Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-09-28
Readnission Of Mr. Joseph III. Brad
ley TO the washington Ear.

win liAs cNrcpu ~ bEhuiegg NuOs II VIII De re-
IN -rubt red, WAS removed in 1861 as a member of
N bar for alleged contempt of court during the
Sam I tina, in which Judge Fisher presided.
MI. bursnt sa'd that st the instance Of large
number Of members of the bar, ami at the re-
quest OF Mr.. Bradley, he lad the pleasing duty
{ perform OF moving MIR. Bradiey's admission
I Tie bar Of this court. Mr.. Durant then read
the motion.
chief Justice Cartier said the court had been
informally advised Of this motion, and they had
ans nimously agreed 20 grant the notion Thew
C nsiGered that whatever bad passed had been
Al updantty atOned for, and they should welcome
MI. Bradley as member of the bar with
pleasure.
The courtroom was well filed by members
OF the bar, who, with the greatest unanimity,
applauded the remarks of the court, and gath
cred around MIR. b. to congratulate him.
THR OCCASION or Mr.. BRADLEY's SUSPENSION.
IL will be RENE nLbered 10 at the diff Guilty lead
ing 20 MIR. Bradiey's suspension from the bar
occurred st the time of the trial of John II.
SuTTatt, who was defended by Mr.. Bradley
Judge Fisher presiding. On the morning of
August 10, after the Jury had been out seventy
three hours, they united In a statement that il
would be impossible To agree, and asked that
tLey discharged, which request was grant
"a; liter which Judge Fisher read the follow
ing:
81 have now a very unpleasant duty to dis
barge, but one which / cannot fOregO. ON the
q day of July last, during the progress of the
trial Of John n. Surratt for the murder of
Abraham Lincoln, Immediately after the court
al taken "A recess until the morning AS the
pr6sidil 2 justice was descending from the
Der oh, Joseph III. Bradley. esq, aceOsted him
IN rude and insulting manner. charging the
judge with having Offered him (Alr. Bradley a
series Of insults from the bench from the COM
mencement Of the trial. The Judge discIain1t d
any such intention.
- Mr.. Bradley, so far from accepting this ex-
PLANTATION or disclaimer, thereupOn threatened
the judge With personal chastissment, "a he
understood him. No court can administer JUS
tee OF live il its judges are TO be threatened
with personal violence on all occasions when
ttx- of ha ed
BY an imaginary insult The offence of Mr..
Bradley is one which even his years will not
PALATE. 1t cannot be overlooked nor go uu-
punished a. contempt OF court. 1t ia there
fore ordered that bis name be stricken from the
roll of attorneys practiciDg in this court"
Mr.. Bradley excitedly characterized the state
me nts Is false, and amid much tumult the court
adjourned, and the judge proceeded to a street
car, followed by Mr.. Bradley, who handed him
note, and then retired to his office.
on the morning of the 18th meeting OF the
members of tbs bar was called to take the sub
jet into consideration. Mr.. W. ID. Davidge pre-.
sided and }. Carter MsrburY acted az secretary.
series Of resolutions were adopted depreca at
ing the circumstances, and appointing COM
mittee, consisting of Messrs. W. ID. Davidge, p.
X. FeDda1l. j. &. Kennedy, j. j. COombs, W. Ii.
Philip, EnOch Totten, j. ID. Mcpherson and
j. j. johnson, to inquire into the facts, and
''report the same with such recommend ations
as they may deem advisable to the bar at a
meeting thereof TO be held on the first Tuesday
OF September, 1874. (rule dsy.'D For some rea-
son the report Of this committee was not SUBJ
mitted. ON the 14th Mr.. Bradley printed a card
stating his side of the case, aud publishing the
note which he had handed Judge Fisher, as
follows:
WASHINGTON, August 6, 1867.
