New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-16
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
STORIES OF DAVID DAVIS ON THE BENCH
AND IN THE SENATE.
NOW TIE DEALT WITH MISREPRESENTATION
JOHNSON DISCOMFITED-HIS CHARITY
IITTINl 4 PROFESSIONAL BEG.
CAR TO THE TEST

in Stockbrdgc Mass. He one OF the great
iudncs who has sat upon that bench. lie was one
Of Mr. EincOlns most trusted advisers. lie was
noted for his sterling common-scnSe. his high
sense of honor and propriey, and his great ability
n SEQ clearly what was best TO be done. lils
knowledge of the law was profound. His de-
cisions were noted for their ccarncss.
lie was man of tremendous figure. His body
was Falstafiian in its proportions. He weighed
nearly 500 pounds. lie had large, round head
set upon a short neck His face was broad
especially at the base. His forehead was hlsh
thinly-shaded by grayish-brown hair. Ills nose
was large His mouth was enormous and thin
Timed His full, broad, double-chinned face was
smooth-shaven down TO rim of light-gray
whiskers, which ran around from ear 10 ear under
his laws lie had a deep, full voice and great
dignity of manner. He followed rigidy all OF
the old-fashioned habits acquired In early rHai
life. lie was always moderate In his cNpehui-
lures He became rich and left large property
when he died. His rule for acquiring money was
simple lie said save part of your income
every year and invest it in real estate lie ana
this even when he had an income OF not more
than $500. lie went TO Illinois when the STATE
was young, and through his system acquired lands
around the neighborhoOd of Chicago which ultl-
mately made his estate valuable.
He was on the bench for nearly twenty years
lie was there during a most exciting time, when
the bench was re0rganizcd and increased Tor the
purpose of giving the famous Greenback decision,
involving the question OF whether or not tie green
backs were egal-tcndcrs He was there at time
when great values were often determined by
few words from the bench. Advance knowledge
of the greenbaclI decision would have been worth
hundreds of thousands of dollars TO any one.
Yet, to the credit Of this court IL must be sad
that none of the justices betrayed the secret of
their position, even to their most intimate friends.
In The days following the war, when scandals con-
corning public people were common and news
papers sought in every direction TO find testimony
for further sensations, no publication ever
made affecting the integrity OF the justices of this
court.
have heard Justice Davis tell many interesting
stories of attempts upon the part of various in
dividuals to obtain forbidden information No
more delightful story was ever told by the Judge
than the call which he once received from an
Irish reporter of The Ncw-Yorl Herald" who
came to him Just before the greehbacll decision
was delivered. The papers were full of the pos
sibiiites involved in this decision Enormous
values wavered in the balance awaiting positive
information The judges never mentioned the sub
jcct to one another except within the recesscs
Of the cOnSultaton-rOOm Outside of that room
their faces took on look of stony reserve when
ever any one sought remotely to lead up TO the
subject or TO discuss questions which might in
directly bear upon this most interesting subject.
So great is the reputation for dignity and reserve
of this court that the experienced lawyers who
most intimate with these judges did not
venture even 10 hint suggestion OF a question
upon this forbidden subject.
1t one evening. three or -four days before
a. loI;, a. nav
was in the stting-room Of his chambers at the
National Hotel. An old friend was with him.
The Judge was smoking long white clay pipe,
of which he was fond. With his legs spread
wide apart in front of an open wood fire, the judge
pulled from his great mouth huge volumes Of
smoke he listened to the gossip and small talk
Of his friend. The Judge, after leaving his legal
work. as fond of going over the gossip of
the day as any member Of any village sewing
circle. In the midst of the talk the cOlored ser
want entered with card The Judge looked at
the card and saw that II bore the inscription Of
representative of The New-YorK Herald The
Judge said SHOW him up he was never
known 10 refuse TO see any one when not busly en-
gagged in work. The Judge himself described
afterward the entrance Of the reporter and what
followed.
There came into the room. said lie. a small,
His small black eyes were set close together
On each side of n very pronounced pug nose.
shock of red hair hung down over this alert,
inquisitve conference. This reporter was at
tired in a long, illhtting suit of black cloth.
lie carried under his arm a huge notebook. He
entered my room with curt salu;at'on. and with
out a word of explanation began Showing mp
large ccntrc-taDle in the room, bringing ii to
NV right When he had the table liked in good
position he took some candles from the mantel
piece lighted them and put them down. lie then
opened IA notebook took out haf-dozcn pencils
sharpencd them carefully, and said: Now Judge
] am ready. Mr. Bennett has sent me here to
get an advance abstract of the Supreme Court
decision in the Greenback case, Whatever that
may be- You know better probably what that Is
than I do. You just go ahead and elVe IL 10
me- You needn't mind about going slow can
take il down Us fast you can give 1T TO me-
The Judge said that for moment he was over
whelmed with the situation. The perfect Ihho
cence Of this Irish reporter, however, impressed
him 50 comcally that for moment ne sald noun
Ing Then he arose. deliberately laid down MS
pipe and walked over 10 an open window LOOKING
out upon the street Then he beckoned TO the
reporter and asked him to come to the widow
How far down to the sidewalk do you think
i, js?" said the Judge. The reporter looked ana
said he thought ii about thirty feet
DO You thinl; it would hurt a man to iaii
from here to the sidewalk ?" said the Judge.
Il am sure it would break every bone IN his
body" said the reporter.
Well" said the Judge, "you may give my
condiments 10 Mr. Bennett and inform HIM that
il any reporter calls here from his paper TO ask
me about this greenback decision again. snail
simply be obliged TO throw him out OF this WIN
dow. ! will spare you on account OF your youoh
and innocence but remember my warming
The reporter gazed at the giant Judge slahuihs
with his hands half appraised as II he really "ere
restraining himself and began To apoiogiHe anu
back until he reached the table, when he seized
his book and pencils and fed
II was not always that the judges were a. CIR
orx,... 80 Io,;oo Dovis lie himself relates