The Trinity times., 1855-08-11
Chief Justice Hale.

n gentleman who possessed an estate in
the eastern part OF England, worth FIVE hun
dred pounds year, had two sons. The old
est, being Of a rambling disposition. went
abroad. Alter several years, the father uied
The Younger son DESTROYED the will and
seized on the estate. He gave ont that his
elder brother wus dead and brbed witnesses
to attest II. Ia course of time, the Z der
brother returned. in miserable circumstances.
The younger repal>ed him with scorn; saying
he was an impost,T ard cheat-tha his real
brother was dead long ago, and he could
bring witnesses to prove it.
The real brother having neither money
nor friends. was in dismal situation. AT
last he found a lawyer who agreed, Gas he
had nothing To pay hin,) that if he would
Give him one thousand guiueas, if he under
took and gained the case, he wosd act for
him To which he assented. The case was
to be tried at the next general Assizes, at
Chelmsford, Essex. The lawyer being now
engaged he set his wits TO work to obtain
success. At las, he thought he would con-
suit the Judge &C that age, Lord Chief JUS
tice llalc accordingly he FASTENED to Lon
don, aud laid open the cause and all its cir
cumstances The Judge. who was great
lover Of Justice, listened attentively, and
promised all the assistance in his power
The Lawyer having taken leave, the Judge
contlived so as to finish his business at the
Kings Bench before the Ciielnslord AssZes
began. lie started for Chelmsford, ana
when within n short stance of that place he
dismissed his horse and sought for private
house he found one occupied By miller
After some conversation, making himself yer,
agreeable. he proposed to the mi lrr 20
change clothes with him, and as the Judge
had Il good suit on, the miller did not obie /;
accordingly the Judge put on a complete suit
of the mlfer's best. Adorned with mi,lrr's
hat. shoes and stick, away he marched 10
Chelmsford, where he procured lodging
against the Asszes next day When the trial
came on. he walked ike an ignorant fellow
backwards and forwards along the country
hall. aud when the court began to fiji. he
fnuud out the poor fellow who was the plain
tiff As soon as he came INTO the hall the
miller drew up to him:
" Ion, 81 lr end, how is yonr case like to do
TO day :"
" Why" replied the plaintiff, "my cause
is in very precarlous situation, and if lose
it, 1 arr ruined for life"
Wen, honest friend " replied the miller,
"wil you take my advice? will let you
into a secret which, perhaps, you do not
know. Every Englishman has "A right and
the privilege 10 except any one Suryman
through ti.e whole twelve now DO yoh insist
upon your privilege without giving reason
why, aud, if possible, get me chosen in his
room, and will do you all the service in my
power"
Accordingly, when the clerk called over
the names of the jurymen, the plaintiff eX-
copied to one of them. The Judge ON the
b, nc'l was liglly offended wtb this.
:" W hat do you mean," said he, by ex-
ccpfiug to that gentleman
mean my lord, to assert my privilege
as an EngtIshnan, without giving u reason
whv."
The Judge, who had b en- highly bribed.
in order to conccal it by show Of candor,
aud having confidence in the superiority Of
his party, said
Wei. s,r, as you claim your privilege,
in one instance, will grant it, Whom
would you like to have, in place Of that man
excepted 2"
Arer short time taken in consideration he
said, My Lord. | wish TO have an honest
man chosen IN" and lool,ing round. there
is that miller in the cour W. will have him.
if YOU please" Accordingly the miller was
chosen.
As soon as the clerk Of the court had riv-
en- them all their oaths a dexterous fellow
came into the apartment. aud slipped Ten
caroluses into the hands of eleven iuryr,rn
aud gave the miller but five. He observed
they were all brbcd as well rs himself and
said TO his next neahbor in a soft viii per.
" How much have You GOT r. " Ten pieces "
said he. The mile, did not say what he had
The cause was opened by the plaintiffs
counsel. and all the scraps Of cvld, nee they
could pick up were adducrd IN his favor
The defendtnt had great numbrr Of wit
nesses and pl"aders. all brihpd rs well as the
Judge The evidence depo-cd that they
were in the sclf-samc county when The bro
ihcr died and saw him buried aud every.
thing went with full tide for thu younger
brother. The Judge summed up with great
gravity and d,lberaiion: " And now. gem
tleman Of the Jury, bring in your verdict as
you shall deem most just" In few min
utes Il Q Judge said, " Are you agreed
Who shah speak for you ~
We are all agreed our foreman shall
speak l"T ub.
Hold, my lord" >" replieo the miller VIZ
are not all agreed "
Why said the Judge. IN a surly manner,
' what IS the matter with you-what reason
have YOU for dlsa0reeiug ~
laye several reasons, my lord - replied
the miller. " First, they have gwen all The
gentlemen Of the jury tcp broad pieces Of gold.
and me only five which is not far. Besides.
have many objections to make to the false
reasoning Of the rlradcrs, aud the contra
dictory evidence of the wlnc>se,"
Upon this the miller began n discourse
that discovered such vast pen ration Of
Judgment and extensive knoNicdge Of law
that it as,onshed the judge and the whole
court As he was going on, the judge, in
surprise, sioPped lim.
Whore did you come from, and who are
you p be asked.
came from Westminster Hall, - replied
the miller. My name is Matthew Hale.
Lord Chief Justice of the Kug's Bench.
have observed the iriquity q your proceed
ings this day therefore come doHn from
the sent YOU are in no way worthy 10 hold
You are one Of the c rrupi parties 10 tbs mi
qnilpu- business / wi.l come up this mo
N, ~ aud try the whole over again