Wilmington daily gazette., 1872-04-11
4 0slswsre's Judiciary


[ From the Sussex Journal
Regularly in April and October, Georgetown,
not quite 10 the time when the memory Of man
runneth not the contrary has been accustomed
the bench Chief Justice John N. Clayton, fol-
lowed BY Richard Bayar,l, Booth and Harring-
ton now the Hon. f. ". Gilpin presides over
our Superior Court and Court Of Over, support
ed BY Aia brother associates Woolten, Houston
and Wales, Who take their seais semi annually
to decide questions Of law and evidence, and see
to i that ;here is justice and right between man
and man.
The little nervo billie zanguns man, Who sits
| IN the middle, with gray hair and beard is Judge
Gilpin, be is about Is years of age. As have
many other men Of note, he began life az tan
| ner boy Disiinctlou is seldom found in luxu.
riOus paths and generally they seem to have |,
succeeded best who have felt their way paved
with difficulties and throwing thsasslves in the
war OF circumstance, disputed every inch of their
march upward. While with his knife he leaned
over the beam, he carved out for himself diff
ferent future
Industry and study prepared his legal mind
for the bar. He was soon after appointed At.
torney General and reappsinted, filling both
terms with marked credit, and years after his
official term had EXPIRED while pursuing quiet.
ly his profession and enjoying lucrative prac
tice, he was called by the almost single Voice Of
the bar Of the State to Gil the vacancy OCCASION
ed by the resignation Of Chief Justice Harring-
ton in May, 1857. Here the place sought the
man and put him in upon the theatre OF his real
talent. He is impartial and able We think
his strong point is in analysing a difficult, ques.
, tion, sitting out the unimportant ingredients,
, arranging the essentials in close logical orde:
> and certifying them with a strong force Of rea
son. He has the gift of eloquence if that is to
command attention, to persuade and convince.
In simple chasie style, plain but well selected
, and pointed language, fervent manner, fairly
3 charges jury exact and full lie has the fac
. ulty Of quickly ,oMprehending u case and dis
D patching business rapidly Years ago business
!. pushed the court, now It il ready for any emer
v gency.
IS Soci. lily hs Is attractive and open. We call
!, TO mind stony told Of him bv one of the clerk.
y ~ Of the Court. 1t was during the stormy days o
- the rebellion, On an April day Of 1863, on tn.
e arrival Of the mail paper was handed him an
ic nouncine the defeat OF the government troops "a
10 -. He spoke Of the unfavorable aspect, bu
d. was confident that all would end right and turn
\ ing to the crier he ordered the court adjourne.
Till ~ o'clock tomorrow morning. this wa
done concluding with the usual God save tn
State and the Honorable Cour,s." All had lei
NJ. except himself and lie was heard by the Cler
-. to say "weli, If He DON'T don't know who i
-. the deuce will"
1 Judge WoOsten il u little sanguine, well pre-
90 served gentleman Of about 81 years. lie too b.
So longs 70 the class who build their fortunes fror
r. their own materials. He has the confidence
q the public ~ . faithful servant. We once hear
r. the present Chief Justice remark "l have gre;
y. confidence in my brother Wootten. He is
,d me good support. Whenever a question
=; importance IL to be decided and have arrive
u. 20. at conclusion, II his is the same, alwa.
. .. feel greatly strengthened, for am sure to
~ right" He was matter Of fact, bold convin
-. s ing common-sense advocate and isa Judge
.d. high integrity Of character.
Judge Houston IL rather small, wiry man
so, about SO years; was considered, before going
H. the bench, one Of the most finished, elolue
S cas speakers the bar Of the State afforded. He il
.h, , graduate Of Yale and An able lawyer. He l.
;n. ;"~ the defense in the famous Windsor trial wi
lug lug Messs Bayard, David Paul Brown and Bobi
, , " son. We cannot forget his simple pathe
~" -; opening; Little did l think, when little
mo mo in the Village Of Concord, while fondlng up
- and dandled by the prisoner Al the bar, shol
~, ever b. called upon 10 defend him against
ou charge Of murder" He spoke five hours
.. ...,, made the grandest effort ofhis life.
Judge Wales the Youngest member of I
Court, he'd, Tor, the advantages Of collegi
training He 10 . pleasant popular gentlem;
Was elevated to the bench before he had the
Idsa portunity Of gaining distinction at the tar.
non 10 said to possess q superior mind, 10 be g
ugh lawyer and popular with his judicial brolhe
gov The last two arc bachelors; beyond this odei
arci nx nothing can be said.
rers, Upon Attorney General Lore public ser
0y msnl was passed when he tried his first cap
era case, State vs. Gollsboro. No one who v
niger messed the conduct Of that trial, heard the
after ming and finale Of his argument, could do
ives but that the State VIVA in good hands.
the These, then, cur yindicaton Of the laws
this God and man, guardians Of morality and c
lere- servators of right, distributors Of justice
was protectors Of the injured and innocent in u
'unt- lostio. Of dignity, equalze the disparity VIII
mas nature hss fixed between the weak and
~ strong, shield the oppressed from the oppre
lu'itS "S and make the Law the good mans defence
en- bad mans dread BY meeting out Justice. in ey
i be case, however bad, and to every criminal b
t be ever depraved.
Aspiring sealo.,s individuals ulay seer
pe0- attempt 10 fost upon the people, through
0OO,- legislature another convention bill They sht
the remember the ideas Of a certain Noven
anus. ppoke loudly and wisely against an elective
oeen dietary, for the Judicial bench OF Delaware
s"% ways WIS and still IL elevated, solid pure, I
". ~ sscntcheon bears NO stain.
rived
tn Yea The Committee Of Ways aud Means