Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-11-28

sheriff gracefully took his place by the
Judge on the back seat, but was politely
informed by the judge that etiquette re-
quired that he should sit opposite Once
a Judge told Mayor that he presided
over an ancient city. Yes, my lord,
was the answer, "it always was an an
cient city. We expect that it was the
same gentleman who expressed hope
that Mrs. Judge and all the little Judges
were we'll
A Sheriff asked a Judge at a circuit
dinner whether he had gone to see the
elephant in the last place. Why, no,
Mr.. High Sheriff. he replied, cannot
saw that | did. We both came into the
town in form, with the trumpet sounding
before US, and there was point Of cere-
mony to be settled which we should visit
first"
Some absurd stories have been told of
Judges thinking aloud. The following
story is told by one of the Registrars of
the Court of Chancery of great Chan
cellor: "a barrister, whom he had not
previously heard, was retained to argue
before him. The counsel was man Of
ability, but began in very confused
and floundering manner. Lord Chan.
cellor-" What fool the man isl
After awhile the man got more collected.
Lord Chancellor-"Ahl not such a fool
as | thought Finally, he quite recov-
cred himself, and proceeded admirably
Lord Chancellor" Egadl 1t is | that
was the fool.
There was one Judge who had trick
of checking witnesses when they got on
too fast for his notes by saying Stay,
stay" He was called the old stay
maker. Oft times they show admirable
temper and discretion. A Judge who
was summoning up case was greatly
disturbed by young lawyer who was
talking aloud. With great benignity he
said, Mr.. Gray, if ever you arrive
here. which some Of these days hope
you will do, you will know the inconve-
niencc of counsel talking while you are
summing W"
A curious story is told illustrating the
legal precision of great Judge. lie
asked a magistrate at circuit dinner
whether he would take some venison.
The gentleman answered: Thank you.
my lord, | am going to take some boiled
chicken. Lord Tenterden retorted
"That, sir, is no answer to my question;
| asked you if you will take some veni-
son, and / will thank you to answer yes
or no, without further prevariction.
The story was originally told in the
Quarterly Review, but it is challenged
by Lord Campbell.
With some Judges the habit of adyo-
cacy has grown so inveterate that they
have been quite unable to lay il aside.
II 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 Nisi Prius. A judge once
said that he had only lost two verdicts
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
stage coach was named after him,
"Vice-C Chancellor. Almost as soon as
a case was opened he deGded against o
plaintif or defendant, and never thor
ocubly heard it through. 1t was won
dered what he would find to do after he
had cleared his list of, Dol why he
will hear the other side, was the acute
answer. This was indeed an egregious
example if the facts stated of him are
true, and they are stated by Lord Kings
down, and such Judge himself desery
ed the pension Of a criminal.
Cases are on record in which Judges
have confessed themselves mistaken
One Judge, thinking that he had caused
an injustice TO be done which il was be
yond his power to rectify, left the in
iured person large sum OF money II
his will. 1t is said that the case Of LorC
Coehrane, afterward Earl of Drundon
aid, almost broke the heart and hastene6
the resignation and death of Lord I'll
lenborough That great man and mos
upright magistrate had conceived a po
litical prejudice against Lord Cochrane
and summed up violently against him
He aiterward saw good reason 70 believ,
that he had been mistaken in his facts
and had been too harsh in his sentence
A witness was asked in court one da.
what Baron -- had said TO hin
when he had made an application a
1 Chambers. Whereupon the witness CAV
a grunt and a roar. as the nearest wa.
Of reproducing the learned Judge re
mark.