New-York tribune., 1872-01-18
p,pN1RD AND SHEARMAN

As mere matter Of curiosity it will repay
tbe trouble to read the chapter from the MS
tory of the New York bench and bar when
we publish in another part OF this paper. III
was not necessary to refer to the testimony OF
MIR. Thomas G. Shearman to show the charac-
ter of the Hon. George G.. Barnard but 1t is
worth while to review the curious conhecuoh
between these two ornaments to the proies-
sion if we really want to understand how lar
orr courts have been degraded and how rap
idly they are in turn degrading the bar.
Judge Barnard says that attacks upon MS
iudicjal honesty have been common for 1--WE
forget how many years. lie has been aSs'illeu
in his own court, and has presided over trlalS
in which witnesses were interrOgated as TO Ills
supposed corruption. He was accused OF par
ticipatiOn in the earliest Erie conspracies, ana
threatened with impeachment; and four years
oeo he went through the farce he has just
performed again, sending papers to the Grand
Jury and COurtng an investigation Ih'o
his conduct because he well knew that
the Grand Jury in such cases Dad no
jurisdiction. If our memory does not mlsead
rs. however, the first deliberate and we'll
planned exposure of his misconduct that ever
appeared in print was the article in Ihe Norm
american ReUiew for July, 1867. 1t attracted
so much attention that the Judge hlmselI
scolded about it in open court, and made one
of his customary threats Of an investigation.
That article was written by Mr.. Thomas V'
Sherman. Of the firm of Field 4 Shearman'
We don't know what Barnard did about 1t Ill
private but we do know that Mr.. Shearman
very sooD took brief on the other side.
The formation of the Fisk and Gould Ring
brought the firm of Field & Shearman into
upenviable notice az the counsel OF the Erie
company Mr.. Field was the advocate VINO
argued in court the scandalous processes by
which Judge Barnard enabled this Ring to
rob the railroad 40 long, while Dlr. Sheaiman
lent himself to the less conspicuous but not
less questionable work outside the courtroom.
He was the principal agent IN obtaining the
mysterious midnight order, purpOrting to be
signed somewhere in Twenty-third street, and
telegraphed to Albany. He was the main de-
pendence of the eOnspiratOrs IN the disgrace
full proceedings "a the time of the Albany ana
Susouehanna election. He. though Re-
publican in politics, wrote circular letters
to all the friends whom he could reach, asking
them "as a personal favor" to vote against
the Republican candidate for Attorney-Gen-
eraI at the last election in this State, because
that gentleman had exposed the rogueries OF
the Erie Ring and the corruptons of the Erie
Judge. He has of late become the white
washer Of Fisk in the Eew-Yorb press, and
I'm attempting to sweeten the somewhat un-
savory memory of that person has made vari-
ous statements which are fatty untrue. We
have excellent reason to believe finally that
he has been nursing Judge Barnard's wrath,
and was the promoter of the exhibition of in
dignant virtue by which his honor startled the
Supreme Court few days ago. In word,
he has thrown down the scourge, and locked
himself in George G. Bamard's arms.
Well it only shows that Mr.. Shearman was
a good Judge of human nature. AS far back as
1867, he closed his remarks upon this same
Judge Barnard with q reflection upon the
demoraizing effect which the maladministra-
ton of Justice must have upon the whole COM
munity. "By the constant occurrence OF such
transactions, passing as they do without
ga word of censure, the conscience of the
"bencb, the bar, and the whole community
"becomes enervated; and finally the utmost
denominations are accepted with mere shrug
"of the shoulders or a languid expression of
"regret.n Which is putting it very mildly, to
say the least of it.