The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-04-21

had called over the names OF the Jurymen,
the plaintiff excepted to one of them. The
Judge on the bench was highly offended
with this liberty. "What do you mean,
said he, ''by excepting against that gentle
man ?" Il mean, my Lord, to assert my
privilege as an Englishman, without giving
a reason why The judge, who had been
highly bribed, in order to conceal it by a
show of candor, and having confidence
in the superiority of his party, said: ''Well,
sir, as you claim your privilege in one in
stance, | will grant it. Whom would you
wish to have in the room of that man ex-
cepted? ?" After short time taken in con-
sideration-"My Lord" said he, 81 wish
to have an honest man chosen in, and,
looking round the court, rt,-"My Lord, there
is that miller in the court; we will have
him, if you please" Accordingly, the miller
was chosen in. As soon as the clerk of the
court had given them all their oaths, little
dextrous fellow came into the apartment
and slipped ten golden guineas into the
hands of eleven jurymen, and gave the
miller but five He observed that they
were all bribed as well as himself, and said
to his next neighbor, in a soft whisper,
"How much have you got? 'Tenpieces,
said he. But he concealed what he had
got himself. The cause was opened by the
plaintiff S counsel, and all the scraps OF ev-
idence they could pick up were adduced in
his favor. The younger brother was pro
vided with great number Of witnesses and
pIeaders, all plentifully bribed, as well as
the Judge The witnesses deposed that
they were in the self-same country where
the brother died. and saw him buried.
The counselors pleaded upon this accumu-
lated evidence, and everything went with a
full tide in favor of the younger brother.
The Judge summed up the evidence with
great gravity and deliberation. And now,
gentlemen of the jury said he, LAY your
heads together and bring in your verdict
as you shall deem most just" They waited
but for few minutes, before they deter
mined in favor of the younger brother.
The Judge said: Gentlemen, are you
agreed? and who shall speak for you ?"
ave are all agreed my Lord, replied one,
''and our foreman shall speak for us. y
Hold, my Lord" replied the miller; 1--WE
are not all agreed. "Why,' said the judge,
in very surly manner, whats the matter
with YOU? What reasons have you for
disagreeing ?" II have several reasons,
my Lord, replied the miller; ''the first is,
they have given to all these gentlemen of
the Jury ten broad pieces Of gold, and to
me but five; which, you know is not fair.
Besides, have many objections to make to
the false reasonings of the pleaders, and
the contradictory evidence Of the wit
nesses" Upon this the miller began a
discourse, which discovered such a vast
penetration of judgment, such extensive
knowledge Of law, and was expressed with
such manly and energetic elOquence, that
it astonished the Judge and the whole court.
As he was going on with his powerful dis
course, the judge, in great surprise, stopped
him. where did you come from, and
who are you?' Il came from Westmin-
ster Hall, replied the miller, my name is
Mathew Hale; | am Lord Chief Justice of
the Kings Bench; | have observed the in
iquity of your proceedings this day; there
fore, come down from seat which you are
nowise worthy to hold, You are one of the
corrupt parties in this iniquitous business.
[ will come up this moment and try the
cause all over again" Accordingly, Sir
Mathew went up, with his miller's dress
and hat on, began the trial from its very
commencement, and searched every circum-
stance of truth and falsehood. He evinced
the elder brothers title to the estate, from
the contradictory evidence of the witnesses
and false reasoning of the pleaders, unrav-
eled all the sophistry to the very bottom,
and gained complete victory in favor of
truth and Justice,