The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1865-03-31
Joe Bowers Wedding.

Judges in California. On the bench he
is firm, decided and prompt, not caring
snap Of the finger for the applause OF
friends or the muttering Of enemies.
He is, perhaps, the most devoted man to
the law in all creation, and has his head
so full of what he terms judicial talk, "
that he not unfrequently finds him
self making learned charges and pass
ing sentences outside the courtroom.
On recent occasion, the judge was
called ON to exercise the ''power and au-
thority in him vested" in the case Of a
young couple who desired wedlock. Of
course he consented to perform the
pleasant duty, and on the appointed
evening Was promptly on hand at the
hour at which the affair was to come off.
The room was crowded with the fashion
and beauty OF the town, and none looked
more dignified and happy than the judge
himself, who was dressed within an inch
Of his life.
1t Is customary, on occasions of the
kind referred to, for the good folks OF
the mountain towns to pass around the
wine quite freely, to their everlasting
discrcdit, we will add, they consider it no
harm for one to manifest has interest in
the joyous event by getting ''lively."
The Judge is an ardent admirer Of the
fair sex, having in the course Of life led
the third one to the altar. To use his
own language, he is great ''believer
in weddings, land that I've should be-
come little mellow amid the glorious
scenes of the evening, was not to be
wondered at by those who knew him in
timatcly He had the weakness Of all
judgos--ha would take his tod
The wine had been passed round and
round and round-the music had ceased
the time for making Joseph Bowers
and Nancy Harkins one had arrived.
Every heart throbbed with the most de-
lightfuI emotions. The young gentle
men desired to know how Joe would
stand it, and the young ladies were anx-
anxious shock. Others again, who had
closely noticed the turn Of affairs during
the evening, fixed their attention upon
the Judge, to see how he would come out
Of the scrape.
At length the trying moment was an
nounced the judge rose very cautious
" from the chair which he occupied in
one Of the room, and, casting his
eyes over the company, he singled out
the sheriff of the county, who was pres
ent as an invited guest. The judge had
Just imbibed enough to make him forget
the nature of his business. He was full
OF his judicial talk" and required no
thing but the presence of the sheriff to
start him. Looking sternly at that Off
Ger, he shouted
'.Mr. Sheriff, open the court, and call
to order"
A general twitter followed this com
mand, in the midst of which the sheriff
took the court by the arm, and led
him to his seat in the corner, at the same
time informing the august parsonage Of
the mistake.
Everything bid fair for pleasant and
sudden termination of the affair, until
another annoyance, which was nothing
else than the absence of the bridegroom,
was observed. 1t turned out that he had
just stepped across the street to join his
friends in q parting drink; but before
his return some cold blooded wa9 had
whispered in the ear of our old fogy the
cause Of the delay Of the proceedings
Instantly the chair in the corner moved,
and in that direction all eyes were fixed
Sheriff." slowly bawled the judge,
''bring Joe into court on y supenar," (the
Judge had his own way of pronouncing
the word;) then addressing the bride,
who stood in the foreground and hung
her head in deep confusion, he added Il
s'pose you are the plaintiff? Well, don't
take on. Innocence and virtue will be
protected in this court"
This was the saddest blunder of all.
The judge was again made to see his
mistake, and would have been consider
ably set back, had it not been for cor
receive in the shape of forty drops of
the crtter,' which he instantly applied.
In few moments all was ready in
right down earnest. The bridegroom
had arrived full of joy. The excitement
was intense. He evidently felt every
inch q Judge.
$50 Bowers" commenced the man
Of law, in that distressing style of
speech with which he was invariably
troulyled when under the influence of
liquor, "J-o Bowers, stand up. Have
you ANYTHING to s-s-ay why s-s-sen-
tence-"
..Stop. stop, stop, judge shouted the
sheriff, from the back part of the room;
you are not going to hang the man but
marry him.
The Judge drew long breath and
blinked rapidly, but stood his ground
wel. Recovering himself he proceed
"J-o Bowers, do you take Nancy
sH-Harkins for y-your wife, SO help you
God"
This was tolerable effort and Joe
nodded assent.
INFANCY Harkens, it now remains for
this C-Court to-
Here the sheriff again interrupted the
judge, reminding him of the real bust
ness Of the evening.
.sNfiss INFANCY" resumed the judge.
after being set Alright, IA d. de Y You take
Joe Blowers for = husband, ito the
best of your knowledge and belief or
d do you notf"
"You can bet will" softly answered
the light hearted Nancy.
The Judge then took the hands of the
happy couple, and joining them, wound
up as follows
1T now remains for this h-here
CCourt to pronounce you j oe b Bowers
and y-you Nancy Harkens, man and
wife; and-(here the judge paused to
wipe the Precipitation from his face,
m-may GOOD Ormity h have mercy on