The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-12-09
Anecdotes Of Judges.

A writer in London Society tells
some good stories Of English judges
among them the following:
Baron Anderson, learned, gentle, and
good, could make puns, and had much
drollery. A juryman once said that
he was deaf In one ear. "Well, then"
said Anderson, you NAV leave the
box, for it is necessary that a juryman
should hear both sides"
After Lord Mansfield had retired he
delighted to talk over every i'm.
portant case of the day with certain
barrister, and that barrister became a
great Judge. Lord Mansfield was
very kind to the bar. When his Court
sat very late on one occasion, he ad-
dressed the counsel, Gentlemen, as
you have lost your dinners, you had
better come and dine with me"
JUDGES are very good in asking young
barristers of their acquaintance TO
dinner, but such bonhommie as Lord
Mansfeld's it would be hard to find
now
There was a little stir one day in
Lincon's Inn, when a Fice-Chancellor
requested gentleman who had strolled
into the Court to come up and take a
seat on a bench. At least he told the
registrar to bear the message, who was
disguised at what he considered an
unofficial proceeding. The stranger
so deservedly honored was Macauley.
The Judges can tell odd stories OF
going circuits. The functionaries, and
sometimes even the prisoners, are
much Disguised, if, instead OF West
minister Judge, they have to deal with
some counsel, whose name has been
included in the Commission. a
prisoner for murder was greatly
annoyed because he had to be tried by
by a 'journeyman Judge" A Sheriff
once told a Judge that they had "often
jobbei off sergeants, instead OF judges,
in those paris, and was he really a
bona fds Judge?' Having had his
mind satisfied on this point, the Sheriff
gracefully took his place by the side
of the Judge on the back seat, but was
politely informed 10y the Judge that
etiquette required that he should st
opposite. Once a Judge told Mayor
that he presided over an ancient city.
Yes, nv lord" was the answer. ut
always was an ancient city" We
expect that it was the same gentleman
who expressed hope that Mrs. Judge
ard ali the little Judges are well.
A Sheriff asked Judge at circuit
dinner whether he had gone to see the
elephant in the last place. why, no,
Mr.. High Sheriff" he replied, II
cannot say that did. We both came
into the town in form. with the
trumpet sounding before us, and there
was a point Of ceremony to be settled
which should visit first.
Some absurd stories have been told
OF Judges thinking aloud. The follow
ing story is told by one Of the Registrars
OF the Court OF Chancery Of a great
Chancellor: "A barrister, whom he
had not previously heard, was retained
to argue before him. The counsel was
a man of ability, but began in very
confused, floundering manner. Lord
Chancellor: What a fool the man
isr Alter a while he got more collect
ed. Lord Chancellor: AN not such
a fool as thought Finally he quite
recovered himself. and proceeded
admirably. Lord Chancellor: 'Egad
it is that was the fool.
There was once a Judge who had a
trick of checking witnesses when they
got on too fast for his notes, by saying
Stay, stayT He was called the bid
staymaker. Outlines they show ad
mirably temper and discretion. A
Judge, who was summoning up a case,
was greatly disturbed by a young
LAWYER who was talking aloud. With
great benignity he said: Mr.. Gray,
II YOU ever arrive here, which some OF
these days / hope you will do, you will
know the Inconvenience of counsel
talking while you are summing up.
A curious story is told, illustrating
the legal precision Of a great Judge.
He asked the magistrate on circuit
dinner whether he would take some
venison. The gentleman answered,
Thank YOU, my lord, l am going to
take boiled chicken" Lord Tenterden
rerorted, That, sir. is no answer to my
question l ask you again if you will
take vepison, and i will thank you to
answer yes or no, without preyarl-
cation" The story was originally
told in the Quarterly Revieo, but it Is
challenged by Lord Campbell. ,
With some Judges the habit OF
advocacy has grown so inveterate that
they have been quite unable to lay 1t
aside. If ever they have seriously
tried they have not succeeded IN the
attempt. The case has even been
known of a Judge on the bench
laundering like an advocate at N,si
Prlus. A Judge once said that ne
had only lost Two verdlcls since he
had been raised to the bench.
The most CONSPICUOUS example OF an
intellectual failure in fairness was SIR
John Leach. He delighted to gallop
through his cases. He was so fast
that a stage-coach was named after
him 1.-THE Vice-Chancellor. Almost
"a soon as case was opened he decided
against the plaintiff or defendant ana
never thoroughly heard it through. ~
was wondered what he would find to DO
alter he hal cleared his list off: do!
vny he will hear the other side was
The acute answer. This was indeed an
egregious example, il the facts stated
Of him are true, and they are stated oy
Lord Kingsdown; and such a Judge
himself deserved the penalty OF a
criminal. ,.,, 1,a,e.