St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-21
TRIAL BY JURY IN 1884.
Il Clever TraUesty on the Proceedings an
the Case of Adams rs. COlerfdOe.

i
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 person high
placed in the legal world, and is himself
barrister The plaintiff is, yernacularly
speaking, ''the deuce knows who.' The al
legged libel is contained in letter written by
the defendant toa widow lady (his great
aunt by marriage), who wished to ally her
self by marriage to 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 gentleman,
and warned him that such an omission was
likely to tell against him in the gravest man
ner
p. May it please your lordship, I
Az nan, and can not well afford
Nj slice Manifest-The question Of
your IL, ans is wholly irrelevant. I must re-
quest you to keep strictly to the matter in
hand.
Plaintiff-My other reason was that fear
ed no member Of your respected profession
would be quite whole hearted in conducting
my case, in view of who the defendant is.
IGroans from the members Of the bar pres
emit
The Great Legal Luminary protest
aginst 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, but 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.
1o,:.:as Try;.h A. ,,o-r.;,,;o,, 90 oo,,-+ T
viii first read the letter.
The great legal luminary 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 libel or not. Mr..
Justice Manifest begged the great legal lum-
mary to allow the letter to be read as 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 / see myself
forced to point out to you the true character
of the unprincipled scoundrel you are think
ing of marrying. Shonld you be surprised
to hear that be is professed atheist! Should
you be surprised to hear that he has been
three times married already, and that one of
wife was still alive? Should you be surprised
to Lear 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-
Zled large sums of money! Should you be
surprised to hear that he is a convicted felon!
Should you be surprised to hear that he has
a daughter in the workhouse gu
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. iafsfrs9 ss
- The plaintiff next called witnesses 20 speak
to his character and disproye the charges
contained in the letter which the defendant
acknowledged having written, and refuses to
withdraw.
The reverned lord bishop of-was sworn
and in answer to questions said he had
known the plaintiff from boy, and that he
had always borne the highest character.
Several other reverned gentlemen, of whose
congregations the plaintiff had at warrior
times been prominent member, were called,
and deposed to the same effect-namely, that
he was man against whom there had never
been breath of even ordinary scandal. AL
so that he was of a most edifying pietv.
Plaintiff-would it have been possible that
such facts as my having murdered my wife,
embeZzled money, been a convicted felon,
ETC., could have remained unknown to YOU
during the time was member of your con-
gregationss
The reverned gentlemen: 'Qute impos-
sible." Plaintiff then produced evidence that
the period during which lie had sat under the
various reverend gentlemen extended over
his whole life, from the age of 1s to the pres
ent day.
Mr.. Justice Manifest asked the great legal
luminary if he did not wish to cross-examine
the witnesses.
Great Legal Luminary-No, my lord, /
have no question to ask.
Mr.. Justice Manifest thanked him for so
considerably saving the time of the court.
The plaintiff next called witnesses to prove
that he had only been once married, that he
had liz ed in great peace and harmony with
his late wife, that she had died natural
death, that he had sincerely mourned her,
that he had always supported his daughter
honorably, and as well as his small means
would allow.
= The great legal luminary scornfully refused
to cross-examine any of the witnesses.
The plaintiff then declared his case closed.
Mr.. Justice Manifest-And high time, too.
The great legal iuminary then opened the
case for the defense: My lord, do not
mean to waste the valuable time Of the court,
already so mercilessly squandered by the
plaintiff Ny client, acting on r advice,
:, has considerably refused to 4 the
. witness box or to call any -. sses.
shall not soil myself BIZ att geng TO
set aside any of the evidence the plaintiff has
thought fit SO ingeniously to infict upon the
patience of the court. The fact that a man
is obliged TO cali such evidence to his per-
Osonal character is, 1 should hope, sufficient
zgnificant to all right-thinking and un-
ldiced minds. The law Of libel is hap
lear and concise, and is known to all.
the position occupied by the defend
Ill family could in any influence the Judge
t OF the court which, monstrous as il