The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1883-12-13
A Judges Revenge.

I
stance of this occurred here in San
Francisco few weeks ago. 1t was in
one of the superior courts, presided
over by judge who is as remarkable
for the asceticism of his life as for the
remarkably judicial cast of his mind.
He is veritable Socrates of the bench;
q truth-seeker who thinks no time
wasted, no labor ill-spent that tends to
throw the slightest light upon the merit
of the case before him. At the same
time he abhors above all things the
frivolous waste of time INDUCED in by
some attorneys who seek TO gain a
reputation by going over the same
ground again and again and badgering
witnesses upon trivial points which can
have no real bearing on the case. Now
it CHANGED that in suit for divorce, re-
Gently tried before this modern Socra-
ties, the opposing counsel were both
men of exactly she same type, though
they worked by different ways. One
was gentleman who makes up for q
lack of quick perception and legal
acumen by a Bunsbyish affectation OF
depth. AS a cross-questioner he is one
of the wOOdsawing order of attorneys:
a slow, tedious bore, who, in following
little points out to their ultimate con-
clusiOn, sometimes fails to grasp the
broad Issues of the case. He takes ex-
ceptid to every single ruling and
numbers up his cases with mass of
verbiage which. while it might perhaps
serve to entangle dull jury, is imme-
diately cast aside by the clear, incisive
insight of trained and experienced
Judge. Opposed to this legal smooth
bore in the divorce case was a lawyer
of the sledge-hammer, police court,
cut-and-slash order, sort of le-
gal bushwhacker, whose tactics
were not to join issues squarely and
fight in the open, but to make unex-
pected sorties, dash in on the enemy S
wings, harry his pickets and drive his
witnesses half crazy by the most
brutal attacks on their character. The
case on which this pair of worthless were
engaged was suit for divorce brought
by a wife on the ground of cruelty.
Both plaintiff and defendant were put
on the stand. and in addition some five
witnesses were examined. 1t was a
simple case and one that could easily
be tried fairly in half a day. But the
bushwhacker for the plaintiff intro
duced so many irrelevant matters, and
the smooth-bore for the defendant
wasted so much time to find out wheth-
er it was blue dress or green one
which the plaintiff wore when the de-
PENDANT ill-treated her, that it was two
full days before the testimony was all
in. The Judge had done all in his
power to stem the tide of talk, and was
annoyed beyond measure at the waste
of time, for his calendar was crowded
and other litigants were anxiously
awaiting hearing. On the morning
Of the third day the Judge expressed a
hope that there would be no long argu-
ments, but it was noon ere the plant
ifs counsel had finished his abuse, and
the shades of dark were falling when
the defendants counsel was compelled
to stop from physical exhaustion.
81 presume that your honor will
charge the jury tomorrow morning."
said the smooth-bore as he sat down.
"YOu have presumed too far for
once" said the Judge grimly. Il am
ucOCIillHCu " ulSpOSC VI INC CASE w.
night. 1t has been delayed too long
already, and for that reason we will
have an evening session."
''But, your honor" exclaimed the
bushwhacker, jumping hastily to his
feet, Il have to be present at mar
riage party, given in my house tonight,
and l must beg your honor to postpone
until tomorrow. And, your honor,
there is also a party at my house to-
night, and | must really press my mo-
ton for postponement," said the
smooth bore.
This was literally pepper in the
courts soup, water on the judicial
wheel" as the vernacular has it. For
three DAYS he had calmly endured; now
was his chance for revenge, and sc
there was a natural tinge of sarcasm in
his voice when he remarked: Il really
cannot see how gentlemen who have
shown such intense anxiety for their
clients interests for three DAYS could
bear up under further delay, and so in
the face of my own inclination / shall
order a night session. Mr.. Clerk, adj
jOurn the court until eight D. m.
Ateightp. m. the court reOpened. Both
counsel, eager for the evenings festivi-
ties, had donned their dress-suits. Both
were accompanied by the ladies they
were to escort during the evening, and
both had carriages awaiting them at
the foot of the stairs to bear them off tC
the scenes of gayety so soon as the
court finished. Mounting the bench,
the Judge took in at a glance their
preparations for a hasty fight, and
they only gave an added zest to his re-
venge. Noticing the presence of ladies
he said:
Counsel are aware that this is d.
vorce case, and of the charges made,
and while the court has no wish to re-
quest the ladies to leave the room, he
would suggest that he intends to dis
cuss the case thoroughly"
Counsel looked blankly at each 9th.
er; the ladies appeared to take the sug-
gestion as a challenge and only settled
more comfortably in their
chairs. Then the Judge commenced a
review of the case in point, and at
p. m. had gone through the evidence.
Counsel frightened perceptibly, but
their countenances fell when the Judge
that he proposed to &C
brief review of the history OF
divorce from the earliest times. They
protested that this was unnecessary, but
the court replied that in view of the
Importance of the trial. as shown by
the length of the arguments, he did not
feel at liberty to omit any point in his
charge. At ten p. m. he reached the
history of divorce under the Caesars
Counsel were yawning. the ladies asleep.
At eleven p. m. he had finished the his
tOrY of divorce in the reiUn of Oneen