Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-02-04
AN ECCENTRIC JUDGE
One Of the Earlier Legal Lurnfna-
ries Of Michigan.
some Interesting Anecdotes About . Judge
ofOne Of the Circuits la the Western Por-
ton of the PenInsalar st4te-A Judge
Who knew His Business


detroit Free Press.
The following stories are related Of a
Judge OF one of the Circuits in Western
Michigan. The Judge was of conscien-
tiOus turn Of mind, honest and upright,
lawyer OF ability, but somewhat given 70
eccentricities:
A man OF questionable reputation was on
trial once before him on a criminal charge
The attorney for the defendant was a
gentleman Of reputation, subsequently,
chosen Attorney General of the State
Every effort that he made in the way Of
objections, and they were frequent, was
ruled against BY the Court, all Of which
caused feeling.
Finally the Judge became impatient on
being reminded that the defendant was en-
titled 60 fair standing in court, and said
% the counsel for the defense:
The two of you put together have no
standing in this court; you amt no better
than be is, and be ought TO be sent up fol
lifei"
On another occasion an important law
question was being argued, several attor-
neys being engaged ON each side. One of
them was making his argument He had
read quite a number 81 authorities in sup
port OF his position and was insisting that
the proposition he contended for was the
law. The Judge told him in the midst of
his argument he was wrong.
''But that is simply your HoEpr's opin-
ion," said the attorney.
The reply was "Yes, sir, it is only my
opinion, tits true. | don't care for the
opinions of the Supreme Court of Vermont
or Pennsylvania, or any other court; my
opinion controls this court, and governs
your case, and predict you're goin' to get
beat so bad you won't know whore you
are"
And the Judge was right about il, as the
sequel proved.
Another time the court was sitting in
chancery for the trial of a divorce case.
The proofs had all been taken and a solic-
itor for the complainant had been arguing
the cause for two or three hours. The
Judge was becoming uneasy. All at once
he broke out in this way: "Now, Clarke.
look here; you've been talking for four or
five hours and not said thing about the
case. don't propose to fool away my
time listening TO slush. u you don't change
your tune pretty soon, am going home:
that's all there's about it,"
The attorney for the defense-"I am con-
Quoting my side of this case, and propose
to present it in manner that suits me,
and you have got to sit there and listen to
it."
Judge-"No, sir, there is no law COM
pelling a man to sit still and be bored to
death; you must stick to the case or /
won't stay here. Proceed, sir, with your
speech"
As the argument proceeded the Judge
kept getting more impatient, and at last
turned to the clerk and shouted:
''Mr. Clerk, enter up in the journal of
this court that A. b. is fool and adjourn
court until tomorrow morning at nine
O'Clock"
The clerk made the entry. and an inspec-
tion of the journal will show 1t there to-
day.
A case was beirg tried before the Judge
without a jury, with an able lawyer on
either side. The plaintiff was Morfit and
the defendant well-to do colored man.
The suit was for breach of contract, and
there seemed to be much difficulty in ascer-
tanning what the contract was. While
Morfit was upon the stand the defendants
attorney objected to nearly every question
The Judge over1'uled each objection, with
the remark that, as there was no jury, the
reception Of the testimony could do no
harm. The objections continued, and
finally the Judge turned to the attorney
and said.
''See here. Henry, | am going to overrule
oil -
'em. am going to hear the whole of this
case. There's no jury here, 80 no harm can
be done, and old Morft's got to swear a
good deal stronger'n he has yet or he'll get
busted all to pieces"
The trial proceeded. and when the de-
fendant took the stand, the same course of
objections continuing, the Judge informed
counsel he would put the questions him.
self
Judge-"Now. my good man, just tell me
all about your trouble with Morft.
Defendant-"Y sab: YOU see, Judge,
one night las May, MIR. Morfit and was
down by de co'n'r dar and Morit says to
memo | says TO Mr.. Morft; no-lenme
see -"
Judge-"come, come, get to the point
and ten the what was said"
The defendant proceeded again as be-
fore. but each time stopped and seemingly
could get no farther. After several fruit
less trials by the court and attorneys the
Judge said to him
well. | think you had better 90 and sit
down where you won't be in the way You
don't know half "a much about the case "a
old Morfit does. and he doesn't know
enough TO win it
1t is needless to add that judgmen, vas
for defendant and for costs.
She Bought Husband