Wichita eagle., 1890-03-02
THE JUDGE AND THE JURY.

Yesterday afternoon at half past 1
O'Clock, Judge Reed OF the district court,
the trial work of the term being completed,
discharged the jury from further service
Immediately afterward the attention of
the court was secured by Attorney Charles
T. Coffin, who had been requested by the
jury to present to the court On their behalf
a beautiful gold pen and holder and a
magnificent ink stand. In making the
presentation Mr. Coffin said: May it
please the court, the duties of q public
prosecutor are not always pleasant. He is
required at times to appear In cases where
bis sympathy is with the defendant,
though his duty is to the state. He is re-
quired oft times to withhold the helping
hand, to subdue his feeling, and TO in
sist upon the stern enforcement OF the law.
but IL is my privilege at this time to par
ticipate in the administration OF justice IN
case, the verdict in which when rendered
will produce bitterness nowhere. Whether
guilty or not getty be returned all shall
be satisfied. During the last two
months, your honor in presiding over
the administration of justice in this court,
has presented 10 this array of jurvmen
numerous charges, involving variety OF
questions. intricate and Interesting. To-
day the jury presents Il charge to the court;
mand, they came at your call. they de-
parted at your bidding. Now theirs the
Scepter; they demand that your honor be
silent and hear and answer their charge.
This charge is not brought in the form OF
an indictment, as no grand jury sat during
this term, but before the case IS fuzzy
heard your honor will doubtless agree
with me that nevertheless this IS a
grand" jury. I observe that your honor
betrayS some uueasinesS and l hasten to
assure you that nc charge has been prefer
red for violation of the prohibitory law
and no inquiry is about 10 be instituted
concerning any exhleratlng experiences.
recent or remote, OF which your
honor has even family heard. The
object of prosecution in general is
to punish violations of law; this prosecu-
ton seeks 10 reward the faithful admins
tration of law. Ordinarily, when the pris
oner is convicted he is sent 10 the pen; IN
this case the pen is sent TO the defendant.
In other words this is the case of The Jury
vs. The Court The Information is in three
counts-the jury charges the court with
learning, courtesy, and OF holding the
scales in even balance. The court IS ar
raigned and refuses to plead; the plea or
guilty TO each count is entered by the jury.
The defendant will stand and receive SEN
teuce. 'Ir is the order Of the jury that
you do receive this gold pen and this ink
stand, and that them do you take from
this place to the place of your abode IN
Sedgwick county, Kansas, and that you
them there keep at hard labor, during the
period of your natural life, and may JUS
tice, mercy, courtesy and learning perYade
all that this pen shall record.
Judge Reed, surprised and blushing
with the virgin Innocence so natural to
him, accepted the token as presented and
replied in his usual fitting and appropriate
style.
Gentlemen of the Jury:
| have heard with pleasure the very Kind
remarks of your spokesman, Mr.. Coffin,
aid | sincerely thank him and you for this
expression OF kindness.
TO the outside world, / presume, this
matter of complimenting judge has be
come qnite chestnut" but by way of
explanation to all who think thus, would
say: There are more things in heaven
and earth. Horato, than are dreamed OF
in your philosophy" On this principle,
what appears queer to one Is laudtable to
another.
L said, gentlemen. that I appreciated
your kindness. There are several reasons
why do SO. First, because it appears to
me that your kind words could not be due
to the fact of long acQuantanceShip nor
to the fact of long established social rela-
tions. We have not grown up together III
this community Your conduct toward
me cannot therefore be attributed to any
ties of clauship
| appreciate your kind words also be-
cause they suggest the thought that under
the great difficulties OF my position L have
at least succeeded in one direction, and
that is in the proper treatment of my fell
low man with whom | daily work.
However strong in other directions a
judge may be, if he is wanting in the
amenities, in the little kind courtesles OF
social life, his laborS can not be regarded
as complete success.
On the other hand, judge can not be
regarded success whose strength lies
wholly in the fact that he is kind and pa
tient. His mission is broader. His work
must be intelligent. 1t | sit here day in
and day out" and build houses of sand
must expect them to fall before the pelting
storm of professional criticism and judicial
review.
| can only hope, therefore, that my work
as Judge has been intelligent, as well as
patient and kind. In conclusion, gentle
men, | thank you heartily for your patient,
thoughtful and accurate labors during
this term of court, and | express the wish
that the pleasant relations begun here may
continue and that somewhere and some
time they shall bear the fruit of blessing
to us ali.
The pen point is of gold. "The sin of
Judah is written with pen of iron," but
the sin of Sedgwick county will henceforth
be written with a pen of gold. The ink
stand is very large, and of cut glass, with
elaborate gold tracery. 1t is magnificent
gift and is appreciated. The pen is we'll
calculated 20 show ones chirography off
to advantage.