The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-10-10
JUDGE THURMAN.

He Appears i'm the Supreme Court and De-
Hvers Argument in the Telephone Case.
WAsHINGToN, Oct. 9.-At u o'clock to-day
the Supreme Court crer arose and announced
''the Chief Justice and Associate Justices of the
Supreme Court" As the audience rose and re-
mained standing in silence. the justices, headed
by their new chief and preceded by Marshal
Wright, filed to their seats on the bench, and
the court was open for regular business The
space in the courtroom allotted TO the general
public was crowded 10 its full capacity at this
time, in anticipation of Judge Thurman's opening
argument for the government in the Bell tels-
phone case. and every seat reserved for mem
bers OF the bar was occupied, mostly by Wash
ington lawyers. Judge Thurman, who had ar
rived q few minutes before IL O'Clock, was seated
at the center table, facing the court .
half dozen law hooks in front
of him. At his side was Solicitor-general
jerks. who brought the suit of the government
against the Bell company. while Messrs. jeff
Chandler. of St LOUIS, and VIM. G. Straw
bridge, Of Philadelphia, also government coun-
sci 10 this case. were only few feet away. At
the table on the right sat the attorneys for the
Bell company, Messrs. Storrow and Dlckerson,
who have been connected with the litigation n
which the telephone company has been involved.
In low tone Of voice. hardly audible q few feet
away, Chief justice Fuller announced that men,
bers Of the bar would be admitted TO practice.
and three or four gentlemen were sworn in.
The Chief Justice then announced that motions
were in order.sand Senator Stewart and few
others entered motions 10 several cases of no
general interest These Chief-Justice Fuller
disposed of after brief consultations with
Justice Miller, who sat on bis night,
and then, in low tone Of voice. but with an
enuucatiou distinct that each syllable could
be plainly heard, he said: IF there are no
further motions, case No. $40, the United
States against the Amerlcsnii Bell Telephons
Company. will be called"
Counsel are present" said Mr. Mckinney,
clerk of the court, and Solicitor-geueral jerks,
rising, asked that four hours be allowed each
side in which to present their case. This being
agreed TO, Judge Thurman, after consultation
the table, and, drawing from his
pocket the familiar old bandanna
and bis snuf-box placed the lat
latter on the table in front Of him and began his
argument. His voice was low and husky et the
start but soon gathered strength and remained
clear and strong the close OF his forty minutes
speech. His manner of speaking was plain,
simple and direct. and in his choice Of words he
used homely. Anglo-Saxon. that was a inteiligi-
BILE to tho lsity present as to the learned just
ices themselves. Standing erect, facing the
court. his right hand holding his eyeglasses.
and the left at the pocket of his trousers, he
spoke slowly and distinctly. and with an absence
Of oratorical flourish. When he desired to en-
phasize some point in his argument it was done
with simple downward sweep OF
his right hand, He was only
interrupted twice. and then by
questions of no pertinency as showing the opin-
ions Of the justices. When he took up the opiu-
ion of Judge Coult, of Massachusetts, overrul-
ing the. governments ruling, he said that it
seemed to be sin in the eyes of judges not to
blindy follow the decisions of their predecessors,
and this he said seemed 70 be particularly true
in the good old Commonwealth of Massacbu-
setts. We in the West" he continued with
smile, 'don't think so. and if a judge renders q
wrong decision and another judge eets chance
TO reverse his decision, he is very apt 70 do IL
Judge Thurman closed his argument at ten min
utes past J., and left the courtroom few
minutes later, after JEFF Chandler had begun
his speech.
Judge Thurman went out 70 Oak View this
afternoon. and will remain there until to-mor-
row morning. A conferences. in which the Presi-
dent. Judge Thurman, Speaker Carlisle and
Representative Sec ,--ticifAted. was held
there this evening.