecorum OF which he confessed he had been
guilty. lie could only say that he had been thrown
Oft his balance by perseyering continuance the
part of Mr.. Jordan, in Using towards lin insulting
| aud abusive language. He knew NOT how 10 account
for its having thrown him far of his guard, and
he could not too strongly express his regrets at the
occurrence. lie would undertake that nothing of the
Kind should occur again, and he hoped thai that
surnace and his apology would be received us SUI
| hclent atonemeni, at least far 10 justify the
court IN visiting the offence with pecuniary penal
ty. rather than with Imprisonment.
| Mr. dan followed him, saving in substance that
/ he was no more exempt from The nfrmity of temper
than other men, but during practice OF thirty years
he had never begun the use Of offensive or insulting
| language. but he had often observed, and IL has
been particularly the case while practising in this
county, thai members Of The bar INDUCED IN sysie-
matte Efforts 10 irritae and offend him during the
trial of causes On the former trial, as well as dur
| ing this, The Attorney General, who much
younger man than he was, and comparatively IN
experienced in The trial of causes, had assumed to-
wards him offensive and dclatorial tone, 10 which
he would submit from no man, and upon this occa-
sion, before he had used the language in puted to
him, the Attorney General had pronounced one Of
his statements false, and lie would submit such
an impuation nor to blow, from any one in
any place, without resenting il. He regretted
| the present occurrence, because in il he had been
led into IA breach Of order which he would not deny,
but he would promise The court that nothing of The
kind should occur again for he would treat such
duct, NJ least in court with the silent contempt il de-
| served
| The District Attorney, Miller, begged to repeat to
the court the suggestion thai fine might be substi-
lued punishment, in urder that the progress of
the trial might not be interrupted
Judge Ednpnds said, in reply that If he wee at
liberty to consult his private feelings he would glad
" listen to the suggestion, and overlook the Of
fence. And This not merely because of his personal
regard Tor both the ntlemen, but because he
aware that punishment the court could award
would he III all equal TO that which their sense
OF proprlety and their consciousness OF their
| would inflct upon ih"m
But the court had higher duty 10 perform than IL
consult their private feelings, and for his part
lie should regard himself as unworhy Of his station
# lie should allow any pam which he might eel 10
| Interfere with the performances of his duty. And how
could il lie expected that The weak, the ignorant and
the uniformed should be made TO respect the laws
and muina in order if such violations OF il amo ne
those who were high in rank and station, and well
| informed, should be overlooked, visited Other
wise than by an appropriate evidence of condemna
| ton.
| The judgement Of the court must therefore he en-
| forced, aud rs il would be proper to deprive Ell
Their the prisoner the people of their appropriate
counsel, the court would adjourn for tweniy-loul
hours
md 80 both gentlemen were committed 10 the Jail
and the court adjourned until Saturday morning.