Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-04-08

a STANDARD and Com parison.
We have again in our midst the Su.
prsms Court of California. AS they are
all, to the last man Of them, able and
amiable gentlemen, as well rs well en-
dowed miniAtrants Of justice, we, in com
mon with the whole people OF this sec
tion, are glad to have them sgain here.
We are all, in this case, heroabouts, in
the mood Of welcoming the coming and
speeding the departing guests although
we hope that tho time Of departure may
be postponed many days. In fact, con-
sidering the record of Judge Sam Bell
Mckee as hunter, and tho natural en-
ulation amongst his brethren Of the
bench, this august body might well pro-
long It's stay, even il II were obliged to
intermit Its ordinary judicial labors.
Judge Mckee, who Is n most extortion-
ate consumer of the midnight oil, is also
. dead shot. The present edi-
tor Of the HERALD. who was ten
years ngo resident of San Diego,
aud the editor Of the World, Of that
place, had the privilege Of chronicling
Judge McKee's exploits as Nimrod on
the Santa Margarita ranch. With his
own little individual rifle the Judge
dropped sixteen hundred pound
Grizzly bear. This circumstance was
borne in upon our memory by the fact
that tho Forster boys, who had been
with the Judge when he slew the bear,
sent us Bruins two fore paws packed in
salt. They weighed, on an accurately
adjusted scale, ls2 pounds.
Judge Mckee. at that time. was only
District Judge, though very popular
-one. 1t behooves tho tribunal, of
which he is ON honored member, to
assert itsslf in such fine game region
~ that Of which Los Angeles is the
oenter. We have now ssraphic weather,
we have the Supreme Court amongst us,
and the onus is upon that body to rival
or exceed the exploits Of single mem.
Der, who was only District Judge
\ when he graded himself SO high as a
spQrisman.
Bat, waving this aspect of the mat.
ter, far grsyer onus is now imposed
upon the Supreme Court. collectively.
It must maintain its dignity, and that in
. ratio which imposes special oblga-
tions. The other day IN Episcopal
clergyman of Wilmington was witness,
in o case Of homicide, in the court, or
tho forum, or whatever may be its
proper designation, Of our esteemed fel.
low citizen, r. A. Ling, who is the
Township Justice Of Los Angeles, Tho
Reverend Mr.. Linsley gave his testi
mony, departed for his marine home
aud ventured to write to Los Angeles
newspaper word or two of depreciation
of the gentle handling the killer,
and man who was regarded by
the Rev. Mr.. Linsley as particeps
criminis in the atroeity, had received
In the forum of Squire Ling. (We
have neglected to writs Mr.. Justice
Ling because that happens to be the pre-
else nomenclature Of the Justices of the
Supreme Court Of the United States. J
Immediately the township justice of Los
Angeles sent constable to Wilmington,
without any form of citation, who
hailed the Rev. Mr.. Linsley to tho
forum of the township justice aforesaid,
who proceeded to fine and browbeat him,
the innocent and intimidated Episcopal
clergyman submitting to tho peculiar
process with the docility of lamb led
out to the slaughter.
This is comedy of the double distilled
essence.
II reminds US of an historical episode
When Voltaire had to hunt shelter from
the outraged monarchies of Europe
he took refuge in certain Swiss
canton. Everything went on quietly
for a while. Finally the Mayor of the
canton took umbrage at certain per
formAnce of Monsieur de V oltaires. lie
waited upon him in great state, and do
livered himself of tho portentous an.
nouncement, monsieur de Noltaire,
you may blaspheme God Almighty, if
you like, but when it comes to bias.
pheming me, the Mayor of this Canton,
it Ia different matter"
Mr.. Township Justice Ling, like the
famous Mayor of the Swiss Canton afore.
said, has set the standard of judicial
dignity in this State. God help us,
however, if our visiting Justices of the
Supreme Court shall develop in ratio the
sense of their personal and official dig.
nifty popularized by the Township Jus.
tiee aforesaid. The merest whisper of
dissidence, upon the part OF fresborn
American, might then result in an i'm
prisonment for life of the saerilegiuus
<impas s,.ator of their puissanee.
What in such a case, would become
OF man like Cox, who deliberately
drew revolver. in the Baldwin Hotel,
on Mr.. Justice McKinstry: What
would become OF any ono who should
dme to question the dicta OF any one Of
the Judges of the Supreme Court Of Cal.
ifornia?
1t is for this august tribunal, here and
now, to maturely consider tho question
as to how far they are to permit them.
selves to be discounted and distanced by
Mr.. Township Justice Ling who, if he
keeps up as he has begun, bids fair to de-.
velop as the prize Dosberry of Anglo
Saxon iudicature.
Is some senses the cold weather which
followed the late rains has bson a God.
send III the uuoxoy,,T.1 i