Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-11-09

D-m"ni"d People VII" Await Decisions
tn. New York Courts.


II want to see the Judge.
Don't inS.>t, Nou can see HIM.
''Rut must must have a decision.
] am tired of this endless delay VIII
out cause"
"Oh. vou want to see him about 'he
decision? Why. that will be given 10
day or tomorrow. Better 20 10 Inc
court room.
"Ah. at last. thank yOu'' lhr
sneaker was awoman shout the mddic
age. neatly attired in black gown
with black veil thrown back from
her bonnet. Her voice was full OF
sweet tones and sounded pleasantly a.
she thanked. with half smothrred
sigh of relief. the tall man VIII" hhd
answered her questions. Sh" sto"d Al
the half opened door of the antc-r"om
of the private rooms of the Judges OF
the Supreme Court The man stood
with hiS hand on the door knob and
watched every motion OF the woman
~ she spoke.
He was a clerk Of the court and sh"
was one of the many poor. demcnted
creatures who haunt the Court House
waiting for decisions which never will
be- given.
After the woman had moved away
Clerk Knight said: That woman has
been coming here for wears al intervals
of two weeks At times she can be
seen sitting all dav in the court room
patiently waiting for the Judge on the
bench 10 hard down his decision in a
case she thinks is before the court
Some wears ago she became insane and
her property was put into the hands of
trustees. who pay her living expenses
and literally provide for all her wants.
At the time she was committed to
an asylum. hut now she is at liberty.
being considered harmless. In most
respects she is quite sane. but on one
or two points she is crazy as March
hare When she comes here it is diff
cult to get her away. Sometimes |
speak softly to her and other times |
have to be apparently very cross. You
cant tell when these cranks Will draw
a knife or pistol. so ! have to be
mighty careful. She will 90 and sit in
the courtroom till the room Is closed.
and will then go home. and W Il proba-
blv not think of the matter for some
time. but when she does she Will come
right down here
Are there MANY such cases.?
"ManN? We'll. should say so One
of the best known faces in this Court
House i that Of German who some
SIX years ago was found insane. His
wife was made the custodian of his
property. lie thinks he is well now
and believes that a suit has been
brought to place his property back IN
his possession 1T is ted ou~ matter
Snail-likr but sure he SAYS when he
speaks of the long-expected decision.
Every day he comes and takes hi, place
in court. AT recess he goes home 10
dinner. returns for the afternoon se>-
sion and SITS. waiting patiently. till the
Judge leaves the bench.
DO they ever make any disturb
ance?'
The cranksP Oh. no. They sit
patiently, waiting in a listless fashion,
not interested in the proceedings in the
>l ghtc>t degree. and unnOtic"d by the
frcgucutcrs of the courts. When 4
Judge enters or goes out Of a room the
court officers are always on the alert
to see that these cranks do not slip up
and play any pranks with knife or
pistol
do they annoy the Judges9'
NO: they don't get chance 20
come in contact with them. Their
letters sonnet mes are very abusive,
filthy and calculated to make a Judge
feel uncomfortable. but we get to know
the handwriting and intercept them.
The ingenuity these people use to be
annOying in this wy is very great.
Most of the men and women who
thus haunt the court rooms and cOrTI-
dors labor under the deluS on that they
are interested in some case or another.
They enter the building and proceed
calmly, quietly and in a husinesslike
way to their several court rooms and
take seat. They are seldom inclined
to talk of their affairs. and regard all
persons about them as in some way or
other connected with their opponents.
When they do say any thing il is gencr-
ally in low VIII sper. Most OF them
are interested in imaginary suits as
principals. but one old gentleman has
been going to court for ten wears TO
give testimony concerning the signing
Of a W II which was admitted to pro-
bate twenty wears ago. During the
weary months when the will was being
contested the old gentleman. then i'll
his prime. was a witness. Years after
ward his once strong mind broke from
the burden put upon it, and by Gu
riouS freak he became possessed BY the
idea that the famous will case was still
on trial and his testimony had been
called for. Almost any day he can be
found in the Surr0gate's Court with his
old fash oned high, straight brimmed
hat filled with a packet of musty
papers. securely held together by a
piece of red tape. patiently waiting his
name to be called that he may give his
testimony.
The hard fought battles at law. the
disappo ntmrntS, defeats and victims Of
wear, ago.are to be recalled by the faces
of at least a score Of similar old gentle
men whom the bOotblack and the
apple vender point out as court house
cranks ~ J. H5rdid.