The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-06-14
UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT.
A Look at the Nine Men who Compose the
Court of Last Resort
III. ]. Ramsdeli in Philadelphia Press

OOuTt OI Last httOFt.
III j. Ramsdel; in Philadelphia Press.l
dropped in on The Supreme Court a
day or two ago What jolly old setl
There was the Chief Justice, with iron gray
hair, thick and stiff, and whiskers just het
same, big nose and big mouth, wrapped
in his black silk gown, but looking very
little like Chief Justice. But he attends
to his business, leaves politics TO the dogs,
and is respected by his associates. On his
right, oldest in commission of any on the
bench, is Justice Miller, round and fat and
sixty. four, little bald, and closely-shaven
face. On the bench he is as cross as
Ratchet, for he hates circumlocution and
shams land half the bar is made of them);
but off the bench he is as jolly and kind and
gentle as any man you ever saw. He has
been regarded for ten yesrs the ablest man
on the bench. The last three appointments
on the bench may change this, but 1 doubt
it.
On the Chief Justices left is Justice
Field, appointed as Republican, but now
a pesky old Democrat He is tall, bald
headed, specialized, full bearded, with g
Jewish cast of countenance. Smart he is,
too, as all the Fields are. He writes strong
opinions, and is popular. He is most en-
and scholar. Drink Yes, once in while.
Miller and Field, respectfully, are the two
oldss st Judges in commission on the bench.
Justice Bradley is the next in point of rank
q thin, refined, closely-shaven, gray
haired, scholarly, judicially looking old gem
tleman, who doesn't seem to have much to
say to anyone. Justice Harlan, fourth IN
rank excepting, of course, the Chief jus
ioa Il -
bis way. Big body, big head, big hands,
big feet, long legs, long arms, and long
headed without doubt. He is at least six
feet six inches in height. He rents fur
nished house for f. lend of mine, and my
friend had to have made, especially for the
great X entuckian, nine.foot bedstead with
mattresses, blankets. sheets, etc, to CORES
pend, and also for the son of the Judge, who
is rs tall Judge Harlan was a stronS AGO.
uisition to the bench, and is popular on the
bench and of. Chew tobacco, did you say
well, should think SO, and ho knows a
glass of Bourbon when he tastes it. There
is not much known of Justice Woods. He
is grizzly, slouching man, whose personal
bearing and appearance are not at all strik-
ing. He is a judge by appointment, but
doesn't lock like one. Justice Stanley
Matthews is built on big model, physically
and mentally. As an intellectual force he
scarcely has q superior on the bench. He is
quiet in bis intercourse, and does not seem
to care to extend his acquaintance Justice
Gray is a tall, white-haired, peppery old
bachelor, who snaps up everybody and had
rather quarrel than win a cause. When he
first came on the bench here he was nearly
killed with heavy eating and drinking, but
that time is over. AS the old judges are
very tenacious of the rights of seniors, he is
not likely to be popular. Justice Blatch-
ford, the last appointment, looks like your
own George w. Childs, and is, therefore
clean, genial, afsble, well dressed, and
kindly natured-else looks do not count.
Chief Justice Waite lives in a handsome
house on Rhode Island avenue; Judge Mil
Ter owns house on Massachusetts, avenue:
Judge Field has large, well-built house on
Capitol Hill-a present from his brother
Cyrus portion of what was once known
as the capital prison. In this building Clay
presided three terms as speaker of the house;
in front of it James Monroe and John
Quincy Adams were inaugurated president
John 9. Calhoun died in it. Judge Bradley
owns and occupies the house on l street
which was given to General Grant, and
from which he was first inaugurated. Gen.
eral Sherman then became the owner, and
from him Judge Bradley purchased it.
Judge Harlan lives in costly rented house;
Judge Woods Boards on 6 street; Judge
Matthews is building very imposing and
costly mansion on Connecticut avenue, op-
posite the British legation Judge Gray
boards at Wormley's; and Judge Batch
ford has just purchased a $50, 900 house on
K street. The mutations of time effect
even the Supreme Court, for of the bench
twenty years ago not single judge remains
ALI dead. Only two judges of the bench
of twelve years ago remain-namely: Miller
and Field-all the others are dead except
Davis, now in the senate, and Swayne, re-
a.