The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1883-05-04
5Misccll


A gentleman who possessed an estate
worth about five hundred year, in the east
ern part of England, had two sons. The
eldest, being of rambling disposition, went
abroad. After several years his father died
when the younger son, destroying his will
seized upon the estate. He gave out that his
elder brother was dead, and bribed false wit.
nesscs to attest the truth of it. In the course
of time the elder brother returned, but came
home in destitute circumstances His younger
brother repulsed him with scorn, and told
him that he was an impostor and n cheat
He asserted that his real brother was dead
long ago, and that he could bring witnesses
to prove it, The poor fellow, having neither
money nor friends, was in n sad condition. He
went round the parish making complaints
and, at last to n lawyer, who, when he had
heard the poor mans story, replied: you
have nothing to give me. If / undertake
your cause and lose it it will bring me into
disgrace, as all the wealth and evidence are
on your brothers side. However, will I'M
dertake it on this condition: You shall enter
into an obligation to pay me one thousand
guineas if | gain the estate for you. III
lose it knew the consequences, and ven
ture with my eyes open" Accordingly, he
entered an action against the younger brother,
which was to be tried at the next general
assizes at Chelmsford, in Essex The lawyer
having engaged in the cause of the young
man, and being stimulated by the prospect of
n thousand guineas, set his wits to work to
contrive the best method to gain his end
that he would consult the first Judge of his
age, Lord Chief Justice Hale. Accordingly,
he FASTENED up to London, and laid open the
cause and all its circumstances. The Judge,
who was a great lover of justice, heard the
case attentively, and promised him all the as
sistancc in his power The lawyer having
taken leave, the judge contrived matters so
as to finish all his business at the King
Bench before the assizes began at Chelmsford.
When within a short distance ofthe place he
dismissed his man and horses, and sought a
single house. He found one occupied by n
miller. After some conversation, and max
ing himself quite agreeable, he proposed to
the miller to charge clothes with him. As
the judge had Il very good suit on, the man
had no reason to object. Accordingly, the
judge shifted from top to toe, and put on a
complete suit of the millers best Armed with
millers hat and shoes and stick, he walked
to Chelmsford and procured good lodging,
suitable for the assiZes, that should come on
next day. When the trial came on he walk
ed like an ignorant country fellow, backward
and forward along the county hall. He OBJ
served narrowly what passed around him
and when the court began TO fill he found out
the poor fellow who was the plaintiff. AS
soon as he came into the hall the miller drew
up to him. Honest friend" said he, chow
is your cause likely TO go to day." "Why
my cause is in a very precarious situation
and if lose it / am ruined for life" "Wel
honest friend" replied the miller, twill you
take my advice? | will let you into secret
which perhaps you do not know-every
Englishman has the right and privilege tc
except against any one jurymen out of the
whole twelve; now do yoa insist upon YOU
privilege, without giving reason why, ant
if possible, get me chosen in his room, and
will do you all the service in my power
Accordingly, when the clerk had called ovcl
the names of the juryman, the plaintiff eX
cepted to one of them. The Judge on thu
bench was highly offended with this liberty
"What do you mean" said he, "by excepting
| against that gentleman ~ 81 mean, my
man. without giving reason why" TIL,
Judge who had been highly bribed, in ordel
| to conceal it by show of candor, and hay
| ing confidence in the superiority of hi
party, said "Well, sir, as you claim you
| privilege in one instance, | will grant it,
Whom would you wish TO have in the room
of that man eXcepted?" After short tim,
taken in consideration-"My Lord" said he
II wish to have an honest man chosen in,
and, looking round the court,-"My Lord
| there is that miller in the court we will hav,
him, if you please" Accordingly, the Mile
| was chosen in AS soon as the clerk of tn,
court had given them all their oaths, a lttl
| dextrous fellow came into the apartment an(
slipped ten golden guneas into the hands o
eleven jurymen, and gave the miller but five
| He observed that they were were all bribe(
as well as himself and said to his next neigh
bor, in soft whisper, "IIow much have yot
got?' Ten pieces" said he. But he con
cealed what he had got himself The caus
was opened by the plaintiffs counsel, and al
the scraps of evidence they could pick VI
were adduced in his favor. The younge
brother was provided with great numbe
of witnesses and pleaders, all plentifully brib
ed, as well rs the Judge. The witnesses de
posed that they were in the self.samo coun
try where tue brother died, and saw hin
buried. The counscliors pleaded upon thi
accumulated evidence, and everything wen
with full tide in favor of the younge
brother. The Judge summed up the evidence
with great gravity and deliberation "Ant
| llbW, etltltiliCi va tHt july SuNl Nv,
your heads together and bring in your yer
dict as you shall deem most just" The,
waited but for few minutes, before they dc
termined in favor of the younger brother. TIL
Judge said Gentlemen are you agreed
and who snail speak for your" I'VE are al
agreed, my Lord" replied one, land on
foreman Shall speak for us" Hold m
Lord replied the miller 1--WE are not al
agreed "Why, said the judge in yer
surly manner, whats the matter with you
What reason have you for disagreeing" e
have several reasons, my Lord" replied til
miller, "lhe FIRST is, they have given to a
these gentlemen of the jury ten broad piece
ofgold, and to me but five; which, you know
is not fair. Besides have many objection
TO make to the false reasonings Of the plead
ers, and the contradictory evidence of til
witnesses" Upon this the miller began