Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-05-11
JUDGE CLEMENS.
How Mark Twain's Father Commanded Silence
in tae Coart room Forty years AS.
"A LICK AMIsS," But TNREGHET-
TED.

In 1913 at Hannibal. Mo, John
Marshall Clemens, the father of Sam
uel l.. Clemens Mark Twain. filled
the ancient and honorable c.lice
known as justice of the peace. He
was a stern, unbcnding man of
splendid common sense, and wa. in
deed the autocrat OF the little d.ngv
room on Bird street, where he held
his court. meted out justice and gen
raj satisfaction to litigants. com
lnanded peace, and preserved order,
as best he could, IN the village. This
room fairly indicated the rustic
simplicity of the people, and the
frugal and cureful manner in which
Judge Clemens lived and transacted
business. Its furniture consisted of
a dry goods box which served the
double purpose of desk for the Judge
and table for the lawyers, three or
four rude stools, and puncheon
bench for the jury. And here on court
days when the Judge climbed upon his
three legged stool, raped on the box
with his knuckles and demanded
Silence in tue court" it was fully ex-
pected that silence would reign
supreme. AS a general thing, the
rough and ready" characters who
mad lounged in to see the ''whee,s of
Justice move, bowed submissiveiy to
the mandates Of the judge, and OBJ
served the utmost respect for His
Honor"
Allen B. Mcdonald. an overbear-
ing, turbulent and quarrelsome man,
was an exception, and many time he
had violated the rules and been re-
buked by the court
Late in the fall of 1913 the case of
Allen Is. Mcdonald vs.. Jacob Smith
was on trial. Judge Clemens was
presiding with his usual dignity and
the courtroom was filled with wit
nesses and friends of the parties to
the suit. Hon. II. +. Lakenan. still
living and in political life. repre-
sented plaintiff, and old Horse"
Allen, now dead, was counsel for do
fendant. George A. Hewes, whose
rotund form and genial face may be
seen any day behind the counter at
the Commercial bank. and Judge 4.
ID. Bennington, retired capitalist
and well preserved old gentleman.
and Col. Joel c. Richmond, the old
man "reminiscences of Hannibal. We're
among the many who had stepped in
to witness the trial Frank Sydney,
peaceable citizen, had given his
testimony in favor of Defendant
Smith, and resumed his seat, when
Mcdonald, with an exasperating air,
made a face at him. AS quick as
thought Sydney whipped out an old
pepper-box revolver and emptied
every barrel at Mcdonald, slightly
grazing Mes head with one shot,
hurting no one else, but filling the
room with smoke and CONSERVATION
In the confusion that followed, Judge
Clemens doubtless remembering Nc
DOnald's many mean tricks, instantly
concluded that he was the aggressor,
and gathering up hammer that lay
near by, he dealt him blow that
sent him senseless and quiverinS to
the floor. Then Silence like poul-
tice came to heal the blows of sound"
and the irate court was complete
master of the situation.
Judge Clemens was kind-hearted
man and was mortified when he
learned that he had struck the wrong
fellow. but the oldest inhabitants
never heard him admit that it Was "a
lick amiss" He held his office for
years and years afterwards. and it is
not recorded where any other dis
turbance ever occurred in his court
room. He died at a ripe old age, hon
ored and respected by all who knew
him, and now sleeps the sleep that
knows no awakening" at a beautiful
spot in Mount Olivet cemetery near
Hannibal, site selected and beauti-
fed by his son, Mark Twain" The
grave is marked by a pretty and
tasteful monument. and many Il trav-
eler goes out of his way to view the
last resting place of Judge Clemens,
the father of the noted hum orist.