The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1882-03-09
STORIES OF JUDGES.

Occasionally judges find themselves in
conflict with members of the public who
are under no professional privilege or
restraint. Some maintain their dignity
by fning and committing for contempt
Of court. This course may in some cases
be necessary, but a delicate r:dicule is
generally much more effective. A very
troublesome attorney, who was pleading
his own cause and raising untenable
points before Lord Ellenborough. be-
came exasperated because he was invari-
ably overruled, and exclaimed, "My
Lord, my Lord, although your Lordship
is so great man now, remember the
time when I could have got yonr opinion
for five shillings." Such impertinence
would, with many judges, have led to the
committal of the offender; but Lord Ell
lenborough merely observed, with an
amused smile, ''Sir, daresay it was not
worth the money" The same Judge was
on one occasion sitting at the Guidhail,
when Henry Hunt. the famous dema-
gogue, appeared upon the floor of the
court. Mr.. Justice Talfourd describes
the scene which followed in these terms:
81 am here, my Lord, on the part of the
boy Dogood," proceeded the undaunted
Quixote. His Lordship cast moments
glance on the printed list, and quietly
said, "Mr. Hunt, see no name of any
boy Dogood in the paper of causes, and
turned toward the door of his ROOM
"My Lord" vociferated the orator, sam
to have no redress for ali unfortunate
youth2 thought your lordship was sit
ting for the redress of injuries in court
of Justice" 'sOhl no, Mr.. Hunt" still
calmly responded the judge; 81 am sit
ting at Nisi Prius; and have no right
to redress any injuries except those which
may be brought before the jury and me
in the causes appointed for trial. ;" "My
Lord" then said Mr.. Hunt, somewhat
subdued by the unexpected amenity of
the judge, II only desire to protest. !"
"Oh! is that all2" said Lord Ellenbor-
ough; "by all means protest, and go
about your business. So Mr.. Hunt
protested and went about his business;
and my Lord went unruffled to his din
ner, and both parties were content.
Great judges have always been the OBJ.
jects of intense respect and veneration to
the English people, and few ordinary
persons would venture to dispute with
out ditfdence the law which they lay
down. There is perhaps no more anus.
ing or fagrant abuse of this confidence
in judicial requirements than the pro.
ceedings of Sir Edward Coke when he
went in search of his daughter. He had
lived for years on very bad terms with
his wife, who, when he proposed to mar
ry their only daughter to Sir John Will.
ers, carried her off and concealed her at
house at Oatlands belonging to the
Earl of Argyll. Coke, receiving inform
alton of this, collected body of armed
men and put himself at their head. En-
cased in a breastplate, with sword at
his side, and pistols at his saddlebow, he
arrived with his followers at the outer
gate Of the house, where he repeatedly
demanded his daughter in the Kings
name, laying it down for law that if
death should epsue it would be justi6a-
BILE homicide in him, but murder in those
who opposed him. Such an opinion,
coming from 80 inspired source, was
enough to cause the most resolute garris
son to tremble, and the result was that
Coke recovered his daughter without
much difficulty.
Some judges cannot cooperate with
juries. Mr.. Baron Anderson was exceed
ingly impatient with stupid jury, and
| often made his thoughts plainly known
to them. A jury in criminal case hav-
ing returned verdict which displeased
him, he turned to the sheriff, saying,
"Good heavens, sir, can't have another
jury. and let these twelve persons go in
to the other court, where they can't DO
so much mischief % To the disobedient
jury he said, "Gentlemen, you will find
in the other court, perhaps, in the course
of the day, something which you can
try" Then, in an absent, musing man.
ner, he soliloquized. "No doubt there
are some men who never can comprehend
what evidence is; but that twelve men
should come together to day and let that
man off Prisoner" to the happy man
who had been acquitted, "the jury have
acquitted you. Heaven knows why! No
one else in the court could have even the
slightest doubt OF your guilt, which is of
the grossest kind: but you are acquitted
and can't help it."