Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-04-22
Judge Wilmot' s Defence,
[coNcLUDED FROM FIRST PAGE.

general character Ol tRclF talk.
Since the admission to the Bar of the young
man who was thus free to impugn my motives,
there have been in the Orphans Court and in
the Common Pleas oa Bradford County, one
hundred and three Audits Of which that gen
tEemsn has had eighteen, nearly one fifth of the
whole number, and very nearly one half Of the
whole number hl been given to gentlemen
whose names are on the memorial to blot out
that Judicial District. To Mr.. Elwell have
been given six while to Mr.. Mercur, who is
represented to have such undue Influence over
me, there has been given not one. These mat
ters are proved by the certificates Of the Pro
thonotary and Clerk of the Orphans Court,
herewith submitted.
| would here notice the unfounded charge,
that of being uuduly influenced by my friend
u Mcrcur, Esq. OF some forty causes taken
into the Supreme Court from Bradford County
in the six years that have been upon the
Bench, | am not aware of but three reyCrSas
up to- this time. One case, not yet reported,
was q small matter of costs, between man
BY the name of Manson Elsbrc, now Dem
ocrat, and the Sheriff aud ProthoROtary, pot-
ical and personal friends Mr. Baird and Mr.
Elweli were the Counsel concerned. | ruled
the ease in favor of Eisbre, against my friends.
Mr. Baird took writ of error and reversed
me.
The first Of the two cases reported in the
Books is that of Paine vs. Edsall, 10Th St.
Rep page IFS ! ruIed the case in favor Of
EdsaIl, who was a Democratic candidate for
the Legislature in 1856, and the client of Ed.
Overton. Mr. Mcrcur took writ of error
and reversed me.
SI,o, = tb.+ oG
oath st. Rep. page 3OS. know not the po-
litics Of either party. Mr. Mercur and Baird
were the counsel concerned. | ruled the case
in favor of Mr. Baird's client again tIr Mer-
cur took writ of error and reversed me.
Thus, in the cases tried in Bradford County,
in which | have fallen into error, thought
worthy of review, | have erred against my
friends. No political opponent from that
County has ever been compelled to go outside
of my Court to obtain his legal rights | sub
nit if this striking and significant fact ought
not to shield me from the charge of political
bias, with all impartial and candid men No
gentleman whose name is on the Bar memorial
ever reversed case decided by me, except Mr.
Baird, and then only to carry the cause for
my political friends, against whom | had de.
cided.
Again have understood that it was asscr-
ted before this Committee, By one not member
of the Bar, (V. L. Piollet) but whose feeling
in this movement transcends that all Others
that no political opponent could obtain a
License in my Courts.
This charge is made in utter disregard Of
truth, and Of the facts spread upon the records
of my Courts. The Court in my district has
been cXteremly liberal in the granting of Lii
censes--toO liberal, | fear for the good of the
community or the honor of the Court. feel
intirely safe in the statement that not more
than three or four cases can be found in Brad
ford County, and not CRATER number in the
County of SuSquehanna, within any year of my
official term, where the Court has refused, for
any cause whatever, to grant Tavern License
where the application was filed in time to give
the notice required by the Statute and the
statement | will verify by the records Of the
Court, time for that purpose being allowed me
Again, | understand that it was made a
ground of charge against me, by the same
man who so unadvisedly preferred the one Last
noticed that none but Republican Tipstaycs
attended upon my Courts This is too triaug
and yet it has more Of decency, because more
of truth than other charges brought against
me. The yigilant informer who presents this
grave gtound Of complaint, although seldom
an attendant upon my Courts, very probably
knows more aboHt the politics of the Tipstaves
than does any member of the Court | can
only say for myself, and, so far as | know, for
my associates, that no member of the Court
has ever had one word to say upon a matter
so important as the appointment of Tipstave
TheClerk has been permitted to select whoever
he pleased for this duty, and il there be any
thing wrong connected with it, it must be in
this, that the Court has surrendered into the
hands of its clerk so important function
Seriously appeal to this Committee, if ever
before Judge was arraigned upon charges
like these The Judicial Office has, heretofore
been deservedly held in high respect. | sub
nit that the day of its respectability is gone,
il judges can be brought before the Bar of a
Legislative Committee. upon such accusations,
by any one who may entertain malevOent feel
ings toward them. A Judicial Commission in
Pennsylvania, will not be of much worth in
the estimation of honorable men, if this case
should become precedent for future Legis-
latures. No Judge will feel safe in his char
acter or Office. The lines Of Judicial Districts
will be marked in the sand The tenure of
the Office will virtually depend upon-party as
tendency in these Halls. That provision cf
the Constitution will be abrosated which de
cIares that President Judges Of the Courts Of
Common Pleas shall be elected by the quail
flied electors of the Districts over which they
are to preside, or act as Judges"
have heard a rumor, that | was in some
way blamed In the matter of a criminal pro-
secution, Commonwealth VS. L. b. Chase. in
dctment for Libel, instituted by me some two
years ago. The rumor is not sufficiently de-
finite to enable me to state wherein the wrong
is alleged to consist. In this case feel that
great injustice was done me-that my rights
in Court were put in jeopardy, though inau-
ences that | will refrain from commenting
npoH