Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-06-19
IN Amusing judicial Rlunder.

rad been employed to defend seedy
doctor, somewhat given to drink Ills name
happened to lc John Wilson lie was
charged with fraudulently disposing of his
property with intent 10 dcfraud credtOrs-a
miSlemeanor punishable by fine and impris-
onment. We had been through thorough
examination of all the facts before a commit
ting magistrate. and Wilson was committed
to iail To await the action Of the Grand Jury
then in session, with an ugly case against
him on the testimony. OF course he was
indicted The Judges had taken their place
in solemn gravity for the despatch of crimi-
nal business.
The district attorney, one OF those brilliant
scniuses who could play loo or poker all
night. with 4 reasonable modicum Of ''Old
rye TO assist. and come into court fresh the
next morning. was at 4 side table with his
back to the har. and hurriedly making up
his lost time in filling up subp@nas for wit
nesses IN informal list or docket Of the
criminal cases to be tried, made on loose
sheet. had been handed up to the court,
which his Honor. with spectacleS on nose,
appeared to be intently studying. suddenly
wa- appalled, to hear from the venerable
Judge, '.John Wilson, stand up The doc
tor straishtened up. stiff as Il post, while |
sat wondering what was to come next. as
the Judge went on rs follows John VIII
son, you have been indicted by jury of
your countrymen for high offence, but the
court i grltifed to hear of your repentance,
and that You save the country the expense
of pleading guilty.
'YOur ease and that Of your suffering
family have been represented To the court.
and we have. on conference decided to deal
lenientlv with YOU. But the court admon-
iShes vou hereafter better to regard the laws
of meum and tuum. and if You ever come
before this court again you will inevitably
he used up The court orders you to pay
line Of five dollars and % stand committed
until paid.
Before this eloquent speech was concluded
| had taken in the situation. ! considered
the doctors case desperate. had all his
money and enough to cover 4 moderate fee
as things went in those days for defending
him. Quick As thought slipped five dol
vour fine and cut" lie waved his hand
gracefully to the sheriff with the bill. bowed
his thanks to the court, and was ont of the |
door in the twnkling of an eye.
Silence reigncd for nearly ten minutes,
when the Judge called on the prosecutor to /
proceed. Tumbling bundle of papers in
haste, he said Il move on the trial Of John |
W ilson first, your honor" John Wilson -
exclaimed the Judge; 1--WE have sentenced |
him. Isn't that the ham case - NO, |
your honor that's John Watson. next on
the docket =" "But where Is John Wilson p
looking hard at me. replied II presume
he has ayailed himself of the leniency of the
court. and Is looking for parts unknown"
With this cciairciSS0ned, peals OF laughter
rang through that ancient temple of justice,
md then came rush of constables and audi
-nce down the stairs into the street, after
the flown bird. The main street of the vii
age was in full view for halfa mile, rising
m cminence crowned with a dense wood
md at the further point could be seen my
luondam client making the tallest sort of
, 10 tracks for the woods, his coat-tails
streaming behind in the wind. That was
hc last seen in those parts of John Wilson,
md that is the way my first client was
cleared