The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-07-12
FINCAsTLE.

FINCASTLE.
ANOTHER LIVELY scnHE IN couRr--rHE CON-
MoSwBALTH's ATTORNEY AND HIs TERRI.
BILE CANE FINED AGArN--THE JUDGE AWFUL
MAD--A BILL OF MISUNDERSTANDING
THE CROPS.
Correspondence OF the Richmond D,spatch.I
July 0, 1883.
We had times In court to- day. The
court-bell rang at 10 O'Clock. In a little
while the Commonwealth attorney was In
bis seat, and--would you believe it?-with
that dreadful walking-cane Of his. in DISC
bedience OF the express command Of our
master, the Hon. Robert f. Mays, Judge Of
the County Court Of Botetourt. On wit
Messing this gross violation Of his CON-
mand, the eyes Of the Judge flashed fire.
He orders fine OF S25 to be imposed upon
his rebellious subject, and commands his
sheriff to arrest the offender and remove
him and his cane from the presence imme-
diately. AS the cane and Mr.. Haden were
being escorted out Of the courtroom, some
one remarked to the latter, "He will send
you to jail." "D--n him, let him send
me TO Jail, them" Is overheard by the
Bench, and the sheriff receives the add.
When the courtroom has been cleared OF
the offensive presence OF the Common
wealth's attorney, and his still more ofien-
sive cane, word is received countermand-
ing the last order, and to Jail they do
not 60.
For little while the courtroom Is al
most deserted. Then Mr.. Haden comes In
minus his cane, takes his seat ut table,
nj 81
ting forth exactly what occurred, and pre-
sents them to the Judge for his signature.
This NAYS refuses to do unless the excep-
tons embody all that had been said and
done in reference to said cane. Haden
then demands as an alternative OF his re-
fusal that he be allowed to take the testl-
mony CT bystanders as to what had occur
red. Mays declares that he will have no.
thing further TO do with the case to-day.
Haden persists in demanding that his rights
under the law be accorded him now. The
Judge commands silence, but the Com
monwealth's attorney persists In his de-
mands.
The crowd begins to show signs OF ex-
citement, and are plainly in sympathy with
their officer. The Court sees this and says
to the speaker: "Mr. Haden, address your
remarks to the Court and not to your hench-
men, 81 have no henchmen but the free
born citizens OF Botetourt." The sup
pressed feelings OF the crowd burst forth
in applause that shook the courthouse.
Sheriff. adjourn court" shouts the
Judge in sepulchral tones; and amid
burrahs for Haden the Court vanishes by a
side door.
For several hours the situation absorbed
"a, - flo
chants and the vendors OF small wares.
In the evening the ringing OF the court
house bell is the signal for the crowd to
pour into the courtroom. A dense throng
| il is. The Judge is calmer now. Haden
presents his bill OF exceptions again,
which, after repeated refusals, the Judge
signs, interlining the words i have en-
closed in brackets. 1t is in the words and
figures to wit:
County Judge Us. Benjamin Haden:
| In Botetourt County Court-July, 1888,
term on motion to allow bill OF exceptions
to judgment OF Court imposing a fine OF
S2j upon him for walking into court with
walking-cane, and ordering sheriff TO ar
rest him and take him and his cane out OF
court,
Be it remembered that on the meeting OF
the court this day Benjamin Haden walked
into court with his walking-cane, and
thereupon the Judge Of the said court Or
dered the clerk to enter up fine OF $50 for
coming into court with his cane. The hav-
ing been ordered not to do so by the Judge
i'm term-time at previous term,] and also
ordered the sheriflto arrest said lIaden and
take him and his cane out OF the court
room, to all OF which rulings the said Ben
jamin Haden excerpts, and prays that this.
his bin of exception, may be signed, sealed,
enrolled, and made part Of the record,
which is accordingly done.
(Signedl ROBERT f. MAYS, (Seal.]
Now the case goes to Judge Blair. Who
| knows but what among the leading cases
for the study OF future generation OF law
yers the most celebrated will be Judge
Mays verSIS Haden's Cane"?
| Mr.. William Carper, young man who
resides at this place, met with severe ac-
cident this morning. While loading his
gun 1t exploded and lodged the contents
in his forehead. The skull is not broken,
and while the wound is serious it Is
thought that it will not prove fatal.
For cOurt-day, business is unusually
dull to-day.
Farmers have commenced threshing
wheat. Some are, as usual, disappointed
with the result, while the general verdict
Is that fine wheat crop has been harvest
ed in Botetourt this year.
Corn crop not very promising, great
part having been planted late. ACTON.
--so'-----