The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-24
CoNTEMPTIRLE COURTS.

Jun 11DA6 OOOh1o
If courts of justice are coming into con-
tempt it must largely be ascribed to their
own conduct. In some instances there is a
laxity of decorum and want of dignity that
can but bring discredit upon all concerned.
Nowhere has this been more noticeable than
in the Gougar-Mandler trial at Lafayette.
The case, at best, is one in which the pro-
ceedings should be kept within as close
bounds of propriety as possible; but where
the opposing attorneys and the witnesses are
allowed to conduct themselves without let
or hindrance, it is not long until all the pro-
priet;es are outraged, decency insulted and
law and court made mockery and a by
word. In Thursdays proceedings the follow
ing passages took place between the counsel
the Lafayette Courier
"Coffroth asked what is before the court?
Judge Gould (eyeing DeHart)
"Langdon-Why don't somebody laugh at
the Colonel?
''DeIart-You can make fun of my APP
pearance as much as you please, and bring
| your newspaper here to aid you, but / am
here in the discharge of my duty-we have
no organ on our side.
'Coffroth-Oh. yes, Colonel; you have two
| of them. We haven't one.
"DeHart-No we haven't got an organ.
"LangIon-Yes, you have. You are an
organ yourself Colonel.
"DeHart (pointing his finger at Langdon)
And you are the organ grinder Laugh
teri
"'Langdon-I grind you pretty hard some
/ i -
| "Coffroth Ito DeHart)-Sit down, Colonel,
the ribald mob are smiling at you. DeHart
sat down"
Preceding this there had been passage
at words between the defendants attorney
and Mr., Dobelbower Democratic publish
err, who was the printer of Mrs Cougars
paper, "Our Herald" The following Is an
extract from this colloquy:
"Cofroth-Who was the Herald Com
pany?
"Dobelbower-There was no Herald Com
pany.
"Coffroth-But didn't you say so?
"Dobel bower-I eyaded the question.
"Coffroth-Evaded it; hal hal You sup
ported Mr.. Wallace at the last election, did
you not?
Dobelbower-Shakingh his fist vehemently
"Coffrot h-Don't get excited didn't say
that; asked if you did.
'Dobelbower-No, sir; 1 did not; and
consider the question insulting"
And again, as follows:
"Coffroth-Were you not, Brother Doble-
bower the publisher of Our Herald?
"Doblebower logged )-Don't know.
'Coffroth-Now, Deacon; honest Injun,
were you not, until the property was trans
y. l. i
over this trial2
"Doblebower-Don't know
"Coffroth-Come, come. Doctor; refresh
your memory. Was this transfer not made
to allow you to swear in this case?
"Doblebower-No, sir.
"Coffroth-Was it bona fide sale, Mr.
Dobiebower?
"Doblebower-It was, so far as 1 know.
"Cofroth-Now, Doctor, cross your heart
-nigser if you do, niger if you don't-were
you not the publisher of Our HeraldT'
All this time it appears that the presiding
Judge made no attempt to enforce order and
maintain the dignity of the court. And, as
if this were not enough, the farce proceeded,
and all rules of the commonest respect were
defied with impunity, and without a word of
reproof from the bench as appears in the
record. Topics of a personal nature and
wholly irrelevant were dragged in and aired
at the will OF anybody who happened to be
in the courtroom. Two more examples will
suffice to show the character of the days
work:
"Doblebower, addressing McHugh i
wouldn't object to your paying me that five
dollars you have owed me for the last two
years,
''McIIugh (red as rose)-'Make out your
bill if owe you anything"
And this:
"McHugh-You are a great parsonage in
| your own estimation.
"Davidson-I don't think l magnify my
| importance in the least.
''McHugh-O yes, you do.
"Davidson-You'r re small potatoes
Dobelbower thought his honor was at
stake, and desired to make an explanation.
"Court-You have nothing to do with this
case whatever.
'Dobelbower thus sat down upon-sat
! down himself.
| 1t is such puerle and contemplate stuff as
this, which obtains too largely everywhere,
| that does more to destroy the influence Of
courts of justice than perhaps all else COM
bined. Presiding judges owe it to themselves
and TO the public, if attorneys will continue
to degrade themselves and belittle their pro-
fession, to put an effectual stop to such dis
graceful proceedings, and nowhere, appar-
entity, could the good work be better begun
| than at Lafayette.