St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-21
TRIAL BY JURY IN 1884.
= CieceT TraUesty on the Proceedings IN
she Case of -4dams rs. COIerfd0e.

case; the defendant was represented by his
counsel, great legal luminary, and several
of the most prominent names at the bar
The defendant is the son of a person high
placed in the legal world, and is himself a
barrster. The plaintiff is, vernacularly
speaking ''the deuce knows who.'' The al
legged libel is contained in a letter written by
the defendant toa widow lady (hs great
aunt by marriage), who wished TO ally her.
self by marriage 10 the plaintiff
The plaintiff was proceeding TO open his
own case, when the judge asked him why he
was not properly represented by professional
counsel, after the manner of L gentleman,
and warned him that such an omission was
likely To tell against him in the gravest man
ner.
Plaintif-May ii please your lordship, 1
am poor man, and can not well afford
Mr.. Justice Manifest-The question Of
your means is wholly irrelevant. | must re-
quest you to keep strictly to the matter in
hand.
Plaintifr-My other reason was that I fear
ed no member of your respected profession
would be quite whole hearted in conducting
nv case, in view of who the defendant is.
iGroans from the members of the bar pres
emf.
TIE Great Legal Luminary I protest
agiust the plaintiffs speech as an insult TO
the entire profession, including your lord
ship.
Mr. Justice Manifest condoled warmly
with the outraged feelings of the legal gentle
men present, bat urged them to allow the
plaintiff to proceed as by so doing he would
best reveal TO the jury the manner OF man he
was.
Plaintiff-With the permission of court,
will first read the letter.
The great legal luminarv objected to this,
as unnecessarily wounding to the feelings of
the defendants eminent family.
Plaintiff humDly submitted to the court
that unless he were allowed to produce the
letter it would be difficult for the jury to de-
eide whether it were a libel or not. Mr..
Justice Manifest begged the great legal lum-
mary to allow the letter to be read as a per-
sonal favor TO himself. The great legal lum-
mary cOnsenting, the plaintiff read the let
ter. which was as follows: ''My Dear Aunt:
It is with sincere regret that I see myself
forced to point out to you the true character
of the unprincipled scoundrel you are think
ing Of marrying. ShonId YOU be surprised
20 hear that he is professed atheist! Should
YOU be surprised 10 hear that he has been
three times married already, and that one of
these marriages took place while the former
wife was still alive! Should you be surprised
10 hear that many excellent people suspect
him Of having made away with his last wife,
though the murder has never been brought
home to him. Should you be surprised to
hear that he has on several occasions embez-
lied large sums of money? Should you be
surprised 10 hear that he is a convicted felon
Should yuu be surprised to hear that he has
y daughter in the workhouse 90 =.
At this point the reading of the letter was
interrupted by the great legal luminary, who
said that the remainder of it had no bearing
on the case.
The plaintiff said he thought he had read
enough to give the court some idea of the
animus Of the document. He would next
ask if the defendant denied having raitten
it
The great legal luminary said his client
acknowledged having written the letter
Mr.. Justice Manifest said this was one
more instance of the manly and straightfor-
ward manner in which the case for the de- |
PENDANT was being carried on.
The plaintiff said he had given the defend |
ant an opening to withdraw his statements |
in presence of the defendants ia -
Mr.. Justice Manifest interrupting-I |
must beg you not to mention eminent people |
in no way connected with the case.
The plaintiff apologized and continued:
"The defendant refused either to Withdraw
or substantiate his charges"
Mr. Justice Manifest-Quite right too.
Loud cheering.
The plaintiff next called witnesses to speak
to his character and disprove the charges
contained in the letter which the defendant
acknowledged having written, and refuses to
withdraw.
The reverned lord bishop of-was sworn
in To
known the plaintiff from a boy, and that he
had always borne the highest character.
Several other reverned gentlemen, of whose
congregations the plaintiff had at warrior S
times been prominent member were called,
and deposed TO the same effect-namelyt that
he was man against whom there had never
been breath of even ordinary scandal. Al
so that he was of most edifying pietv.
Piaintitf-woud it have been possible that
such facts as my having murdered nv wife.
embeZZled money, been convicted felon.
etc, could have remained unknown to Won
during the time was a member of your con-
gregations.
The reverned gentlemen: 'Quite limos
sible." Plaintiff then produced evidence that
Inc period during which he had sat under the
various reverend gentlemen extended over
his whole life, from the age of IS to the pres
ent day.
Mr.. Justice Manifest asked the great legal
mminary if he did not wish to cross-examine
the witnesses.
Great Legal Luminary-No, nv lord, I
have no question to ask
Mr.. Justice Manifest thanked him for so
considerably saving the time of the court.
Inc plaintiff next called witnesses to prove
that be had only been once married, that no. /
hau Nv ed IN great peace and harmony with
MS late VIE, that she had died a naturss
death, that he had sincerely mourned her,
that he had always supported his daughter
nonoraoly, and as well as his small means
would allow.
The great legal luminary scornfully refused
% cross-examine any of the witnesses.
Inc plaintiff then declared his case closed.
Mr.. Justice Manifest-And high time, too.
Inc great legal iuminary then opened the
'ase Tor the defense: My lord, I do not
mean to waste the valuable time of the court.
already so merciessly squandered by the |
plaintiff My client, acting on my advice,
las CONSIDERABLY refused to appear in the. ,
witness box or to call any witnesses.
shall not soil myself by attempting Il i,
ct aside any of the evidence the plaintiff h. ,o
thought fit so ingeniously to infict upon ne |
'anence OF the court. The fact that a ian
5 obliged to call such evidence to his 80
onal character is, l should hope, suff ctan+ |
significant to all right-thinkiug an ! nm
reludleed minds. The law of libel ! 8 hon
MY clear and concise, and is known 70 al,
nat the position occupied by the defend.
nt's family could in any influence t ~ Tr,dge- |
nent OF the court which, monst, ems ~ - |
nay seem, the plaintiff has not esStated to |
IMPLY, is supposition I need not ,@van ~
udiate. My lord, have done.
MT Justice Manifest canno ..S.ee.. ...,-
Xpress my admiration for th eHiiie Ieu1i!