Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-02-13
AN ECCENTRIC JUDGE
One or the Earlier Legal Lumina-
rios Of Michigan
some Interesting Anecdotes About Judge
efOne OF the circsits Ara the wsstera Por-
tloa OF the Psainsuiar stste-A Judge
Who Knew His Business.


Detroit Free Pres
The following stories are related Of a
Judge OF one OF the Circuits ia Western
Michigan. The Judge was of eonscien-
tious turn OF mind, honest and upright
lawyer Of ability, bat somewhat given u
eccentrieities:
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 TO fair standing in court, and said
To the counsel for the defense:
THE two of you put together have no
standing In this court; you amt no better
than he is, and he ought to be sent up for
iife"
On another occasion an important law
que.tion was being argued, several attor-
neys being engaged on each side. One of
them was making his argument. He had
u
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 HoIor's opin-
ion," said the attorney.
The reply was: Eyes, sir, 1t 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 where you
are"
And the Judge was right about it, az the
sequel proved.
Another time the court was sitting in
chancery for the trial of divorce case.
The proofs had all been taken and 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 a thing about the
case. / don't propose to fool away my
time listening to slush. L 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 il in manner that suits me,
and you have got to sit there aud 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 l
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 a fool, and adjourn
court until tomorrow morning at nine
O'Clock"
The clerk made the entry, and an iaspec-
ton of the journal will show it there to-
day.
A case was being tried before the Judge
without jury, with an able lawyer on
either side. The plaintiff was Morfit and
the defendant a well-to-d do colored man.
The suit was for breach of contract, and
there seemed to be much difficulty Ia ascer-
tanning what the contract was. While
Morfit was upon the stand the defendants
attorney objected to nearly every question
The Judge overruled 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
all your objections as fast as you make
'em. | am going TO hear the whole of this
case. There's no jury here, so no harm can
be done, and old Morfit's got to swear
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 Morfit.
Defendant-"Yas, sab; you see, Judge.
one night las May. Mr.. Morfit and was
down by de co'n'r dar and Morfit saws to
memo | says to Mr.. Mordt; no-lemme
see -"
Judge-"Come. come. get to the point
and tell me 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 60 and sit
down where you won't be in the way. You
don't know half as much about the case as
old Morft does. and he doesn't know
enough TO win It."
1t is needless to add that judgment was
for defendant. and for costs