Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1855-09-27
CHIEF JUSTICE HALE.

A gentleman who possessed an estate
in the eastern part of England, worth
FIVE hundred pounds year, had two
sons. The Oldest being of rambling
disposition, went abroad. After sever
al years the father died. The younger
son destroyed the will and seized upon
the estate. He gave out that his elder
brother was dead, and bribed witnesses
to attest it. In the course of time the
elder brother returned, in miserable cir
cumstances. The younger repulsed
him with scorn, saying that he was an
imposter and cheat-thst his real
brother was dead long ago, and he could
bring witnesses to proveit.
The real brother, having neither mo-
ney nor friends, was in dismal situa-
ton. At last he found lawyer who
agreed, (as he had nothing to pay him,
that if he would give him one thousand
guineas, if he undertook and gained
the cause, he would 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, set his wits to work to
obtain success. At last he thought he
would consult the first Judge of the age,
Lord Chief Justice Hale; accordingly
he hastened to London, and laid open
the case and all its circumstances. The
IjudgeJwho was greatlover of justice,
listened attentively, and promised all
the assistance in his power. The law
yer having taken his leave, the judge
contriyed SO as to finish all his business
at the Kings Bench before the Chelms-
ford Assizes began. He started for
Chelmsford, and when within short
distance of that place, he dismissed his
horse and sought for a private house;
he found one occupied by a miller. After
some conversation, making himself very
agreeable, he proposed to the Miller to
change clothes with him, and as the
Judge had a good suit on, the miller did
not object; accordingly the judge put
on a complete suit of the miller's best.
Adorned with miller's hat, shoes and
stick, away he marched to Chelmsford,
where he procured lodging against the
Assizes next day. When the trial came
on, he walked like an ignorant fellow,
backwards and forwards along the coun-
try hall and when the court began to
fill, he found out the poor fellow who
was the plaintiff. As soon as he came
into the hall the miller drew up to him.
"Honest friend, how is your case like
to do to-day?"
"Why," replied the plaintiff, ''my
cause is in a very precarious situation,
and if l lose it., / am ruined for life."
"Well, honest friend, replied the mil
Ter, will you take nv advice? / will
let you into a secret which, perhaps,
you do not know. Every Englishman
has right and privilege to except To
any one juryman through the whole
twelve; now do you insist upon your
privilege without giving your reason
why, and, if possible, get me chosen in
his room, and viii do you all the ser
vice In my power.
4 Accordingly when the clerk called
over the names of the jurymen, the
plaintiff excepted one of them. The
Judge on the bench was highly offended
at this.
"What do you mean" said he, "by
excepting to that gentleman?"
81 mean, my lord, to assertmy priyi
lege as an Englishman, without giving 8
reason why"
}, The Judge, who had been highly
|, bribed, in order to conceal it by show
of candor, and having confidence in thu
: superiority of his party. said:
"Well, sir, as you claim your privilege
in one instance. viii grant it. Whom
, would you like to have in place of tina
! man excepted?
After short time taken in consid
? Grafton he said, "My lord I wish +
, have an honest man chosen In" AM