The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-07-29
miscellany.
Id . n .iiI- 81 ID y
81 CoMrtslanxl Lawyers.

=
From new volume. written BY Mr.. Cha'l les
Edwards, and entitled 81. "P leasantries. r. about
Courts and Lawyers of the State of New
York," we take the following anecdotes: aa
A STORY ABOUT JUDGE AMBROSE sPEN GER
: At a period when Judge Ambrose Spencer
" as on the bench or the Supreme Court OF
New York-this was upwards OF fortysiive
years ago-there was on Staten Island a law
less set of men engaged, in villainous wreck
ing and kindred pursuits tC such an. extent as
10 lower the morality and standing of the
island in universal estimation Judge Spen1
Ger, presiding at circuit held there, was try
ing man who had committed some gross and
high crime. The EVIDENCE was clear in proof
OF his guilt and his honor charged strongly
against him.. The jury, however. brought in
verdict OF not guilty. The large. and com
manding figure of the judge rose. and -aewerad
itself to Its full height: Prisoner said his
honor, in the seperest and loudest tones, 8 1
nave TO address you I'M two directions: firstly.
you have had a most extraordinary escape
from condign punishment which you desery-
ed; and secondly, you may be assured the
time Will come when you will be tried al an
other bar, where, -it is some satisfaction even
now TO know, theIewillno Staten Island jury
to aequitsyou.p '--r---~l ....,,..-:F-.,T >
LIZ LII vi n IlsNlN I,
Judge Daniel Cady was one OF the eminent
OF the cid school lawyers Of the state. When
at the bar he was an ugly adversary to meet
at Nisi Prius. Once, as counsel for, a laeien-
dant in an action OF SANDER tried at Madison
circuit, he was opposed by the Judge Gridley.
Inc case excited an unusual degree of local
interest, and the courtroom was crowded
with witnesses and an audience OF eager LIST
eners. 1t was expected to be long trial .
attacks and defence of character were exnect
ed-indeed, all that is vugarly interesting in
slanuer-sult was looked Tor on this occasion.
And the plaintiffs counsel opened the case
accordingly. The enermity of the SANDER
: Wa was portrayed IN vivid colors and exemplary
punishment of the slanderer was demanded
; The plaintiff proved the words; his witnesses
g We're not across~examined and his counsel
rested, looking for the bringing out Of the
great FEATURES OF his case when it should fail
to him to respond to and overwhem the de-
fendant's testimony. When the plaintiff
rested, Mr.. Cady with becoming dignity arose
and addressed the jury forhalf an hour, speak,
ing Oh the case as amounting to an u1ltortul
nate difficulty between two neighbois and
observing that what his client had said
was uttered in a moment of passion and
not deliberately intended to injure the plGinl
TIT; that, in fact, it had not injured him in
the least; and though The, defendant was le-
Sally liable and did not pretend TO DENY such
naolllty, still the case was a triaing one. and
should really never have been brought there
to occupy the valuable time of the court and
jury. He then sat down. Gridley, in surprise
inquired why he did not eall his witnesses
and proceed in the trial. Cady answered
mat tue caseon the part ofthe defendant was
Closed, q Gridley was lawyer otIereat tact
and'abllitys but this was tro much even for
him. He made as good a SUNNI ing up as the
circumstances admitted, but Cady's quiet and
passive Ingenuity proved sue cessful, for the
jury were not persuaded that the case was a
grave one, and the anticipated verdict ofhun-
dfcds, perhaps thousands, was reduced to six
cents. Gridley often spoke ofthis occurrence
and said it was the neatest trick ever practis-
ed on him in his long professional life. ''} u
~, - {. ~. tAIARTINs yANaBuREN. u 10 l,,..
Coming down on the upper deck of an
Albany steamer one. day, q party of gentle
men, as the boat neared Kinderhook landing.
were discussing the merits ofAlr. Marin Van
Buren,. Some praised, others condemned
him; and while they were discussing the
question, thel.boat landed and lo! Mr.,
Van Buren, quietly came son board
One OF the party had been dwelling upon his
plain answer to plain question was never
yet elected from him.
"l1lwaser champagne for'the coIapanys'
added he, that one OF us shall 90 down to the
cabin and ask Mr.. Van Buren, the SIMPLEST
question which can be thought OF, and he will
evade direct answer, Yes; and I'll give
him leave, too, to tell Mr.. Van Buren, why he
asks the question and that there is a bet de-
pending on his reply" w i.'.eH ~. q
IhlS seemed fair enough. One OF the par-
ty was deputed to go down and try the exrer-
iment. He found Mr.. Van Buren,, whom he
knew well, in the saloon, and said to him;
Il Mr. IAN Buren,, some gentlemen on the
upper deck have been accusing you of nom
communication, and have just laid wager that
you would not give a plain answer to the sim,
plest question, and they deputed me TO test
the fact Now, sir, allow me to ask YOU
Where does the sun rise?" :'s ~
the terms east and west, sir, are conven-
tional; but l." " u.
. INT dnatn 40" interrupted the interrogation;
we've lost the bets' ps,Hs
LONG JOHN WENTHwoRrH.-Durin the
last campaign which resulted in his election
to Congress his unnecessarily long form was
seen towering at all public assembiages where
the merits of opposing men and measures
were " cussed and discussed 1t. is to. be
borne in mind, so they say, that attenuated
John has one verbal habit so inveferate that
it forces itself upon the attention cfthose who
happen to listen to him.. Ii any doubt is ex-
pressed as to the accuracy of his statements,
hfs prompt response is:i"" I'll bet you hum
bred dollars it's true" On the. occasion to
which we alfude Mr.. Wentworth had made al,
eloquent speech, intending to close by quot
ing Bryauts well khown lines: ''' -, =
Truth crushed to earth will rise AGAIN.:
The eternal years of God are hers! - ;~c
But unfortunately he could snIu ro,na,,,l, hon
the opening words, which he. repeated thus !:
"'Truth crushed $780,
How is that Pitts BY Bryant, you know
that beautiful poem Of hiss r.. 49,. -: III.
"Truth crushed to eafth--'i Another
pause.1 80" go % ITO +. :. - -.
Truth crushed to. earth viii Iise again,
[Another -. ,.., ..'.il,@~19 - III
-'"r Truth crushed to earth will rise again,
wei, boys, dontremember the rest oft,
but out II any of gOn doubt it III just bet, Jou
a hundred dollars that e1ciU,p -.s5r II