The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1874-12-24
YOUNG LAWYERS MISTAKE.
D-sputing the Legal Existence Of the
Court.

lie San Francisco Morning Call says:
It has been remarked by,,a distinguish
ed historian, that ''For ways that are
dark and tricks that are vain, the Hea-'
then Chinee is peculiar" and this wise
aphorism must be truthfully applied to
the average California attorney. A case
In which one of this class figured occur
red in the Municipal Criminal Court
last week. MIR. Blank, a young attorney
of the last mentioned class, appeared as
counsel for villanous looking Chinaman
who was called to receive sentence on
his third conviction on charge of grand
larceny. All Shook was told to stand
up, and the judge gazed upon him with
an eye in which there was a varied as
so1tment of stern justice and commiser-
alton. Mr.. Blank rose from his chair,
ran his bony finger through his raven
locks, and, extending his right arm in a
dignified and authoritative manner, signi-
fed his intention of making a little
speech.
81 propose" said Mr.. Blanh, waving
his hand at the assembled spectators
with rare possession, 81 propose to
contest the authority of this court III the
matter of the people of the State Of Cal
ifornia versus my worthy and innocent
client All Shook; I propose, may it
please your honor-and [ don't think 1t
will propose to establish the fact
that this court has no authority and no
legal existence, and that all its assumed
organization have been null and void
and non cOnaDos nlentls.
s'Hold on, young MANI exclaimed
the court, with deprecatory motion of
the judicial hand, ''that game won't
work here worth a cent. While this
court has the deal the percentage remains
In its favor, and you needn't think you
can hog the game or bust the bank.
Maybe you are playing it smart, but
this court has its eye-teeth filed and
sand papered long ago, and all traces
Of vegetation have been carefully extri-
pated from it's opticTlar organs"
''May it please your Honor respond
ed Mr. Blank, 81 have long line of au
thorities to present. Here, James, bring
in your documents. At these words
little boy about three feet high entered
the courtroom, bearing about fifty pom
derous tones.
''Now your Honor" continued MI.
Blank, 81 move that the defendant be
discharged on the ground that the court
has no legal existence"
The court adjusted its spectacles
and remarked gravely, ''young feller,
there are times when patience ceases to
be a virtue
At this juncture the deputy sheriff
stood behind the attorney ready and
willing to take him by the collar and
throw him down stairs the clerk, in an
distracted manner, laid his hand upon
q heavy glass inkstand, and the porter
stood at the door with a large-sized
broom in his hand.
''My FRIEND" continued the court
mildly, cit is now autumn, when the
cottonwoods shed their leaves and moth
ing is green but the evergreen. But
you make a-ahem-a condemned mis-
take when you take me for an evergreen.
never happened thtt an attorney was
fool enough to request the court to leg
islate itself out of Office, and out of the
perquisites and emoluments pertaining
to the same. This court was at first
disposed to deal leniently with this de-
PRAYED heather but in order to vicdi-
cate its authority it imposes a sentence
upon your client of four years in the
State Prison. As for your authorities,
you may so to-ahem-to the Supreme
Court or anywhere else with them.
This Court stands upon its dignity, sir,
and if it did not respect your poverty it
would impose fine Of Sl.20 upon you
for contempt; but the court is magnani-
NOUS, sir. You may take your hand off
his collar, Mr. Sheriff. The court now
adiourns for refreshments.
The lawyer was seen half an hour
later loading up an express wagon with
his authorities.
Editors and printers work harder and