The Evening critic., 1883-02-03
SCENE IN COURT.
stnr.Routc Trial rhursday-Judge
wyIic Presiding.

The Judge has lust decided that the Jury
shall not compare signatures admitted to be
genuine with signature alleged to be forged
in order to determine the question for thcm-
selves.
Colloquy between counsel:
Mr.. Merrlck-That is the settled law OF
Maryland
Mr.. wllsou-I say 1t Is not the settled law
anywhere.
Mir. Biiss-It Is settled here.
MIR. Wilaon-Yes.
Tho Court-It must be regarded as settled.
The law is settled here. Counsel VIII not De
allowed 10 make remarks OF that sort without
some notice being taken of those remarks ny
the Court.
MIR. wilson-My remark was made to Mr..
Merrick.
The Court-The remark is made to- the
Court. The Court understands IL as made ID
the Court and will not regard 1t any other way.
Tho Court is presumed TO hayo some knowl-
edge of the law and TO have an impartial po.
siton in the trial Of cause. 1t is not to be toll
orated that counsel who are employed on one
side or on the other shall be allowed TO rise
up after the Court has decided and declare
"ihat is not the law anywhere"
MIR. Davidge Il certainly did not under
stand Your Honor that the remark on the part
Of
The Court [interposlngl-No, sir. will
exonerate you from every suspicion of impro.
priety. You havo been reared In the school Of
lawyers and scholars
MIR. Davidge linterposingl-I am very much
Obliged, but have not risen oven TO thank
you for the compliment which you pay. / did
rise TO say that what Your Honor had taken
exception to was simply n side bar conversa-
tion between the two gentlemen before me. do
not think the remark of Mr.. Wilson, any more
than that of Mr.. Merrick and Mr.. Bliss, was ad-
dressed TO the Court Your tribunal is so
near the seats of counsel that you necessarily
hear a good deal that passes.
The Court-The Court cannot control the
minds and thoughts Of men, but the Court has
n duty to tho public and n duty TO itself.
Counsel may talk In whispers and may think
what they please, and the Court VIII not pay
any attention to them, but when an indecency
is offered 10 the Court II Will not be passed
over.
Mr.. Davidge--I was simply stating that there
was no indecency offered tC the Court. That
was an outside remark. 1t was the ccnversa'
tlon Of counsel.
The Court-of course, counsel
Mr.. Davidge tinterposingl You know very
well, and We all know
The Court linterposing gl-No, sir; no, sir.
Mr.. Davldgo [continuingl-That whilst we
admit that the opinion OF the Court settles the
lay IN ~ me case yer lawyers are MOI IN .Re
cepting In special cases, and Your Honor must
be aware that decisions will lead TO converse
lions at the bar. 1t Is the misfortune of the
arrangement of the paraphernalia surround
the the administration OF Justice that remarks
OF that sort may be overheard. 1 am per
fectly certain that there was no disposition
The Court-1 am very certain that there was
no disposition on your part
Mr.. Wilson-And there was none ON my part
il Your Honor please. II was remark made
Inadvertently to Mr.. Merrick that did moi
think the Court would hear at all. Mr.. Mer
rick made remark, and made that remark
in reply.
The COURT felt very certain that although
| 1t was directed TO Mr.. Merrick, 1t was intended
| TO be heard by the Court.
Mr.. Wilson-It was not intended. / disclain
| 1t entirely, If Your Honor please. 1 canno
| do any more than that II that is not sum
cient, II is all that can do.
The Court-yery well.
| MIR. Ingersoll-
Dear Lord, give myself away,
'Tis all that can do.
There upon Judge Wilson proceeded to taxi
| his exception at length and pro forma.