SIR: In the alteration which occurred be-
tween us when you returned to the court room
after the adjournment on the 81 of July last,
you observed that you were then sick, and were
pleased to add "yOu know where to find me-
ana hold myself responsible in every form for
Il n nr IS 20 hat
after which you applied TO me the most opDro-
biOus epithets. There is but one INTERPRETATION
OF such az intimatiOn received among gentle
men.
told you could wait, and an grstifed to
ind that you have recovered, and that toe trial
OF the then pending case now being closed, we
are both at liberty.
That 10 time may be unnecessarily lost 7
beg you Will let me know as soon as you con-
can when 1t will suit you to meet me
out OF this district, that we may arrange to our
bet1 cen us, without the risk and odium which
might accompany any controversy here or in
With this same view, L take the liberty of
handing you this note in person.
am sH' your obedieBt servant,
Jos. II. BRADLEY.
The publication then states that ne has not
since heard from Judge Fisher, and concludes:
. IL the meantime, know nv friends will taka
my word for it, that have neither said nor done
'hylhlng which have TO regret, and request
.O.e VINO 20 not know me to suspend their judy
IA Mt until the facts are known"
on the day succeeding this.card, Major A. C..
richards. superintendent Of police, sWore ont a
y aFFaht before Jusrice Walter, charging Mr..
o. alitf WIN violation Of section Of a. 40.
20 pTohlblt the giving or accepting in the Dist
LIct OF Columbia TO fight duel, and for The
punishment thereof" in handing tie io oh tue
ard 10 -'HG2e Fisher. The warrant was
eryed by Detec-'re ID. r. p. Bisiey,
nd Mr.. Bradley waived N examination aud
ave bail in the sum of 81 900 for his appear |
nee MI L. L. White being the surety. After |
he fOrmality of bail had been concluded. "
Bradley is reported TO have remark
he letter was only handed 70 J"' -, tnat
BE understand" "1-'
on .n- 2I,t of August another meeting of
Numbers Of the bar (thOse who had not attend
5d the former meeting) was held, with Mr.. +.
P. Stanton in the chair, and A. X. Browne,
The following were appointed the
on resolutions: w. A. Cook, X. NJ.
1t ech, a. q. Riddle, \. II. Miller, Gen. MuZzy,
Nj. Thompson, and Geo. Burgess. The result
Of the conference was lengthy series Of res0-
buttons recitiDg all the facts of the case, con-
tcmDing the action OF Mr.. Bradley, and con-
GLIDING, And We fully concur with the opinion
Of the court in the case cited, that judges should
not 'condescend to personal conflict with anv
person who may cODtemn their authority, but
enforce their claims TO respect by all the means
which the laws allow"
The case then rested until Oct. %, when the
Court in General Term (Chief Justice Cartier
presiding), after reciting the facts, made the
OTdeT:-"And said language aud con-
duet REQ uiring, in our opinion. invests cation by
the court, il IL TN 5refOre ordered that the said
Joseph H. Bradley show cause on or before the
18th day Of November next why he should not be
punished for contempt of this court by reason OF
said offensive conduct and language towards one
OF its members, and relating to the official acts
Of said justice; and IL is further ordered that
until the final disposition of this order the said
Joseph II. Bradley shall continue suspended
from practice in this court"
On November 10 the case was argued by Hon.
K. j. Walker for MIR. Bradley, who then read
hiss return to the rule; after which Justice Cart
ter briefly revised the case, and pronounced the
lud gmeRt Of the court as follows
while We all feel great reluctance in what
we are compelled to do; while We estimate the
great learning and power as an advocate of the
respondent and the large space he occupies at
the bar; when We remember the many good ar
gunents he has made before us, and the many
agreeable relations We have had, 1t becomes
almost an impossibility TO do our duty, and
would not do il without feeling that 1 would,
under similar circum stances, lay my own head
beneath the axe. 1t must be done, ho~ever;a and
therefore, the judgment of the court is that MIR.
Bradley be dismissed from the bar of the court"
Mr. Bradley thanked the court for their man
ner OF Diminishing him. Ii had been, be said, his
purpose 10 retire from the bar at An early day.
IL was the manner of his taking off that affected
him most.
BY REFERENCE to the advertisement of Mr..