National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-03-22
rwo LAWYERS ON THEIR MUSCLE,

TWO LAWYERS ON THEIR MUSCLE
An Exciting scene In the Police Court Yes
,crday-NIticr ". willinms-A Case Set
tied without the Intervention Of JudEe
RneII-A Grand scaro-The Combatants,
the Court, tho spectators and the Deputy
Mnrshnls All AIRED.
IL has long been the custom to open the
court Of this District with the Norman.french
declaration, "Oyez!r "oyezi" But precedent
Of earlier times was made use Of yesterday BY
.wo attorneys, who revived the ancient Gaelic
custom Of opening court with fight. rough
roll and tumble wa accordingly proceeded with'
the most antique precedcnts being duly oo'
served. This over, the Justice entered the roon'
the marshal made the more modern proclalna-
ton, and the court was held to he open.
No little debate has occurred among the legti
fraternity touching the precedents observed on
this occasion. II Is admitted that Kick be-
tween two legal magnates was one OF the
methods in opening the ancient British courts
before the Roman conquest, and that AFTER the
conversion Of the ancient Brltons to Christianity
this violent method Of procedure was substituted
nv a kiss and the subject upon which the dlner-
ence OF opinion occurred yesterday morning was
as to the portion Of the person to which the oscu-
latory salute should be made.
All agree that no great ancient precedent ex.
lists that will require any attorney to make the
salute demanded by the attorney Of the District
but there Ia a difference Of opinion as TO whether
in the present stage Of the law Kick may be
substituted for q Kiss. II Ia understood that the
court has forbidden any further openings accor-
attorneys are disposed TO seek precedents in
black letters, they will 10 expected TO pursue
their Investigations to letters other than the
black I. The subject will doubtless be discussed
IN the "Law Review" next quarter.
THIS Is by way OF Introductory. The facts arc
IS follows; case was TO DO tried yesterday, \
which the corporaAon a. plaintiff was to be rep.
prosecuting attorney for the District, aud the
defendant had for his counsel Mr., A. u. vii.
liams. Now the best Of feeling, or that pleasant
csprit du eorTs which should exist between mem.
befs Of the same fraternity, has never been OBJ
served TO exist between the two legal lumina-
rtes named-ln fact they have been rather more
like Kilkenny cats whenever chance made them
uJpInentB than like good, kind lawyers, and
the AFFAIR about to be detailed was but the legtl-
mate conclusion OF this feeling.
From7thc statement OF Miller II appears that he
entered the courtroom rather early yesterday
morning and placed his books Ia formidable pile
on the table, all the points OF law with which he
expected TO overwhelm the court being marked
for ready reference. Being called out for 9
moment he was surprised on his return to nnt
his opponent mt. W. with one OF the precious
documents In his hand carefully looking II over
OF course the only object for this unprofesslona
conduct was by stealth TO obtain the line o
prosecution, and to this Mr.. N. naturally de
INJURED, and tsok occasion ina brief remark Il
md fault with the mcddler intimating that b.
couldn't Ind brains for both sides in the pendinI
conflict. This last remark Mr.. W. agreed to q
unce, but, 'awyer like, noted an exception to sOm
Of the preceding sentences, and In language ex
pressive, but not refined, asked that the book b
consigned to place which will not be mentioned
here.
MIiler got hts dutch up" and replied, II 4
supposed, In severe language, but as there wa
no Interpreter the spot, II Ia lost to the futur
generation Of lawyers who may DO unfortunate
enough to practice In these courts, William
didn't know what he said, but, Judging from tn
shake Of his head that the prosecutor was "bilinl
hot and had declared foreign war, proceeded
20 get the best Of the row by striking the nrs
blow. That II, It wasn't blow, but kick.
klCk was more than the OfflCial dignity cou
brook, even IN 4 courtroom, and the only repl
ho could make TO II was "striko from tn
shoulder Then there was clinch. War ha
begun In earnest, and the strife ragged ncrcely-
business, but the crowd, more impressed wit
the dignity OF the court than the practitioner
before Il, rushed IN and "brOke up the lltt
game" much TO the relief Of Miller, who wa
puffiing away like tug.boat.
II seemed to be the Impression OF the crow
that had the fight been allowed TO continue OF
minute longer the desperate combatAnts wou
have died from fright, aud thus have entatl'
upon the bar association special meeting, al
tue painful necessity Of drafting two series
resolutions Of coincidence for grcf.strick'
families.
Sotwiths,auding this prelude the court Opcnt
In time IN due form, aud It's regular business W
proceeded with, but which side won the case q
REPUBLICAN reporter cannot tell for want Of e'
derce.