Litchfield enquirer., 1870-05-12

f ceived severe sentence at his hands, af- ter the expiration of his confinement, burned the Judges barn, and he petition ed the Legislature of the State to pay for it, in 1881, but they declined to make the compensation.
 For few years, the services of Judge Peters on the bench were very acceptable. His decisions were prompt, and generally founded on a sensible view of the matter before him, without any afeotation of learn ing or display of oratory. His entire can- dor and fairness were never called in ques- tion, and the decay of his powers, which was very apparent towards the close of his career, was observed by the bar with sor- row and regret. I witnessed an affecting scene connected with his experience on the bench, which excited deep feeling of sympathy. He had favorite and very promising son, Hugh Peters, Esq, whom he had educated at Yale College, and in whom all his hopes seemed to centre. This young man, in connexion with George D. Prentice, the noted Editor, had much to do in conducting the New England Weekly Review, paper just established in Hart ford, and which was the organ of the par ty which elected William w. Ellsworth, Jabez W. Huntington, and William l.. Storrs to Congress. He had acquired 8 wide reputation as a writer of brilliant natl to go into business as lawyer. On his way across Long Island Sound, he wrote Farewell to New England, in poe try, which was published with great com- mendation, in most of the newspapers in the county. Soon after his arrival at Cincinnati, his dead body was found fl oat- ing in the Ohio, several miles below the city, and circumstances were such as to create the belief Ill some minds that it was a case of suicide. The intelligence of this sad event was brought to Litchfield while the Court of Errors was in session in June, 1881. It was first communicated to Judge Williams, who sat next to Judge Peters; and he, with all possible tenderness, in- formed the latter. The Reporter, Mr. Day, in giving the report of the case on trial, closes it by saying:-" Peters, Judge, hav- ing received, during the argument of this case, intelligence of the death of his son, Hugh Peters, Esq, of Cincinnati, left the Court House. 'osuita gemens casuque a,aimuns CONGRESSES, and gave no opinion" I wit messed the mournful scene, and I we'll re- member the loud and plaintive groans of the afflicted old man as he passed out of the Court room and down the stairway to his lodgings.
 When Chief Justice Hosmer retired from the bench, the Legislature, by very strong vote, elected Judge Peters junior, Judge Daggett, Chief Justice. He felt the slight, but did not retire, and held his place till his death in August, 1884. A few weeks longer, and he would have reached the age of seventy years.
 JUDGE CHAPMAN.
 The next Judge in seniority was Asa Chapman of Newtown. in Fairfield Coun- ty. For several years before he received the appointment. he practiced to some ex- tent in this County, and was, of course, we'll known here. He was the father of the late Charles Chapman of Hartford. He was somewhat taller than than the son. and with his bald head, white locks, thin face, and grey eyes, he resembled him not lit- tie in personal appearance, but he had none of that bitterness of manner or spir- it which characterized the efforts of the younger Chapman. He was an Episcopal ian in religious faith, and he had very nat. urally fallen into the ranks of the new party, and being we'll qualified for the place in point of legal ability, he made a very acceptable and popular judge. He was man of good humor, genial temper, and great colloquial powers. which he ex- ercised very freely on the trial of cases. If lawy CT undertook to argue a case be. fore him, he soon found himself engaged in friendly, familiar conversation with the Judge, the evident intent of the latter being to draw out the truth and justice of the case. His administration was very popular, and his early death was greatly plored. He died of consumption in 1926, at the age of fifty six years.
 JUDGE BARNARD.
 Jeremiah Gates Brainard of New Lor- don, the father of the poet Brainard, was next in seniority on the bench. He had been member of the old Court from 1907, and he was elected to the new Court, under the circumstances which I have mention ed He was man of no showy preten- sions. very plain and simple in his man ners, and very familiar in his intercourse withthe bar. He affected very little dig nity on the bench, and yet he was regard ed as an excellent Judge. He despatched business with great facility, and implicit confidence was. placed in his sound judg- ment and integrity. He resigned his place