Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1876-01-22
Law i'm Hedges .yilIe.-.'cbe
Young Mayor Victorious.

Young Mayor Victorious.
HEDGF 1svILLE, w. Va, /
- y anuary 10th, 1876. !
To tie Editor, Of DE Independent:
On Saturday last, the Sth inst, a
session OF the court of common
pleas for Hedgesville, attracted
quite a crowd Of spectators. The
City giall at the time being occu-
pied by the lower court the session
was held in the old city court
room adjoining the Mountain
House; Reporters stands occupied
by the editor in chief of the Free
Press, and a reporter of the Owl
Court called to order and opened
at 1:30 p. M, by High Constable
L. L. Harper and Deputy Thomas
Bodine, Chief Justice Candy on
the bench
The case of j. IL. Miller vs. the
corporation of Hedgesville being
looked upon as test case,J III Mil
Ter appearing as his own counsel
and Ri. Hon. A. g. Wynkoop,
alias the young Mayor represent
ing the Corporation-the Plaintiff
claiming that the Corporation had
acted illegally in imposing fine
upon his son-who is a minor with
out having served process upon
him-the plaintiff. The case was
ably presented by the plaintiff, but
more ably defended as the young
mayor, who has already shown de-
cided executive ability in prosecu-
ting the unruly urchins, and on
this occasion proved himself an
earnest and able advocate.
twill be remembered the young
Mayor was in years past student
of Judge Parkus. The principal
points urged by him in behalf of
the corporation, was that the Of
fence for which the youth was
fined was criminal offence and
therefore did not require the serv-
ing a process upon the father,
which pointit seems he sustained.
The chief justice reserved his deci.
sion till late in the day.
Next the case of Butt VS.. Paris,
the young Mayor appearing as
counsel for Paris-decision in ia
vor of Plaintiff-Chief Justice
Candy then gave notice that he
was about to render his decision in
the first case-Deputy Thomas DO
dine giving "silence"-Ex. Chief
Justice Bodine, who had been pre-
sent during the whole proceedings
then arose and expressed desire
to offer few remarks before the
decision was given, ADDRESSING the
court he said he desired to speak
tho ,unsolicited-and he had no
part in the case now pending-in
behalf of the citizens of Hedges
vile, this was matter he said
concerning every citizen of the
city not merely those directly
interested, and he felt it incum-
bent upon himself not to sit silent
ly by and allow a decision in test
case of SO much importance to be
rendered and not make an effort
to defend the citizens for this be-
ing a case before the higher courts
it would in the future be quoted
as precedent. He then went on
and delivered himself of most
earnest and able appeal. The ex-
chief Justice arese from his seat
clad in a full suit of dark grey,
double-breasted closely fitting coat
buttoned about his once stalWorth
form, his high prominent forhead,
fringed with locks of pure white
overshadowing those small bright
and expressive eyes-his hand
raised in that usual dignified man.
ner the then compressed lips NOV
ed and from them flowed freely,
softly, gently, but firmly those
rounded and graceful sentences in
as of old. The ex-chief Justice
though the hand of time has left
her marks, still wears that firm,
graceful and dignified manner that
so characterizes men on the bench.
After the close of Mr.. Bodines
remarks chief Justice Candy then
delivered his decision sustaining
the young Mayor in his action.
The decision was one Of the most
comprehensive and expressive
ever delivered by this court. We
regret not being able to give it in
full-but the principal points was
tho the laws OF the corporation are
bad they are laws and for that rea-
son the decision is as it is not that
the court wishes to sustain them or
has any respect for them. Court
then adjourned. B.
A Gigantic Farm.
There called at the Centennial
rooms. Philadelphia, on Monday the