The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-01-14


The following article appeared - leading
editorial in the Chicago Evening Journal Of
Saturday. perhaps the most conservative news
pepper in the west:
very curious libel suit occupies the sttsn-
ton OF the people of Detroit, and, II ito pro-
gross be O. remarkable ss Ito beginning, it is
likely to receive some consideration through
out the country. The plaintrn 10 q. j. Reilly,
circuit Judge, and the defendant, The News, an
evening Journal which has had an existence Of
| two wears, and is q well-conducted publication.
The state judiciary Of Michigan is elective
and starved. The salary OF o circuit judge,
al 500. attracts no member OF the bar posses
sing the necessary qualifications; and the local
bench. with Q few exceptional intervals, has
always been filed with ignorant mediocrity.-
In the last election the nomination went a-beg-
giug, as 1t was accustomed TO do, and was
clutched by the adolescent Mr.. Reilly, whose
wisdom and learning are those which belong to
foppish end frivolous barristers OF twenty odd
years OF age, whose lack Of briefs leaves them
considerable leisure for the achievements of
parlor knighthood. Reilly, notwithstanding
his infancy, was bound to be judge, and be-
ing I" in with the boys who managed the dem
ocrat;c caucus, secured the nomination, and the
"party" felt bound to elect him, and did, The
News opposed his candidacy with persistent
vigor, but the caucus carried the da and Reilly
pgeon-holed the public-spirited 6 ct for fu-
ture punishment.
A few weeks ago, man ne Camille
Robbens filed bill for divorce. law re-
porter of the News, in making lis daily
summary of court business, made :. sumo of
this bill and published it. One CT 3 allega-
tions consisted OF gross charge against the
personal character of Judge Reilly, the fact al
legged being represented as having taken place
prior to his election and the sympathetic re-
porter went out of his way to add, in extra
oficious comment, that the truth Of the accu-
saton was improbable. II any man had cause
for acting against the News, it would appear
to be Robbens whose veraclty, under oath, was
thus impugned in Reilly's behalf: but it was
Reilly's chance. He waited until evening, and
then, with the apparent purpose of subjecting
them to the paltry annoyance Of night in
Jail, he caused the arrest OF Mr.. Scrpps, pro-
prietor OF the paper, and Ross, the reporter.
The former secured bail at once, but Ross was
less fortunate, and the puerile judge enjoyed a
portion of the sweet revenge which boys and
towards alone delight in, and which becomes
rather surprising when sought for by men or
jurists.
The other day Mr. Scripps asked for reduc-
ton Of his bonds, which we're placed at the
absurd figure OF $4,000. Perhaps the motion
was made solely to ascertain the calmness and
enlightenment OF another member Of this
starved judiciary, Judge Cochrane before
whom the case was to be tried. The result
was absolutely extraordinary. 1t 10 impossible
to say which should be wondered at the most
tue language Of the decision. which is 30 bar
rem, and yet 80 ungrammatical and obscure
that sometimes it is difficult even to guess at
it's meaning; the logic Of It, which reminds us
OF dear Artemus Ward, or the law-but the
law IL, after all, the most surprising.
Judge Cochrane said, Yes, he thought the
bail excessive. One would naturally suppose
that he meant, then, to reduce it at once. But
no! He does not "want to belitte the CASE
That is Judge Cochranes law and logic but 1t
Is, perhaps as much OF that combination as
the people of Michigan have any right to ex-
pect for II 500 year. But Judge Cochrane
like the seven men in Proverbs, can render a
reason" And this is the way he " reasoned I"
Judge Reilly is a brother Judge II
should refuse to reduce the bail, people would
say it was what might be expected of brother
Judge, that the sense of official friendship
might prevent judge from reducing il to
what it should be. On the other hand. if
should put the bail down to any considerable
amount, there would be danger that might be
considered as thinking the matter, after all, of
but little Importance"
Now just judge never thinks OF what
people will say" Their opinions should be
nothing to him IN the equal and upright admin
istration OF his duties. The only parties he is
to consider are the plaintiff and the defendant,
and he takes a solemn oath to deal fairly with
: both, independently OF the existence Of any
! other persons. He is not to be guided by pub
lie opinion, but by the law and his sense of
justice. He thinks there are individuals in the
community who enjoy, by what right he failed
to indicate certain caste privileges. 1t is not
recorded what spite induced him to exclude the
, doctor and the schoolmaster but the latter
must have been sbroad-very far indeed-in
, the judges youth, il his judicial English be
, any test
" do not look at the official character Of q
, Judge, as well as that Of clergyman, as some
thing that should not be trifed with unless
, there is some good ground for it. A Judge
may do much good, if his character is not as
persed, and there is no good ground for it. II
1T should be attacked, he must necessarily fail
OF having that influence which he should pos
sess. For this reason have felt the delcacy
OF my position"