The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-07-19
Old Time COurtship.
"REMINISCENCES OF The EARLY DAYS OF
JUDGE PATTON AND M'CANDLEss.


The visit of the Honorable Judge, Benja-
min Patton, to our city short time ago, re-
minded me Of an interesting case which was
tried before him third of centuy ago, when
he was President Judge of the court of Quarter
Sessions and Oyer and Terminer of this coun
ty. 1t was that of young man and young
woman, both residents of Wilkins township,
who had become parents outside the bonds of
matrimony, and the suit was brought by the
father of the girl to meet the requirements
provided by law for such cases. or suffer the
penalties.
Wilson McCandless appeared for the pros
ecutrix. and by her testimony and that of sew
eral Others made out a strong case against the
defendent. The counsel for the defense
called several witnesses, two Of whom testi-
fed that they had bundled with the prosecu-
trix within a year prior to the birth Of the
child, and closed his case with an eloquent
speech to the jury, in which he argued that
his client ought to be acquitted on that testi-
mony. When he concluded, Mr.. McCandless
began one of his characteristic speeches to
the jury, and as | was in position from
which | could see his every movement and
being one of his enthusiastic admirers, can
remember the points he made and much of
the language he used in that address, notwith-
standing that more than thirty-three years
have come and gone since that time In SUBJ
stance he said, Gentlemen of the jury, the
only evidence offered by the defence which |
shall notice is that of the two witnesses who
testified that they had bundled" with my
client, and | think will be able to con.
vince you that you should give that evil
dence no more weight than if they had sworn
that they had passed evenings or nights with
her in the sitting room. In the sparsely set
tied parts of our State young men often had
to travel miles.to see their sweethearts, stay all
night, and instead of sitting up, they, with
the consent of the girls parents, would lie
down on bed. That was 'bundling.'"
1t was some years ago, and possibly is at
the present tme much in vogue among
large and very respectable portion of the citi-
zens Of our State, who are noted for the ster-
ling honesty of the men and the chastity of
the women. | have been Informed by men
who lived years among them that the birth of
an illegitimate child was a very rare occur
renee, and when one was born, its father
was considered scoundrel and driven
from the community if he did not marry its
mother. Bundling has been practiced to some
extent in nearly all parts of the State, and
was not confined to any particular condition
Of life, as the exalted as well as the lowly,
the educated as well as the unearned have
been known to indulge in it," and turning to
Judge Patton, be continued, "your Honor, 1
know an honorable Judge of whom l have
heard that he had been known to have bum
died on several occasions, yes, your Honor a
learned Judge" The pointed manner in
which he uttered the last sentence, and the
litter Of suppressed laughter which rippled
through the court room caused Judge Pat
ton, who as was his wont when lawyer was
addressing jury, with.his hands casped be-
hind his back, was walking to and fro behind
hiSchair, to stop and say, 81 hope the last re-
marks Of the learned gentleman were not
meant as personal" "By no means, your
Honor, the gentleman to whom | referred re-
sides in the east"
He turned to his client and took the child
and held it in the hollow of his left arm, and
with the index finger of his right hand he
touched its nose and said Look at that
nose, gentlemen of the jury, and then look at
the nose on the face of this man" pointing
to defendant). Look at its eyes look at its
mouth; look at the shape Of its head, and
then take another good look at him, and on
your oath each one Of you will be compelled
to say that it is a veritable chip of the old
block" Still holding the child on his arm,
he approached the defendant, and assuming
very severe look. he said in an i'm pressive
voice, "if you have one drop of the noble
blood OF your Irish ancestors in your veins do
not deny your own fesh," and by quick
movement he put the child in defendant s
arms and continued, "look at it, press it to
your heart and say in the presence of this
Court, and in the face of high heav-
en-, if you dare, that it is not your child"
The defendant, who was very much moved,
arose ttom his seat, placed the child on its
mothers lap and said few words to his law
yer and the latter announced to the Court
that his client wonl marry the prosecutrix.
SPIRIT.
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