The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1882-05-11
The United States Supreme Court.

Talking of the Supreme Court is a re-
minder of the complaints that lawyers
make about the bad manners of the
bench Arbitrary power, which its pos
SCISSOR expects TO exercise during his life,
is not conductive to politeness, and no.
where is this better illustrated than on
the Supreme bench of the United States.
.'What do you say. sir?' asked one of
the Justices the other day to a very
prominent lawyer from one of the great
cities OF the great West.
Il saw answered the lawyer, and
then he repeated a legal proposition
which he had been making when he was
interrupted.
"WI, SIR said the Justice, g if you
mean to state such a proposition as a
proposition of law. it is the most aston
ishing thing | ever heard of. 1t is worthy
of the bar of - naming the lawyers S
citv.
The lawyer grew angry, and defended
his local bar from the asperion, but all
the comfort he received was a growing
assurance that nothing personal had been
intended.
The incident is only sample of what
is constantly going on in the courtroom.
| The lawyers often have hard time in
| their dealings with the court, and the
| worst of it all is that the Justices have
the advantage popularly supposed to be
| possessed by the preachers-their hear
ers cannot answer back, at least, an
swering back might be detrimental to the
interests of their clients.
Sometimes the lawyers give the Judges
cause enough for an exhibition of bad
manners. One of the funniest scenes
that the courtroom ever saw was dis
play of temper by the usually placid JUS
tice Bradley. Ordinarily briefs are bound
in paper, and the Judge was in the habit
of folding up his copy with the papers
for convenience of carrying the bundle.
Once a magniloquent party from New
Orleans made his appearance ia a case
involving a claim of his own. He had
had his brief elegantly printed and bound
in stiff boards. When his time came tc
speak he began reading: when the
bonny blue flag went down before the
stars and Stripes
There was rustic of outraged dignity
among the silken gowns, and each Judge
picked up his briefs. Justice Bradley
looked at the stiff boards, and his darl
face grew darker with wrath. He made
great show in trying to fold up thu
book, and then, with an explosive epi
thet, which the court heard but did no
heed, he ripped the book to pieces anf
threw it under the table. Perhaps i
may not be necessary to add that th'
claima MT did not win his case.
The bar here is looking for an outburs
from Justice Gray. His Massachusett
reputation has come here before him
His TRADES against trembling deput,
sheriffs and frightened witnesses hav
been told about over and over again
Only two lawyers in Boston have beel
able to turn the table on him. One wa
Henry f. Payne and the other Sidne
. Bartlett.
'.If your honor please said Payn
one day, beginning motion.
''Sit down, sir; don't you see l al
talking with another Justice" thun
dered the then Chief-Justice.
Mr.. Payne took his hat and walke'
out of the courtroom. A half hour aftel
, wards messenger reached his offic
: with a note saying that Judge Gray wa
willing to hear him. Il am not willin
to be heard" answered the old lawyer
+ s'until Judge Gray apologies An
: apologize the Judge had to.
: 'sMr Bartlett" said the Chief-Justic
! one afternoon, throwing himself back
' his chair, ''that is not law and it nevt
: was law"
The veteran smiled, and looking ovt
! ! the bench said: ''It was law, your homo
until your honor just spoke. '-Has,
t iagtoaa Cor. Philadelphia Press.