Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-30
GEORGIA JUDGES.
Amusing Anecdotes of Some of Che
Prominent Jurists of the Past.

Judge William II. Underwood was at
Oglethorpe court, when the Solicitor and
his immediate predecessor We're disputing
over that old bone of contention, the costs
made by the latter and collected by the
former, from fines imposed during his
term. The incumbent, after long and
heated argument, closed by saying: "He
was not very fastidious about 1t, nohow."
Judge Underwood promptly replied: 81
now understand the defination of that
misunderstood word, fas-tid-i-Ous, which
| now learn means to hold fast and for a
long tedious time"
THE OATH OF SPECIAL BAILIFF.
Judge Underwood, like Judge Dooly,
had his controversies with his landlords,
but, unlike Judge Dooly, all in "a good
humOred way.
At court, thinking his landlord was
remiss, he asked John Mabry if he had
taken the oath OF a special bailitf.
''Whyp asked MIR. Mabry, the landlord.
Because you have kept us without
meat, drink or fire, candelight and water
only excepted, and that is the oath which
is administered to the bailif before he
takes charge of the jury, John Mabry,
ana from the way you have kept us at this
court | thought you must have taken it.
If you have, John Mabry, l can certify
you have scruDulously observed it,"
WANTS BUT LITTLE.
On one occasion Judge Dooly stopped
with Charter Campbell, of Madison.
When his bill was presented next MORN
ing he said: "Well, Mr.. Campbell, do
you really think owe you So tor the en-
tertainment Of me and my horse Chero-
KEEP" -
''oh, yes, Judge; it is a fair and usual
charger
'tWeIl, Mr.. Campbell, if the poet had
stopped with you, instead Of saying MAN
wants but little here below, nor wants
that little long, he might have said: If
man has but little here below, and stops
with you, he will not have that little
long," oma0 feee
LEFT-HANDED. COMPLIMENT.
Judge Thomas. of Ebert, IN which
county Judge Underwood once lived,
meeting Judge Underwood, said the peo-
pie of chat county would like to. see him
there, and thought be could make pleas
ant visit to the old place. i ei
''Yes," said the Judge, ''there is an
honest stupidity about the people Of Ell
bert which is amusing, and which ! rather
like.'
Some citizen of the county who took the
remark OF Jhe Judge as offensive, meeting
him afterwards, rebukingly said he ought
to take it back.
"Well," said the Judge, 81 will take
back part Of it, and since the county voted
for Buchanan l will withdraw the word
honest"
HIS. PARTY.
Judge Underwood was for a long time
accused of being an old FederalIst of the
John Adams school, which was term of
reprOach in Georgia. Having been taunt-
ed by politician for being a Federalist.
who said to him: ''There has always been
but two parties in the country, and we
class you with the Federalists, for all
know that is your place."
Yes" said the Judge. ''there have
always been two parties, Fedefalists and
fools, and have never heard gu accused
of belonging to the Federalists" ae
7''i WISH GRATIFTED.
Judge Underwood was invited to move
to the bOwnsoft Marietta by Gen. Hansell.
He said that uhe would not like TO live
there, but thought it the best place to die
in that he knew OF, and gave as a reason
that he could leave it with fewer regrets
than any other place In TIE world. And,
as fate would have it, he died in NJ arietta,
though a citizen OF Atlanta.
g31, BOLD AND HONEST. a8
In the long ago, in the thirties, there
was judge who presided in the western
circuit whose birthplace was in one of
the New EngIand States. He was de-
cided Union man, and when the nullifiers
became 80 violent that some Northern
men shrank from acknowledging their
nativity, meeting one too firm. 10 deny IL,
Judge Tracy greeted him heartily because
be was not ashamed of his birthplace,
and said: THAT 10 bold and honest. IL
you come from III bring pocket full Of
birthstone with you"
WAS TO BE PRESUMED.
A Georgia Judge said stbat the maxim
that innocence was to be presumed until
guilt was proven had one exception, and
that was when an Irishman was accused
of an assault and battery, for then guilt
was 10 be presumed"
A lawyer, addressing jury on case
proven by strong circumstantiale evidence,
repeated often that "nfnety-nine guilty
should escape rather than that one inno-
cent man should suffer-
The Judge, in charging the jury, told
them "the nipety-nine guilty had long
since escaped"
COULD NOT HEAR HIM.
Judge A. S. Clayton WAS called upon to
prosecute a man for using prOfane Ian
guage in the church. The Judge wanted
10 KNOW WuhL bhey Tue hlemDefs meant
by profanity, when it was explained to
him as follows:
A man had applied for admission as a
member, and was required to give i'm his
experience, which he commenced by say
ing: ~ was riding In the low grounds one
dark, rainy night on a bobtail pony"
He spoke very low. A brother of the
church asked that he would speak louder,
80 that all the brethren could hear.
He commenced in little louder voice,
but when he got 10 the bobtail pony his
voice was as low as ever. A sister asked
him 10 speak little louder. 80 that they
might hear what the Lord had done for
him.
He started again louder, but when no
got 10 the bobtail pony his voice was very
weak. This time a negro in the gallery
called out, aud hoped the "whlte brudder
would speak loud enough for the black
bredderen 10 hear what de Lord had done
for his poor soul"
That was too much for the penitent and
applicant, and, turning his eyes TO the
gallery, said: "You 90 20 ----, you black
scoundrel. DO you hear thatw and, TAX
ing his hat, walked out.
SUMTER COUNTY'S GROWTH.