The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1882-05-31
The United states Supreme
Court.

yers make about the bad manners of
the bench. Arbitrary power, which
its possessor expects to exercise dur
ing his life, is not conducive to po-
liteness, and nowhere is this better
illustrated than on the Supreme
bench of the United States.
"What do you say, sir2" asked ono
of the Justices the other day to very
prominent lawyer from one of the
great cities Of the West.
81 say" answered the lawyer, and
then he repeated legal proposition
which he had been making when
he was interrupted.
"Well, sir" said the Justice, "if
\ you mean to, state such u proposition
as a proposition Of law, it is the most
astonishing thing | ever heard off,
1t is worthy of the bar Of nam
ing the lawyers city.
The lawyer grew angry, and de-
Tended his local bar from the asper-
sion, but all the comfort he received
was growing assurance that moth.
ling personal had been intended,
The incident is only u sample of
what is constantly going on in the
conrtroota. The lawyers often have
la 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 hearers cannot
answer back, at least, answering
back might be detrimental to the
intere6tof their clients.
Sometimes the lawyers give the
Judge cause enough for an exhibition
Of bad manners. One of the funniest
scenes that the court room ever saw
was display OF temper by the usually
placid Justice Bradley. Ordinarily
briefs are bound in paper, and the
Judge was in the habit Of folding up
his copy with the papers for conven.
ience Of carrying the bundle. Once
a magniloquent party from New Or
leans made his appearance in a case
involvinga a claim of his own. He
had his brief elegantly printed and
bound in stiff, boards. When his time
came to speak he began readins;-
"Wheh the bonny blue flag went
down before the stars and stripes--.''
There was rustic Of outraged dig
Aaity amons The. s,llrsp. gowns, and
each Judge picked uphis briefs. JUS.
tice Bradley looked at the stiff boards,
and his dark face grew darker with
wrath. He made a great show in
Trying to fold up the book, and then,'
with an explosive epitlet, which the
court heard but did not heed, he rip
! ped the book to pieces and threw it
under the table. Perhaps it may be
necessary to add that the claimant
did not win his case.
The bar here is looking for an out
burst from Justice Gray. His Mass.
achusetts reputation has come here
before him. His TRADES against
trembling deputy sheriffs and fright
ened witnesses have been told about
over and over again. Only two law
yers in Boston have been able to turn
the table on him. One was Henry
E. Payne and the other Sidney Bart.
lett.
"If your honor please" said Payne
one day, beginning motion.
"sit down, sir; don't you see l am
talking with another Justice!' thun-
dered the ChiefJuslice.
Mr.. Payne took his hat and walked
out Of the court room. Half an hour
afterwards messenger reached his
Office with note saying that Judge
Gray was willing to hear him. ~
am not willing to be heard" answer
ed the old lawyer, until Judge Gray
apologies" Aud apologize the Judge
had to.
"Mr. Bartlett" said the ChiefJus-
tice one afternoon, throwing himself
back in his chair, "that is not law
it never was law"
The veteran smiled, and looking
over the bench said at was law,
your honor, until your honor just
spoke. ."-PAiladciphia Press.
Cure for the Blues.