Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-12-26
The Nine Judges.

A writer for the Nashville American,
whom we take to be A. S. Colyar
himself, speaks thus of the Supreme
Court:
WASHINGTON, d. c., December IL,
1882.-Several Tennessee lawyers
were in the Supreme Court to-day,
on what is known in Tennessee as
the new issue" case. The counsel
representing the Governor, or the
State, are Attorney General Lea,
Horace FL. Harrison, and Col. John
FL. Savage. The counsel represent
ing the note holders are Mop. Smith,
Spiral Hill and the writer.
Many of your readers never saw
the Supreme Court of the United
States. The bench is now full
Chef Justice Waite, of Ohio, sits in
the middle, with Justices Blatchford
of New York; Matthews of Ohio;
Harlan of Kentucky and Field, of
California, on his left, and Justices
Miller, of Iowa; Bradley, of New
Jersey Woods, of Georgia, and Gray
of Massachusetts,, On his right.
The Judges enter. the court>room
from a side door in a row, wearing
their black gowns, all with faces as
solemn as If at a funeral, AS they
enter the clerk commands everybody
to take heed and all in the room rise
to their feet and stand until the
Judges are seated. As they are seated
tue clerk offers a short prayer for the
court and the United States.
The first business in order is
reading opinions. There we're only
two opinions of Importance delivered
this morning. One by Justice Mats
thews-very misunderstanding that
exemptions for the benefit of poor
persons or homestead exemptions
were protected even against exeeu>
tons in favor of the United States.
Mr.. Justice Field delivered an
elaborate opinion, holding that the
title to land granted to a railroad
vested when certain things were
done, and the map filed with the Sec
Rotary of the Interior, and although
not registered in the land Office, it
overreached, when it was filed an in-
termediate grant to an occupant.
Tue Judges are all men advanced
in life. Chief Justice Waite is a
man of medium size, with iron gray
hair and whiskers, quick spoken,
quick to see point, very pleasant
but very dignifed in his intercourse
with the bar
Justice Blatchford is man of me-
dunn size, round face, gray hair and
whiskers, and pleasant manners.
Mr.. Justice Matthews is full
man, full face and good frame, wears
whiskers a little gray, but looks
younger than his associates.
Justice Harlan is a fat little man,
smooth face, and looks like a smart
fellow rather than great Judge.
Justice Field is dry old custom
er, as ugly as DR., McFerrin, without
any of the joyous brightness always
seen in the Doctors face. His face
conveys the idea of trouble, but
he is undoubtedly one of the best
lawyers on the bench.
Justice Miller is a great big mail,
with strong f ICE, and looks like he
had more than his share of brains.
1t is difficult to tell from his face
what is his highest trait-intellect or
honesty. He is evidently the brainy
man of the court.
Justice Bradley is sad, sallow
man, but when his face is lighted ur
he shows we'll His ability as law
yer is unquestioned,
Justice Woods has grey whiskers
and looks like he ought to be trans
ferred to the County Court.
Justice Gray lacks comliness as
much as any man you could find
There are several men in Nashville
could compare him to, but he might
get mad. He was appointed on &C
count of his law kno Wedge; his
looks had nothing to do with the ap-
polntment.
After the opinions were delivered
this morning, Spiral Hill, on motion
of the writer, was admitted as an at,
torney. The court asked no ques.
tions as to how he stood ON the
1908.
Lawyers from all parts of the Uni
ted States were in court this morn
ing, many of them men of nationa
reputation.