South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1883-06-22
Letter from Washington
FSsm Or Etsnsas CorroYe 73e.s.
WASHINGTON, ID. O. June Is.

Inc Supreme c0uiT not having yet
adjourned there is still a slight evi.
dence OF life IN and about the CAP
itoi building. Somebody has lately
been writing about the over. worked
condition Of the Judges of this coost.
it really is too bad. The easy. going
(armers and business men over the
country who labor from sun 10 sun :,
and several hours besides. will sym
pathlze with these poor judges when
they hear the story Of their wrongs.
They sit for four or five hours every
day except Saturday. On that day
they get together in the consuita.
ton room and go over the cases of the
week, compare :lotcs and agree on
decision. Then the ehief justice
names the judge who is to prepare
the opinion There arc nine judges,
and of course each has his turn at the
opinions. OF course there il some Ia
Dor IN the preparation OF an import.
ant oplnionin an important case, COW
erlng decision which must stand rs
the law OF the land. Aud it has
been asked when judge in
to perform this, the real brain work
of his position. Shall he DO it when
he comes home from the court in the
nidlle OF the afternoon and hungry
for bis dinner? Probably not. Will
lac DO it after dinner, Not likely ;
for he generally has engagements. and
most ofthe time he has to dine out.
which is surely incompatible with
writing opinions. MANY brain work.
ers do their best at nights, but if a
Judge is full of terrapin, can vas Racks,
Burgundy and champagne, he can't
write at night, and lie won't feel
much in the humor for it next morn
ing. So, or the whole the position
is full Of difficulties.
Speaking of dining out, it is hoped
that President Arthur will be able for
a time to restrain his propensity for
big dinners and .!,eir accompani.
h"ents. 1 an, informed that after the
Willard Bartlett iinner is New York
he experienced n recurrence OF the
same symptoms which were noticed
at Savannah on the recent southern
trip. These frequent indul.eneics
seem to DO telling heavily upon his
PHYSICAL powers. robust as they are.
Ills countcnauce is sometimes flushed
and sometimes paid. Champagne
and burgundy freely used will tell.
The President bctook himself 10 tie
cottage at the Soldiers Home Satur-
day and viii! remain there until a.
bout the 10th Of July. when he will
go to Newport for short stay. From
there he will go Oh board tho De-
sPatch for trip along the coast as
far east "a Mount Desert. This NAV
occupy three weeks. lie will then
try once more come of the good fish.
ing III Canadian waters, such RS he
enjoyed last year. la August lie
hopes to be able to go to the 70.
semitic Valley. This is said 20 be AN
authoritative statement of his plans
The result of the Star-rorte trial
adds one more to the violent shocks
which our jury system has recently
received, aud there must be some
doubt ia the minds Of intelligent men
how many more such tho system can
stand. There has all along been mis.
sivings about this Jury-its compc.
teLce to deal wits the case. Bnt The
most sangulne frieads of the accused
never hoped for an acqnittai twas
generally believed that the defend
ants were sure of one or more Jurors.
and a disagreement was on this ac4
count looked for; but the annouce
ment OF verdict Of mot guilty crea.
ted universal surprise and amaze.
ment. low it was brought aboIt is
profound mystery "a yet. II gives
the phenomenal result of declaring in
nocent, with the others. one defend
ant who Was convicted on the first
trial and who entered Il plea OF guilty
in the present trial. But this verdict
will not change the one which the
honest, intelligent American people
rendered against these pinndcrcrs
long ago, when the facts wero first
made known. And in all the circum.
stances and ir.ricacies Of this memoir.
able trial there ID but one redecminr
ieaiurc--the record made BIZ Richard
Merrick IS attorney for the people. -
Whatever may be thought of the char,
acter or good faith OF tho fellow Bliss.
who, as an old chum of the Presi.
dent, has received somewhere in the
neighborhood OF SIS 900 of the peo-
PIES money for his part in the affair,
nobody doubts that in Mr.. Merrick
the government had ut least one at.
toFney who 'vas honestly working to
punish rascality. Aad ho performed
MS part nobly. That justice has been
cheated Is certainly not bis fault.
PnoNo.