Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-06-04
THE CULPRIT JUDGE.
A TALE OF THE BENCH AND BAR.

tiers axe was then familiar music, and
prairies away from the woodland had
not yet heard the scream Of the steam
whistle. All branches of society, Of trade,
business and profession were in transi-
ton state. OF course the Judges were
not men of vast learning or ofrare char
acter; and, lest I appear vain, may
add, that the lawyers were by no means
Chief-Justice Taneys!
The Judge who Travelled circuit with
US in the counties round about the city of
- had been in early life horseback
ey, aud had picked up large amount of
tact, knowledge of men, and of human
nature, and of social motives that was of
much use to him in his legal walk. At the
West he had been a member of the first
Constitutional Convention in our State,
and, being a good talker and of quick
natural intellect, had shone in the debates.
OF course it was natural that, as he made
the law, he should claim to be able to ex-
pound it. And at the first election after
the State was admitted he was chosen a
Judge.
[ never liked him. With all his atfa-
bility and apparent Difference of manner,
there was in his composition an under
strata of cunning that suspected and
became wary Of When I was chosen
peoples solicitor he sought my confidence,
but l repelled it, and, except in court,we
were little together. Many a time on
the civil side has he given me fayora-
ble charge on facts, or acquiesced in my
law when 1 felt that [ was wrong. Nor
could 1 fathom why he thus sought to get
the winning side of me.
l suspected him of knavery. When
prisoners were convicted, and he had the
discretion Of punishment, his sentences
were oddly inconsistent. He fined when
he should have imprisoned, and confined
when a nominal punishment would have
answered the justice of the case. But l
never could get any clue, and with the
populace he was regarded as a man of
rare integrity and irmness Of mind.
One night, at the inn in the little vii
lace of Washington, where a weeks court
was to be held, went to my " boarded
of" bedroom for an afternoon nap, and
was soon fast asleep. [ was awakened
by a confused murmuring, that, after l
was thoroughly aroused, l perceived to
come from the adjoining room-one ap-
propriated to Judge C
1" He is committing his Grand Jury
charge" said I to myself, when heard
strange voice say, The Doodle is most
4,,cad nm of the old sfrine"
Now " Doodle" is a flash term used by
counterfeiters, and it instantly attracted
my prosecuting attention. As sat up
on the bedside a ray oflight came through
chink of the boarded partition. As q
man, honor would have forbidden peep
as an officer of the law, prudence com
manded it. So drawing myself noise
lessIy aRd closely to the boarded separa-
lion, looked through the crack and saw
Judge c. seated at q table with {
sinister looking man, who wore a pair o
Remarkably black whiskerS and the two
were counting quite pile Of new banl
bills. listened, but not another wore
was spoken for some time. l saw th'
money divided into three piles, and th'
Judge placed one in his pocet, the whis
kered man took the other, and then draw
ing off his boots, divided the third pill
Between each boot in the inside of it,ant
then again placed them on his feet. Mex
fhe Judge said: BE careful and send
70 the proper place His companion
gave meaning smile; they shook hands
The stranger left the room cautiously
and the Judge then sat down to some pa
pers. l continued to look for severa
minutes, but he appeared absorbed in hi
duties, when, just as l was about quittin
my point of observation, he arose, an
taking out his roll Of bills, placed ther
up the chimney, and then continued hi
reading.
I must say my blood ran cold, for
grave suspicion had often crossed m
mind that he was rascal but I neve
suspected him of being concerned wit
the drovers, trappers and traders who OF
casionally made bad money their commC
dity. Nor as 1 sat collecting my thought
could conceive it possible, when 1 re
membered how severe he had alwaJ
been upon the passers of counterfeit MOI
ey. and how earnestly and solemnly b
always in his charges in such cases d.
claimed against the enormity of offender
Who substituted a spurious currency for
good one. I therefore concluded that tt
word 'boodIe,' and the suspicious boo
stufing,' must relate to some other kind
ofense, connected with which now fe
assured he must be.
Stealthily going out, l carefully de
cended the stairs and entered the ba
Foom. The heavily whiskered man W;
Seated at a table reading the last Gin Gil
nati paper, as calm and placid as if
we're the Methodist minister of the ridin
sat down, and pulling out a law pap
pretended to read it, but was glancir
over its top at the stranger. His eye d
nct wander from particular point of Il
paper, nor did the sheet after sever
MINUTES turn; therefore concluded
Kas not reading but was rejecting.
endeavored to catch his eye, but cou
POI, l next thought of trying the d
heanor of the Judge; so making in n
nlnd some excuse relating to my ofici
anties, I again went up stairs and knoc
at his door. His pleasant voice, in ;
hembarrassed tone, cried, walk in, al
entered After pettino through nv b