Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1867-12-06
ANECDOTES OF LAwYE ERs.
THoAAs coRWIN.

THOMAS CORWIN.
Ii viii be remembered that C-rWin, in
the Senate, IN lS45 or 1916, arguing seriously
against the morality Of the projected war
against Mexico, permitted his appreciation
Of broad Lumor 10 lead him into the extrava-
CANT expression. III were q Mexican, a.
| am an American, | would welcome you
with bloody hands TO bospitable graves. i
few years sitter, when this expression had
been quoted by the newspapers until It bad
become familiar as household words, Mr..
Corwiu was retained as counsel for a man
charged with murder, aud who, be claimed.
acted in self defence. In his closing speech
20 the jury CorWin pictured the condition OF
his client as ondeaTOriDg to avoid the din
Guilty, portrayed the murdered man as for
cling IL upon him, dogging his steps, de0oun
eng EiA as Q coward, and at lasI threaten
Ing 10 strike him. w hat, SIR, turning 10
the prosecuting attorney, would you have
doust
Done replied the attorney, with great
gravity. '-d0nei I would have welcomed
him with bloody hands to a bospiiable
grave
The jury was couyulsed with laughter,
and G5nEiB lost his case.
JAMES 7. BRADY.
Ca one occasion James T. Brady had
case so very lame that be gave bis client to
understand thar il could not be gained.
Tie client insisted On trying It, aud Alr.
Brady devoted his best talent 10 making the
best show be could The case was ably put
On the other side and was so plain that the
Judge who had made up his mind, rather
indicated il by several rulings entirely iaFora-
be 10 the opposite side Mr.. Brady was
seeking for aB opportunity for covering. bis
retreat from his uDtensble position, and On
some railing of the Judge highly favorable 70
his opponent ho l3---'tis lN4G+red
May II please your honor, who 5 sengaged
on he other side Of the case besides the
iG5get
gUBGE BRADI.
Tae greatest charm of Judge John Il.
Bra5v's best charges Jay IN the opening sen
feurs. Smith aud JONES we're lighting 4t
vtgi u7frs} over the value Of a certain
-ho5aaF sold hg the one 70 the other, and
used for carving sand from the Jersey fats
Smith sw5ra thar soundE and more sea
worthy vessel had not existed since the days
If the A.mada-tb4t every spar, timber
aod rope was perfect, aud that lie WoRld
have bad no hesitation Ia crossing the At
/ lzBtje IN her in an equlnoctai gale Jones
swore that there was nat one timber, spar,
! or rope lut was SO rotten 8s 70 be picked 10
I pieces with the fingers, asd that he woald
not have crossed the North river IN her from
I Fort Washington to GattabeTg on Q calm
dag ln midsummer for AT interest n Johns
tow1. When the Judge came TO charge
the Jury, his opening sentence was Gentle
( men Of the iury. upon one point ! have no
/ occasion 20 assist your declarations; If you
Z know anihi8gy 10 this world, L is the sea
4 worthiuess of he boat, Perhaps they did
though they smiled audibly as If they
! iiI not al all events, they disagreed, and
/ the precise money value OF the sand schoou-
! er probably remains undetermined to this
/ day.
BIN WADE AND JOSHUA X. GIDDINGs.
BENJAMIN T. Wade and the late Joshua
/ Il. GiddiBgs used to be constant com petit0rs
+ a. the bar in old beuighted Asbtabula, "
I their place of residence. In tia early part
I Of bis practice, " ade was defending a man
against an action of SANDER, and, after bav
ing concluded 4 very effective speech 10 the
Jury, sat aHkwar1iy leaning ba4kwald. his
feet on the counsel table, and facing Gid-
dincs who was attempting 70 d eloquent in
behalf of his slandered client 'Old Gid, "
as be vas Familiarity called, kaew little
/ scattering of Shakespeare. a4dDow deter
mined TO bring that great auLaF to his aid.
Grntlemen Of the jury, sad he with
much ard0y,
he shat steals my purse sle,E trash;
But he that robs me Of my tod name
Ahem
81 this point. to bis great discontinue,
Shakespeare deserted him. he repeated,
But he that robs me Of myeood nsme--''
Another pause.
Takes that | never haL whispered
Wade, as if prompting him, nd SO distinct
lv as 70 ie heard by all In theroom.
Amid the laughter and his OWN confusion,
Giddiurs brought his speFch 20 such a
lame and impotent eonclusbH. that his
client recovered but SIX and aquarter cents
for his lost character
FINING CoUNSE-.
Judson T. Mills. Of South Carolina, was
Judge Of a district court IN Northern Texas,
fond Of joke, bot very dected IN his dis
chavce Of duty. Thomas EahHln Smith was
a nr8cticing lawyer at Ebe bE, and having
shamefully misstated the laT IN his address
TO the jury, turned to the court and asked
fhe Judge 10 charge the Jury accordingly.
The Judge was indignant, aud replied.
Does the counsel take the court 20 be q
fool?'
smith was not abashed by the reprooi
but instantly responded
4 trust your honor viii not insist on al
answer to that question, as l might, in an.
swering 1t truly, be considered guilty Of con
/ tempt Of court.
Pine the counsel ten dollars. Mr. Clerk,
said the Judge
Smith Immediately paid the money
= and remarked that il was ten dollars NOR
than the cour could show.
, Fine the counsel fifty dollars, said thi
judge.
2 The fine was entered by the clerk. an'