Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1873-07-31
Anecdotes of Public Men
by col. JOHN w. FoRNEN-
~, ,,,. sunday Morning Chronicle.

- "a - fssE :
ny COT. JOHN W. FoRNEY.
From the sunday Morning Chronicle.
When James w. Nye was very :
Young. man, not more than thirty, ne
was appointed one of the Common
Pleas Judges for his native county Oh
Madison, New York, and gave great
satisfaction by his popular manners
personal courage, and large humanlties.
Nye vas always favorite with The old
Democratic leaders of the Empire
State, especially with Martin Van
Buren, and William l.. Marcy. AL
though an extreme Democratic partisan
his ready humor and instructive gen.
erosity made him the centre OF a con-
siderable following. Few men sur
passed him in private conversation or
public speaking, as those who enjoyed
his society and heard his speeches du-
ring the war need not .be reminded.-i
But to the incident l intended to re-
late: When he became judge of the
Madison courts, he one day visited the
county prison in the character OF an In
spector, and was surprised to ma
among the inmates lad of twelve or
thirteen years of age, sent there 10
await his trial on a charge of theft.-I
Struck by his youthful appearance, he
asked him whether he was guilty of the
charge laid against him, to which the
boy at once replied in the affirmative.
He said his father and mother were
miserably poor, and that in despera-
ton he had broken into corn-crib and
supplied the family with corn. Be-
lieving from the lads manner that he
was worthy of being reclaimed, he
called on neighbor and had him bail
cd out to make his appearance at court.
At the opening of the sessions the lad
and his surety were on hand, and the
young judge appealed to the District
Attorney to enter mol. pros, which
that officer sternly declined on the
ground that the accused had confessed
his guilt, and that the ends of justice
must be vindicated. Well, then, u
said Judge Nye, 81 will state the facts
to the jury and take the responsible.
ity." The jury was empanelled, ano
the case came on, and the District At
torney presented the facts with much
feeling, after which the judge said thai
he would simply state what he knew
of the case without calling counsel fol-
the defence. After relating what he
had heard in the Jail from the lips O
the boys (and you may be sure he die
his best to correct the emphatic presen
tation of the officer of the law he turn
ed to the jury-box and declared that h
did not believe there was man of tn
twelve that would coolly vote to sen;
this young creature with blasted rep
utation out upon cold and heartles
world. @ -
1t is needless to say that an instan
taneous acquittal followed. After tn
adjournment of the court the judg
sent for the boy and found that he an
his parents were very destitute, but tbs
he was naturally bright and intelliger
ambitious to learn, in good health, an
had previously borne an excellent cha
acter. Governor Marcy was at ths
time Secretary of War under Presidel
James X. Polk. To him, therefore,
one of his closest friends, whose les
he had followed in the Democratic pa
ty from his first vote, Judge Nye wro
letter relating the story as ] ha'
tried to tell it, and asking him to secu
for the lad the appointment of cadet
the Military Academy. In answ
Governor Marcy said that he regrett'
his inability to comply with this l
quest; that the possible vacancies
West Point had been filled in advan
both by the Congressman and the Pr'
identfrom his list atlarge, but that
had tin his power tosend him to t
Naval Academy at,Annapolis. 4
lad was accordingly entered among t
acolytes of that admirSble Institute
and by good conduct and close apple
tion rose rapidly in the service Oh
ing the war he was one of the ablest
Admiral Farragut's 's,' captains, and
was always very agreeable to sit
and hear Nye, who himself grew II
idly in the esteem andconfidence of
confidence of his country, relate t
simple story, and especially the succ
which had crowned hisefforts to 81
his protege from life of shame q
set him forward in the path of hor
able distinction. The rescued boy
came in after years brave and b
liant seaman, and Nye grew from
county judge to be Governor of Ne
da in 1861, and then a Senator in c
gress when theTerritory became a s.
beginning his term in 1865, and clos
it in 1873. So that it may be said
in his case at least the best way to b
oneself is to help our fellow creatul
s'ls - - -
How TO FIX BoREs.-IA mach
has been invented by "a New Hal
shire man, who has filed caveai
the Patent Office, which deserves
rank among the highest of Amer
inventions. 1t is called ss'the busi
mans bore abater,o andits action
simple and effectual.~ 1t consists
button torpedo, with patent nitro
cerine back action attachment, that
ha yyorrs on fha cnat like an ordit