The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-11-26
THEN AND NOW.

THEN AND NOW.
The Supreme Court of Louisiana was once
the pride aud boast of our people. It was
tribunal before which the weakest and hum
blest citizen might 60, assured that there, at
least. if no where else on earth, justice would
be dispensed. It's members were men of
profound learning, of great dignity, of spot
less purity Of character, and their decisions
were and still remain models Of scholastic
ability and judicial strength, and have been
quoted even in European courts as authority
in matters of civil law.
A remarkable illustration OF the high char
acter of our Supreme Court in the past, was
given during the time when Chief Justice
Martin presided QS45), and there are many
lawyers now practicing at our bar who remem-
Der the incident.
One of the members of the court, Judge
Garland, who had hitherto enjoyed an ecxel-
lent reputation, had been guilty of forging
note for $4,000, and though he had adroitly
got to the ears Of the Chief Justice, and 50
when the court was about to convene on the
morning Of the opening Of the fall term,
Judge Martin, upon the entrance Of Judge
Garland into the court room, rose from his
seat and declared that inasmuch as there
were grave suspicious entertained in regard
to member of the court that the court
would stand adjourned until an investigation
into the matter could be had. There was
much excitement consequent upon this
action Of the Chief Justice, and Judge Gar
land addressed the members of the bar
present, declaring his entire innocence Of any
crime, and commenting in severe terms upon
the action of the Chief Justice in treating
him as if he had already been convicted.
The sympathy Of the lawyers was much en-
listed, but public opinion sustained Judge
Martin in his determination not to perm it the
Court to sit while shadow of su ipicion even
hung over one of its members. That very
evening meeting of prominent members OF
the Bar was called, to take into consideration
the question of whether warrant could
legally issue against a member Of the Supreme
Couc It, and Judge Garland was formally re-
quested to be present.
The written note was handed to him while
he was at dinner, at the st. Louis Hotel, and
Selling knife he attempted to plunge it into
his breast, but was prevented from accom-
plishing his purpose by waiter who took the
knife from him. Banked in this attempt, he
took passage on Coast packet, and when
some distance out in the river, sprung over
board The mate of the steamer witnessing
the action jumped over after him and actually
succeeded in saving the unhappy man from
drowning.
Fate being AGAINST him he next left the
State, and was heard of years afterwards on
the frontiers Of Mexico. His flight, of course,
put an end to all further action against him,
and the Supreme Court sat therefore with
only four members.
The history Of the forged note is extremely
interesting. Garland, itappeared, had received
from the old millionaire, Jla, Nc
Donogh, present of basket Of strawberries,
accompanied by note asking the acceptance
of the same, as they had been grown in his
own garden.
This note Garland manipulated with chemi-
Gals in some way and wrote note over the
signature for $1,000, which he succeeded in
having discounted through friend, by
an eccentric old broker named Smith. Shortly
before the note fell due, Smith met Melon
OCH on the street, and happening to mention
the note, was amazed to learn that it must be
. forgery, as McDonogh had no note out for
any amount.
fastening back to his shop he got the note
and took it to the friend of Garland's, through
whom it had been negotiated, and he, no less
amazed than the broker, fastened to Garland,
who assured him there must have been some
mistake; that probably Mr. McDonogh had
forgotten the transaction; that he would see
him about it. And he did see him about it.
Pale and trembling he went to the stern old
miser, with tears of agony confessed his crime
and begged for mercy; begged that he would
save him from everlasting Disgrace.
In extenuation Of his act, he alleged that
he had been in great need, that he forged the
note under the full belief that he would be
able to meet it, and that MI. McDonogh
would not only suffer no loss, but remain in
ignorance Of the transaction. Strange to say,
the heart of the old miser (who loved a dollar
as he loved his sour was touched, and he
con ented to save from degradation the
vretched man who had fallen 50 terribly.
He went to the money broker, called for the
note scanned it closely, and declaring truth
fully, that the signature was his, though he
did not remember to have written the note,
took it up.
The fair, however, in some way, leaked
out, aud the result has been as recorded.
To draw a parallel between the court over
which Judge Martin presided with such dis
tinguished dignity and wisdom, and that