Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-09-02
atlistelIan:ous.


Mlistfllau:ous.
[From Harper's Magazine.
THE JUDGES DAUGHTER.
It was dark night; winter night; a
night when the winds were abroad, with
snow, and all the fury Of tempest
Here and there. along the streets, the
glimner Of light might be seen. It was
befnre the days of gas, and the oil lamps
were mostly blown GU; by a moderate breeze.
Sometimes pedestrian could be deserted
staggering along, gathering his cloak around
him at every fourth step. and turning his
back as often to the storm that threatened
to strip him
Long before midnight every street in the
city was silent ana deserted, aud the few
lights left might as well have gone out with
their fellows, since they served no good pur-
pose to any mortal. Not even thief would
| venture out on such night, or expose his
precious body to such storm.
| La the old courtroom Of the Oyer and
| Terminer scene was presented on that
night which at this day is somewhat unusu-
| al.
The court had been in session since ten
in the forenoon, having tax n u recess for
dinner and another for supper. 1t was now
ten O'clock, and the court and jury were a.
like exhausted; but they had agreed to fin
ish the cause on trial that hight aad the
jury we're listening to the summing up on
the part of the people by the district attor-
ney, who was calmly and dispassionately
laying before them the evidence, aud, with
tremendous force, urging ON them the pro-
priety of verdict against the prisoner.
The judge was stranger to that bench.
He was fror, country circuit, appointed to
relieve the press Of city business. and he
had worked steadily for four weeks Of the
term, which was now approaching its close,
and had disposed Of an immense amount Of
work He had won the respect of the bar
by bis digni6ed and urbane bearing, his
clear and lucid opinions and decisions. his
kindness to younger members Of the profess
sion aud his steadfast ats ention to the work
before him. But of from the bench no one
! saw him. From the moment that he left
the courtroom he disappeared. His car
rage blinds were always closed. and he
drove directly to his hotel, where he kept
his rooms, and did not appear until to re-
turn to the courtroom.
It was said that he was man OF great
wealth. of elegant tastes. Of refined and
luxurious habits Of life Men wondered
why he submitted to the drudgery of the
bench; to the hard labor which judge must
do
He did not need the salary; that was evil
dent from his style Of living at home and in
the city. He did not need the position or
reputation it gave him; that he had enjoyed
while at the bar and in Congress. when to
be in Congress was an honor. He did not
do it from love of it: that no one who knew
him would suspect; for, while he was prompt
and faithful to attend to his duties, he new
er went one step farther, and in all his deci-
sious was exceedingly careful not to waste
time or words, or to travel out of the record
as is the fashion with our judges now, who
seek arguments in Karnak and old Thebes
to decide real estate questions in Rockland
county.
Why he retained his judgeship. there
fore, remained subject of conjecture: and
perhaps the most reasonable suggestion was
that he did so for employment Of mind, and
to keep himself from painful thought. If
SO, it was a good plan Nothing could
more effectually drive away all painful re-
collections than steady devotion 70 the bust
ness Of a circuit Judge, provided he could
once get the victory for the labor over the
memories. II painful memory kept him
from BUSINESS it would be Of 40 avail, but
let him once forget the past, in the absor.
bing interest Of judicial study, and he might
retain the victory.
Such, doubtless, was the truth with
Judge Cameron.
/ To the case now before him he had devo-
ted himself with even unusual diligence.
| He seemed to be absorbed in it during the
sessions of the court, and to have bent all
the energies of his mind to the points invol-
! we'd It was remarked too, that from day
to day. as it progressed, he had gradually
leaned more and more against the prisoner,
as If he had become convinced of the pro-
priety Of a verdict Of guilty even before the
evidence closed. This is not an uncommon
occurrence. In most cases man must be
. superhuman to avoid this. 1t may be said
that a Judge should conceal them. if he has
such feelings We will not stop to discuss
that now Oharles Cameron was 20 man to
disguise his feelings on or off the bench,
/ The district attorney closed. and the jury
rose to listen to the charge Of the court.
4 The prisoner was a Woman. She was IN
. dicted tor the murder Of her child. young
infant, and the case had hung. as most ca
,, SEES Of this nature do. on medical testimony
The child was hpt month old, aud wa'
found dead in its bed. The marks on it
body might have indiested the e.as.s Of il