Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-05-24
JUDICIAL SCOLDING.
Is 1t Satire or Dead Earnest 2

f'"H VI Soeoi ucilNeTeu-tO the hmm.
lite amusement OF the bar-the following
lecture. 1t is said the lawyers highly
appreciated it. 1t is, however, as vet
an undetermined point whether the
learned judge was satirical or in earn.
est. The muscles of his face gave no
indication. he said:
The court regrets to observe circum.
stances surrounding the submission Of
this case for its consideration, calling
for severe sdmonition from the bench 10
the bar. 1t may be, however, that the
court is ignorant Of the peculiar exigen-
eies that press upon the members Of this
bar, interposing to prevent the constant
surveillance of q large detective force to
watch every slight incident that may
transpire, affecting a cause after its 6rst
iuciPient throeS, such, for instance, as
b.ll'stickers, Notifying with importu.
nate dunning im~pecuniuus intellects.
designed by nature to serve man.
kind, but forced by adverse fates,
like the martyr, Mieawbsr, to the
base business Of renewing unpaid
notes. There are doubtless other con-
tlngencies, too numerous to mention,
that might account for the reprehensible
dir.liction in the management of this
cause. But this court appreciates fully
the dignity of the position, aud is unwil.
ling to allow any opportunity to pass for
reminding the bar Of the divinity" that
doth hedge u.s." Otherwise our COED
nature would be presumed upon and di.
rectly an equality with US would be i'm.
~pertiuenhy insisted on by the bar. This
cannot be endured. The people aud
newspaper men would soon begin to
think that this court had no more sense
than the lawyers who dare to practice
before us. Hence, not from any in.
herent bad temper (for this court is, al
times, the best of fellows" having, per-
haps, like prince Hail." an unbe.
coming taste for low GONNA.
N.Y. but solely with the view
OF maintaining the august respect due
to a judge, and to impress on the pro,
fame mind wholesome terror for the iu.
dieial ermine, the court will seize this
occasion to lecture offending counsel
and display for the admouition of all
the authority pertaining to our functions.
When this court was solicited to take up
this case, n of the counsel represented
that it was a perfectly plain case; that
there were no difficulties to be eneoun.
tered in its disposition. The other coun.
sci remained silent, naturally leaving
the court to infer that he conquered in
the suggestion of his adversary as to the
simplicity Of the problems involved.
Indeed the court was led to be-
lieve that the Ease might be put on
the easy docket" Alas how diff.
ferently it turned out. The first
thing the court knew it was involved
in the consideration Of the proper exc
cutlon of powers-the power of DISPOSE.
ton by a Tennessee administrator over
leasebold estateS-Rnd a necessary de.
termination OF what changes the laws of
administration in the State of Tennessee
mas made in the dominion of an admin.
istrator ct common law. Moreover. the
court soon became convinced that it
would have to do some thinking on (" its
own hook" Thus the court was imperil.
ed without its consent. 1t actually run
the risk OF having an ass head put on it,
and that not by a fair Tatauia, either,
but by the fault Of hirsute lawyers, who
failed to apprize the court of the labor
they intended to devolve on its judicial
brain. pan Now, if the court should
make a fool Of itself in deciding this
case, as it probably will, whose fault will
it be? Compelled to examine aud to
lbiuk, who can estimate the peril thus
put upon the court by reckless couAsel2
The theme is too pitiful to be longer
dwelt upon. This court already under.
stands the sympathy it has from every
lawyer present except those who have
victimi2sd it. Indeed, when the court
became aware Of the imposition put upon
1t, the first determination was not TO
have anything further to do with the
But the pious memories of the
cold lunches and catechism Of a Presby.
terrain Sunday stole upon the conscience
and quickened me into the arduous duty
OF wrestling with the record, aud the
briefs OF the solicitors, the latter as fasci
mating as the Ivanhoe of Scott, or an
ldyl of Tennyson. 1t is the wish of this
court that the reporters of the press
will duly manifest to the public
how this court sets down on members
Of the bar, and warn all mankind not to
exchange Wit with this court. For if the
advantage should be with the party be-
fore the bar, which would always be the
case, unless in the instance Of some ex-
ceptioually stupid Deotian, this court
would regard il as a contempt. All law.
yers who desire to have the ear OF
the court are expected to laugh at
the supposed wit of this ~castiga.ion, and
to speak Of ii like the English speak Of
the system Of STAFFORD, as " thorough"
The bar are expected to see for them.
selves the intimate connection between