Carson daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1873-1877, 1873-08-12
NYE AS JUDGE.
4 Story CT Ncvada's Ex-senator.
TFo,ncy's "Reminiscences !

When james W. Nye was q very young
| man, not more than thirty, he was ap-
| pointed one of the Common Pleas Judges
for his native country Of Madison, n. V,
| and gave great satisfaction by his pop
! ular manners, personal courage and large
humanities. Nye was always favorite
with the old democratic leaders Of the
Empire State, especially with Martin Van
Buren, and William L. Marcy. Although
an extreme Democratic partisan his
ready humor and instructive generosity
made him the centre of considerable
following. Few men surpassed him in
private conversation or public speaking.
as those who enjoyed his society and
heard his speeches during the war need
not be reminded. But the incident in
tended to relate: When he became
Judge of the Madison courts, he one day
visited the county prison in the charac-
ter of an inspector, and was surprised to
find among the inTates lad of twelve or
thirteen years of age, sent there to await
his trial on charge of theft. Struck by
his youthful appearance, he asked him
whether he was guilty of the charge laid
against lin, to which the boy at once
replied in the Affirmative. He said his
father and mother We're nliserably poor,
and that in desperation he had broken
into corn crib and supplied the family
with corn. Believing from the lad 5
manner that he was worthy Of being re-
claimed, he called on a neighbor and had
him bailed 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 il not. pros, which
that officer sternly declined on the
ground that the accused had confessed
his guilt, and that the end of justice
must be vindicated. well, then, said
Judge Nye, Il will state the facts to the
jury and take the responsibility. The
Jury was impanneled, and the ease came
on, and the District Attorney presented
the facts with :2uch feeling. after which
the Judge said that lie wculd simply
state what he knew of the case, without
calling council for til, defence. After
relating what lie had heard in the Jail
from the lips OF the boy (and you may
be sure he did his best to correct the en-
phatic presentation of the oficar Of TIE !
lHw), lie turned to the jury-box ard de- |
ciarei he did not believe there was |
man Of the twelve that could coolly vote !
:!
ted reputation cut upon q cold and heart |
less world.
II is needless to say that an ilstanta-
ncous acq aittal followed. After the ad- |
iournmelt of the court the Judge sent for |
the boy and found that he WAS naturally
bright and intelligent, ambitious to
learn, in good health. and had pre-
viously borne an excellent character.
GoveInUr Marcy was at thai time Sec
ret;:ry OF war under President j. h Polk.
To him therefore, as enc OF his closest
friends. whose lead he had followed in
the Democratic party from his first vote
Judge Nye wrote letter relating the
story rs have tried to tell it, and ask
ing him to secure for the lad the ap-
pointrnent of cadet at the military acn-
deny. In answer, Governor Marcy said
that be regretted his inability to comply
with his request: that the possible Va
caneies at West Point had been filed in
advance both by the Congressman and
President from his list at large; but
that he had it IL his power to send him
to the Naval Academy at annapolis.
The lad was accordingly entered among
the acolytes of that admirable institu-
Iiou, and, by good conduct and close :lp-
piicatlon, rose TlLldiy III the service.
During the war he was one of the ables.
If Admiral Farrag,lt's captains, aud it
was always very agreeable to sit by and
hear Nye. who himself grew rapidly in
he esteem and confidence OF his country.
relate the simple story. and especiaiy the
success which had crowned his Efforts to
save his protege from a life Of shame
md set him forward in the path Of hon !
3rable distinction.. The rescued boy be-
'ame in after years 4 brava and brilliant
seaman, and Nye grew from q county
Judge to Governor Of Nevada in 1851,
md then q senator in Congress when
he Territory became a State, beginning
lis term in 1865 and closing it in 1878.
SO that it may be said that in this case
It least the bes. way to help oneself is to
lelp our fellow-creatures.