National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-09-14
sH1DL JUsrE0g BIZ DoNEf
RE1NsrATEMEET b IosEPH B. BRAp

01AkA y O0L III Oh OVAIAf
REINSTATEMENT or JOSEPH H. BRAD
LEY. SIX, TO THE BAR.
Nov that the subject Of rainafating Nh. Joseph
H. Bradley, sr.. On the roll q attorneys Of the
Supreme Court Of the District has been m0oted,
and appears 70 gain general favor both with the
bar and c1tisens 3 general sketch OF the whole
Transaction concerning his Acknowledgement may
prove interesting. II viii Be remembered that
Mr.. Bradley was one OF the counsel for John H.
S1rratt IN HIS dfst trial, and that be defended
him with al the peftlnacfty and YIN Tor which he
was 90 famous. On July 2 1857, during the ex-
animation OF one Of the witnesses some debate
took place between Mr.. Bradley and Judge
which wa1 the direct cause Of the trouble took
place after the court had adjourned, and Is ~
lows sAfIsr he TSdgs len ms bench III. BFSd-
ley net bin, and sonie Nofda passed bet1ean
them concerning transactions during the trial.
IL 10 alleged that Mr.. Bradley raid to the Judge
that n be fudge F.. Was swell man be Wolld
whip him, 70 which the latter replied that he
(Mr. b. knew where he 1iVsd.n
The AFFAIR caused considerable comment at the
time, but the two principals kept the even tenor
Of their Way the trial progressed slowly, end all
supposed the incident had been forgotten.
On the morning Ct August 10, after the jury
had been out seventy-three hours. they united IL
8 statement that Il would be Impossible TO agree.
and asked that they be discharged, when re-
quest was granted; After which Judge Fisher
read the following:
charge, bat one which cannot forgo. On the ID
day Of July last, during the progress OF the trial
Of John Il. surratt for the nurder q Abraham
recess until this morning, as the presiding justice
was descending from the bench Joseph h. Brad
Manner cSSrSinT the Judge With With having oIsred
|. him (Mr. Bradley series Of insults IRON the
bench from the commencement Of the TRIAL
The Judge disclaimed any intention.
alfr. Bradley, so far from accepting this expIa-
nation or diselaimeTy thereupoR threatened the
;sdgTs with Ps5'S oOa, 'SSstssnn q he Under
live Y It's Judges are 2 be threatened with per-
Donal violence on all occasions whenever the
irascibility Of counsel may be excited BY an
Imaginary insult The offence Of Mr.. Bradley Is
one which even hts years VIII not pailiate. 1t
cannot be overlooked nor 90 unPunished IS
his name be stricken from the roll Of attorneys
prseticing in this court"
ments as false and amid much tumult the court
adjourned, and the Judge proceeded to . street
car, followed BY Mr.. Bradley, who handed him
note, and then retired to his ONCE.
On the morning Of the eth . meeting Of the
members Of the bar was called to take the sub
ject into confederation. Mr. N. s. DaYidge pre-
sided and Carter MArbury acted IS secretary.
A series Of resolutions were adopted depreca-
ting the circumstances and appointing q COM
r. Fendall, J. Q. Kennedy, J. J. Coombs, W. II.
Phillips, Enoch Iotten, ]. ID, MePheErson
and J. J. Johnson % inquire into the fssts,
datons as they may deem advisable 70 the bar ct
Q meeting thereof to be held on the frst Tuesday
the report Of this committse was not sa6rnitted.
On the fourteenth Mr.. Bradley printed q card
stating hts side o. the case, and publishing the
note which he had handed Judge Fisher, as fol-
lows:
.lWAsHNeToE, Augusta, 1sE.a
SIR: In The sltercation which occurred between
us when you returned 70 the courtroom after the
adjournment on the I'd Of July last, you observed
that you were then sick, and were pleased to add
'you know where to md me, and ] hold myself
responsible In every form for whatever i say or
do or words to that effect, after which you APP
Piled to me the most opproblous epithets. There
Il but one Interpretation Of such an intmaton re-
oelyed among gentlemen.
that you have recovered and that the trial OF the
then pending case now being closed, We are both
That no time may be unnecessarily lost, I beg
you will let ne know a. soon AZ you conveniently
can when It will suit you 70 meet me out OF this
isfaetion the points Of difference between as with
out the risk and 0dium which might accompany
any controversy here or IN public.
With this same view, take the liberty Of hand
ing you this note in person.
am, sir, your most obedient servant,
Jos. II. BRADLEY.
The publication then states that he has not
since heard from Judge Fisher, and concludes;
t.In the meantime, know my friends viii take
my word for It, that have neither said nor done
anything which have TO regret, and request
those who DO not know me TO suspend their iudg-
ment until the facts are known
On ne DAY succeeding TINS card MAJOR A: Q.
warrant before Justice Walter charging Mr..
Bradley With Yiolstion Of seetion2 Of an act ITO
prohibit the giving accepting 10 the District OF
Columbia, 70 fight . duel aud for the punlshment
thereof, 10 handing the above card TO Judge
Fisher. The warrant was served By Detective d.
R. P. lHgley, and Mr.. Bradley waived an exam
nation and gage bail IN the sum Of q 900 for his
appearance Mr.. Z. E White being the surety.
Mr.. Bradley Is reported 70 have remarked; THAT
the letter was only handed Judge Fisher that
they they both might come to q mutual and anil
On the INST Of August another meeting Of mem
befs Of the bar Chose who had not attended the
former meeting) was held, with Mr.. F. P, Stan.
The following we're appointed the COMMITTEES on.
resolutions; W. a. Cook, Z. u. Leeeh, A. q.
and Geo. Burgess. The result Of the conference
was lengthy series Of reBolutions recitng all the
fsets Of the case, ccndemning the action Of Mr..
Bradley, and concluding, "And we fully concur
with the opinion Of the court in the case cited
that Judges should not 'condescend TO personal
conflict with any person who may eontemn their
authority but enforce their claims TO respect by
all the means which the laws allow
The case then rested until Oct q, when the Court
IN GensEsi Tern, lVsie5 Justice Cartier presld-
order: "And said language aud conduct requir-
ing, in our opinion, Investigation BY the court, It
is therefore ordered that the said Joseph H.
Bradley show cause on or before the lth day Of
November next, why he should not be punished
for contempt Of this court By reason Of said Often
members, and relating 10 the oficial acts OF said
justice; ana It Is farther ordered that untn the
hnal disposition Of this order the said Joseph H.
Bradley shall continue Suspended from practice
in this COURT
On November 10 the case was argued By Hon.
r. J. Walker for Mr.. Bradley, who then read his
return TO the rule; after which Justice Cartier
briefly revised the case, and pronounced the
judgment Of the court IS Follows;
'While We all feel great reluctance In what We
are compelled to DO; while We estimate the great
learning and power IS an advocate Of the re-
spondent and the large space he occupies at the
bar; when we remember the many good argu-
ments he has made before u.s. and the many
agreeable relations We have had, It becomes
almost an impossibility TO do our duty, and
would not do It without feeling that / would,
under similar circumstances lay my own head
beneath the are. II must be done, however; and,
therefore, the judgment Of the court e, that Mr..
Bradley be dismissed from the bar Of this court"
Mr. Bradley thanked the court for their manner
Of Diminishing him. It had been; he said his pur-
pose 10 retire from the bar ct an early day. II
was the manner Of his taking on that affected him
most.