The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1870-02-17
Judicial Torture.

lndhh OOu thaO lhVJ w WI HNO III az
age when such barbaIism rs permitted.
But there are still some things permit
ted in this enlightened age which should
make good men pause and think
Lawyers are accused of some things
of which the are not guilty. No nov
elist, which We can now remember, ever
brought lawyer forward as character,
who did not represent him as a villain.
Not one witness in twenty, placed up
on the stand, but that regards the law
yer as fully bent on attempting to make
him commit perjury. And it is but
too true that novelists and witnesses
have much reason to be confirmed in
these opinions.
Last week witness was put upon
the stand in the Court of Common
Pleas in Chillicothe. He was kept
there all day, and questioned, ard both
cred, and confused, and badgered, and
insultcd, and bedeviled, by every inso-
lent "Samson Brass" Of an upstart law
yer who had anything to do with The
case. This poor wretch was not yet
free, for on the next day he was again
placed in the same position. What re.
suited from this continued torture, is
thus detailed by the Chillicothe Regis
ter:
"One Of ths most exciting and startling scenes
that ever occurred In Court at this city took
place late in the afternoon Of yesterday week,
Just as we were going to press. The particulars
are about as follows:
AT the time mentioned the case In progress
was that of Catharine Miller, who sued by her
next friend, g. W. Gilmore VS.. John s. Mace and
Others the suit being brought to recover house
hold goods levied on as belong ing to Thomas
Miller (Mrs. Ms husband), aud which the
plaintiff claims as hers.
"Mr. Miller was ON the stand nearly all day
Thursday, and subjected to rigid examina tion,
In the course of which he test fled in effect, that
he was not possessed OF any property at the tim
of or since his marriage--that the cap ital and
property used and occupied by him was his
wifes.
ION Friday afternoon Mr.. NJ. was again ca lied
to the stand, to undergo cross-examination by
NJ. L. Clark, Esq, in the course of which the
latter gentleman, In endeaVorlng to show lg-
crepancy between MrMiller's present staten en- Is
and those made some time since, asked Il he had
not, several years ago, stated 10 Mr.. W H. Reed
that he was then worth quite large sum Of
money. The answer to this was rather indefinite
that he might or might not have so stated, b t
if he did, the meaning was that he was worth
said sum outside of his indebtedness TO his fam
fly. Mr.. Clark then asked II, since his maria GO
he had not become surety on the bond Of q GER
tain Government official. After a little hesl-
tancy an affirmative answer was given where
upon counsel wished 10 know If the witness did
not, at that time, Swear that he was worth
100000.
ITO this query no reply was made and for
few moments deep and sudden silence ensued d.
Finally, Mr.. Minshall, of counsel for plaintiff
broke the oppressive stiffness by rising to adj
dress the Court, and, at that moment Mr. Miller,
who was standing inst In front of the jury room
door, turned to the Judge and said May ii
please your Honor, | wish TO make few re-
marks, and Immediately after clasped his hands
TO his head and exclaimed I; 1 feel--as if--I was
gettlng-paralysis OF the brain !! and commenc.
ed sinking 10 the floor uttering such prayerful
calculations as Lord have mercy on my soul |!
o Lord bless me and pardon my sins! ETC., or
words to that effect.
Before reaching the floor ho was canglt In
the arms OF persons near by and carried back
into the jury room. On reaching there he
espled gentleman approaching whom he said
had endeayored TO ruin him, and he made an
effort to get hold of the person, but was pre-
vented.
THE excitement In the Court room at this
time was intense, every one start ing TO their
feet to get better view of the strange scene
and Its author. In another moment however,
Mr.. Miller, having broken loose from those
having him In charge In the Jury room, With
pald face, dsheyeled hair, rolling eyes ana un-
dlstlnguishable mutterings, rushed with long
strides into the Court room, pressing MS elDoWs s
to his sides and pulling the wind In gusts from
his mouth. This sudden and terrifying lrrup tlOn
as well II might, startled Judge, bar ana audi
ence, and o general stampede ensued. NeItner
tho lawyers or the audience stood upon inc
order Of their going, but went at once.
''After getting out to point in front of the
Judge, Mr.. Miller was caught by Sher In Mace,
who, lded carried him into the clerks room,
and from thence had him conveyed TO his hotel,
'Thls sudden removal of the witness, and tho
disturbed condition In which he left the nerves
of the bench and bar made an adjournment
necessary, which was had
1--WE have not attempted to depict the abso-
Lutte frlghtfuness Of the scene, as that woul d be
impossible Those present have no desire ever
to see another like 1t. IN all his years At the
bar and on the bench, Judge Dickey AYERS that
he never boheld anything equal toit
ut was thought that tho strain to which Mr.,
NJ Hers mind had been put during the preced-
ing day or two and the excitement consequent
thereupon, tended TO q temporary unsetLlement
Of his reason, resulting as above.
''Ho was confined to his bed several days after
the attack"
The people Of this country would not
permit man to DO publicly broken on
the Wheel, or cruCifedi they will not
permit man to be publicly choked to
death, even for premeditated MURDER
but is it not thousand times more hor-
rid to SEQ a man, for no crime, have his
immortal soul crushed and shattered by
judicial torture2
-
There was another little breeze in
Congress last week Dawes, in his hy-
pocrisy, was talking about economy,