Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-09-25
The Press.
AMONG THE OXFORD BEARS AT PARIS couR
PARIS HILL, Sept. 10, 1883.

PARIS Hill, Sept 10, 1888.
Editor Of tie Press
Yesterday morning we took the cars on
the G. I. X, bound for the Court" at
Paris Hill. The day was magnificent; one
OF those balmy, mellow days OF sunshine
we occasionally get in September. Ar
irving at South Paris depot, one Of Raw
sons teams brought Us to the place where
the September term OF the Supreme Judi
cial Court Is in session. Vending our way
TO the old court house, we found Judge
virgin, one of old 0xford's honored sons,
upon the bench, and the bar well filed with
attorneys who, twice = year, make a pill
grimage To the chill" To aid court in dis
pensing justice and settling controverted
rights.
Ii wss in vain that we looked around
the court room for the men of forty and
hfty years ago. who, when we first came
tn the bar, made these walls resound with
their eloquent appeals To the court and
jury. Tnen, that stern old puritan, Levi
Whitman of Norway. the classic Judah
Dana OF Fryeburg, the genial Peter c. Vir-
Gin OF Rumford Che honored father OF the
presiding judge, the sedate William FRYE
OF Bethel, the modest, retiring Samuel +.
Brown of Buckheld, the scholarly Stephen
Emery OF Paris. the conservative Stephen
Chase OF Fryehurg. ard some others we
could mention, were leading men among
the old stock of Oxford County lawyers,
and al mature age were successfully prac-
tiCing their profession at the bar OF this
County.
There was at that time. however, in old
Oxford. younger class D: practitioners,
just commencing their professional life,
Inanv of whom have since become more or
less distinguished as lawyers or politicians.
Among this number were: Joseph G.. Cole,
afterward Judge of the w. ID. Court; Tim
othy Jarvis Carter aud Charles Andrews,
All OF Paris; David Hsmmons, then OF
Lowell; EIbridge Gerry, then of Water
ford; all Of whom have since been MEN,
bers Of Congress. Geo. +. Emery OF Paris.
over twenty years Clerk of the United
States Court, Portland; Timothy Ludden
of Turner. two years Reporter of Decis-
ions; Stephen Henry Chase. at one time
President OF the Senate of Maine, and
Isaac Randall of Dixteld, distinguished for
his answering Democracy, or this num-
her, Me>>rs. HsmimOus, Gerry, Emery and
Randall only remain.
GLOWING w close >uCCtSslOU, JUICES
Walton and Virgin. Alexander Bradley OF
Fryeburg, sullivan c. Andrews of Portland,
William W Bolster. now OF Lewiston, sam
uel r. Gibson OF Bethel, William h. Kim
ball OF Paris, and several others, became
regular practitioners st this bar. Then
soon followed Enoch Foster OF Bethel,
George ID. Bisbee of Buckheld, john p.
SwaSey OF Canton, II. G.. Davis OF Wood
stock, \. II. Walker OF Lowell, George A.
Wilson OF South Paris, all able lawyers,
now In active practice. Other names oc-
cur 10 ne, but the limits of my letter will
not permit me 10 extend the list.
10 nv references 10 Oxford County
Courts in aye olden time" l cannot for
get the brilliant array OF legal talent that
about half 4 century ago came regularly
20 the oxford County Courts. Conspicu.
Gus in il were Nicholas Emery, Charles S.
Daveis. Samuel FesSenden, Thomas Amory
Deblois John Holmes. Daniel Goodenow,
Randolph A. l. Goldman, Seth May, Nathan
Clifford and Joseph Howard; names not
only distinguished a eminent jurists, but
many OF them a. statesmen, having world
wide reputation.
These distinguished men, for long Sc
. i.- OF years had large duckets IN the Ok
'1rd County Courts, more o. less OF these
members being employed in nearly all the
important l!tsated cases then and there
tried. OF course these men, In those cases
"A which they were employed, pocketed
the lions share" OF fees. And they
only lost their hold upon this field OF lu-
,ratiye practice after the Oxford County
iwyers, led on by Mr.. Gerry, Col An
.irews, Mr.. Hammons and few others,
combined together TO try their own cases,
which new order OF things, to very great
, xtent. has been continued ever since.
4 i but justice for NE 10 say that the
OXFORD County Bar has always been a
strong bar, and not only this, more hon
nrable, high-minded class OF practitioners
hiss never graced any legal forum in the
State.
They now have an excellent law library
Of well selected books, which is well cared
FOR: aud for this they are much indebted
- Samuel X. Carter. esq the faithful H.
trariau. The old court house has been
liked over and repaired, until now 1t has
very convenient court room, library apart
ment. cloak and juty rooms. The jail Is
an old. antiQuated, low, stone building,
brushed up now and then with a new coat
~ whitewash. hut not mstt~r OF great
.leal Of consequence. for the reason that
much OF the time IL Is empty, owing, un-
iouhtediy. 20 the natural honesty OF the
Oxford Bears aud the faithful execution OF
the Maine law.
Paris Hill il q pleasant place TO visit at
this season of the year. It's bfacing air,
delightful landscape scenery, and quiet
streets, all have a charm about them, Pc
culiar 10 the place. They are rich sources
OF enjoyment TO all visitors, excepting per-
haps, some unlucky client, whose hopes
and expectations vanish In thin air rs ne
hears the sOIorious voice Of the clerk an-
nouncing a verdict for his antagonist.