Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-05-08
Mrs. Gaines as Lawyer

Belva A. Lockwood's recent appear
ance III the Court of Claims, In this
city, reminds the New Orleans Plea
y,t''e OF what occurred in the District
Court OF that city nearly thirty wears
ago.
1t was on the trial of one of the first
OF the many suits of Mrs Myra Clark
Games. Judge Buchanan presided
and the case was submitted to a iury.
1t happened that the lawyers. some of
the ablest at the bar, fell into a bitter
wrangle with the Judge, and were so
offended at his rulings that they with
drew from the case and the court.
Mrs. Gaines and the veteran general.
her husband, were present in court.
The general wore his full uniform.
his sword and sash, in conformity to
the regulations. The lady was there
IN the mel idian of beauty, grace and
VIVaclty, even now preserved to so re-
marhable a degree, after reaching the
Scriptural limit of human life.
Immediately upon the withdrawal of
her lawyers the stately old hero of
Fort Erie, taking his wife by the hand
led her to the bar and addressed the
Judge as follows:
May it please your honor T was
educated for the bar, aud the honored
relative whose name ] bear, (the cele-
hrated Chief Justice Edmund Pendle-
ton. Of Nirginia,) impressed me. in
early youth. with the profoundest rev
ere1ce for the civil courts of INV coun-
try. Perhaps, in the view of the
world and OF the court, it would be
my duty to supply the place Of nv
WIGS lawyers upon their retireulent
from her case. If it were duty that
l thought myself adequate to perform.
L should not shrink from il, for the
lady, besides being my wife. is
the daughter of my Old friend.
Daniel Clark, to whom | am
bouni by many ties of an ancient
trler dship and warm esteem. to rem
der every service ] can in the mainten
auce Of the rights of his friendless
daughter. And this service l should
be bound, as a soldier and a gentle
man, to render to any lady in like cir
cumstances. But as the lady is far
more able to argue her case than I
am, L beg that she be allowed to con-
duet her ov n CASE
And then raising his head, and
gently touching his sword, he turned
to the opposite counsel and remarked.
FOR whatever the lady shall say or
do, L hold myself. to the full measure
and III every manner, recognized
among gentlemen.
Judge Buchanan was greatly anuoy- |
ed at this proposition, and fired up at
the allusion of the General to lis ter
sonal responsibility. He manifested |
his anger by reminding the General !
That display of military pcnr and
menace could not be allowed "a the
court. He was not to be oyerawed in
hat way.
General Gaines, in most courteous
md submissive style, begged to assure
lis honor that, if he referred to his
presence in court in military dress and
requirements, it was from respect to
he court, and in strict conformity to
he regulations of the service. The
word which he wore would never be
lrawn with more alacrity than in the
lefence of the civil authority and fri
'unals of his country.
Mrs. Gaines then took charge of her
ase, and for several days conducted
t, with all her spirit and zeal, con-
routing and ve4ing the learned coun-
ell, and worrying the Judge with her I
harp little speeches and piquant per- ,
Qualities, winding up her case with a
cry effective speech to the jury. We ]
o not now remember the result, but ,
ave very distinct Recollection that ,
ne Judge, who was a plucky, but l
igh-tempered gentleman, did not re- {
line his place on the bench the next =
ay, and for several days thereafter. +
he final Judgment in the case was in G
.vor Of Mrs. Gaines. 4