The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1877-12-27

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.upls
Almost as rude in
Judge Dowling
"What are you reading from sirY''
asked he of a counsel.
"From the statute Of 1866 your
Honor" was the reply.
"Well," said Bowling, "you need
not read any more; I'm judge in this
court and my statutes are good
enough law for anybodyl"
This worshipful gentleman plumed
himself upon deciding according to
the equities of the case" law and
precedent to the contrary notwith-
standing; they went for nothing
with him.
Judge Alex, Smith, a Western ad.
ministrator of the law, when di-
vorcc case was called on, addressed
the plaintiffs representative, and
said; ~ don't think people ought to
be compelled TO live together, when
they don't want to do so. Twill de-
cree divorce in this case;;" and the
parties concerned were thereupon
declared to be no longer man and
wife. Presently the defendant'slaw-
yer appeared and was not little
surprised to find all was settled, that
the Judge had decided without hear
ing one side, much less both. He
protested against such over-hasty
proceedings, and appealed to the
Court to redress the wrong he had
committed. The Court not being in
clined to own itself in fault, he was
informed it was toe late to raise OBJ
jections; the decree had been pro-
nounced; but if he wanted to argue
the case, "righsSads be Court wouId
marry the partiesas a1d'let. him
lsaye.a arasx for It.
When Miss Amelia Donncrschloy
claimed two hundred dollars from
faithless Augustus Bernerfor breach
of promise, the gentleman justified
his conduct on the plea that after
living under the same roof with the
young lady and her mamma for eight
months, he found it so impossible to
live comfortably with the one, that
he was compelled to cry off theother.
The Judge inquired if the mother
proposed living with her daughter
after marriage, and receiving an
affirmative answer, asked the defen'
dant whether he would rather live
with his mother-in-law or pay 5000.
"Pay $780," was the prompt reply.
Said the Judge: "Young man let
me shake hands with you. There
was q time in my life when was in
the same situation as you arcin now.
Had l possessed your frmness, l
should have been spared twenty-five
years of trouble l had the alterna-
tive of marrying or paying s125.-
Being poor, married, and for twen-
ty-fve years have l regretted, l am
happy TO meet with man of your
stamp. The plaintiff must pay $40
and costs for having thought of put
ting gentleman under the domin'
ion of mother.in.law."
The much married dignitary was
not so susceptible to the charms Of
the sex as his brother, of Iowa, who
refused to fine man for kissing q
girl against her will, because the
complainant was so temptihgly pref
ty that nothing but an overwhclm.
ing sense of its dignity prevented
the Court from kissing her itself.
It is lucky for an offender when
his Judge puts himself in his place.
justice is sure then to be tempered
with mercy as in the case of the
snatcher of spoons brought before a
Georgian court many years ago, Bella
Brown, who then went the circuit as
Judge, was an able man, in equal re-
putc as a lawyer and as boon com
panion. The night before the court
was to open at Dayton. His Honor
went to a tavern kept bysterrit, and
had such a good time Of it with his
legal friends that by midnight he
was not quito 80 sober as q judge
should bc. Somebody cleared tho tn
bic of all its spoons, aud put them
into the unconscious gontloman's
pocket. He was greatly porturbed
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