Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-05-24
A Reliirerent Judge.

ST. LOUIS, May PA few days ago al
editorial appeared in the Evening Chronicle
of this city, rather severely criticising Judg'
Laughlin, of the Criminal Court, and tn,
M amer of doing business in that court. To
day Mr.. Waterloo, editor of the Chronicle
was cited to appear before the court to show
cause why he should not be committed fol
contempt. Mr.. Waterloo's counsel denied
the court had jurisdiction in the premises
whereupon Judge Lsughlin said, there be-
ing a difference of opinion on that point, he
would waive the rights of the court in the
matter. and as an individual would give Mr.
Waterloo until shutdown to either retract the
obnoxious article through the columns of the
Chronicle or furnish him with the name of the
writer thereof, he taking the ground that il
was not written by Waterloo, but by some
trained lawyer, and that he-the judge-had
been stabbed from ambush. This created
something of a sensation, and caused some
comment, as the judges manners and words
seemed to indicate that he meant mischief.
The Chronicle this evening contained no re-
traction, nor did Mfr. Waterloo furnish Judge
Laughlin with the name of the writer of the
article, but while chatting with some friends
at the rooms of the Press Club, between 8
and 10 o'clock tonight, letter was delivered
to him by the stenographer OF the court,
which read as follows:
ST. LOUIS, May %, 1882.
Stanley Waterloo:
DEAR SIR-That you may have no cause to plead
to make such preparations for an emergency as
to you may seem best. 1 shall make it my bust
HENRY NJ. LAUGHLIS.
The contents of this letter was not known
until after l o'clock this morning, when it
was concluded by Mr.. Waterloo and his
friends to pubIish it, and the probabilities
are that unless the friends of both parties
can prevent a meeting, there will be bloody
encounter on the street tomorrow, as both OF
the men have plenty OF nerve. Under
Judge Laughlin's own ruling in recent
case, Mr.. Waterloo would be perfectly iusti-
fable in not only shooting him down on
sight, but in hunting him up and killing
him. 1t is not likely, however, that Mr..
Waterloo will pursue this course, or take
any action unless he is first attacked.
ONLY A BIG BLUFF.
The remarkable proceedings of Judge
Laughlin IN the Stanley Waterloo contempt
case is the absorbing topic of the day. Late
last night it was discovered that the author
of the offensive criticism was Ex-Judge Ho-
ratio NJ. Jones. This morning from the bench
of the Criminal Court, Judge Laughlin said
the situation had materially changed. He
knew the name of the writer of the article
sooner or later he would settle the matter
with Mr.. Waterloo; when he left the bench
last evening he had intended to take off his
badge of servitude and resign; now, like
Grant, he would not retreat under fire; as TO
the man who was the author of the article,
he was beneath contempt; he knew him from
experience; he was chronic slanderer and a
coward.
Judge Hayden, in behalf of Mr.. Waterloo,
accepted the full responsibility for the
article, and refused to apologize. He con-
sidered the action of the court entirely ille-
gal, and would take no further notice of the
tribunal. The matter was then dropped. II
is believed that the matter will remain as ii
now stands, and the sensation ia over.