St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1891-08-15

His marriage ceremony was some
thing like this: John, you love this
woman? Mary. you love this man?
cost is two dollars
''Ilis first divorce case came up after
he had been in Office eight years, and
the principals happened to be . couple
he had united In marriage some five
years before. Tho husband was the
plaintiff and the wife had engaged .
lawyer When the husband told how
his wife had pulled his hair. boxed hia
ears and then went to . candy pulling
with another man Judge benson
promptly declared them put asunder
according to the law and the Gospel
".But, your honor. you have no juris-
diction In this case suggested the dc.
fendant's attorney.
".No what?' asked the Judge. stern
ly-no man had ever before dared ques-
ton one Of his decisions
"'You have no authority In this
case. The law does not give . justice
of the peace power to grant divorce
"'Didn't marry this coupler
"'Yes. but
"'Then Ill unmarry 'em. an you arc
fined ten dollars for bein' in contemp
OF this court I'd like to see the law
that gives me the power to splice pco-
pie an then says can't uncouple en-
when they've got Scriptural proof
The decision stood and no appeal
was ever taken.
ssY al - $r,vd -
where the plaintiff claimed to have
been swindled In . horse swap the de-
fendant demanded . Jury to try the
case and Judge benson had . jury
summoned It was summer and court
was held In the shade Of . big oak trcc
that day because the judges Office was
too small to hold all the spectators
When tho evidence was all taken the
jury retired to . thick clump Of bushes
some distance away to make mp their
verdict At the end Of IN hour they
returned and reported that they could
not agree.
"'But you must agree said the
Judge, and he sent them back TO the Sc
clusion Of the bushes. Again they re-
turned without . verdict and reported
that eight were for tho plaintiff and
four for the defendant
..'Well, that's . verdict A majority
always rules in this country and the
Judge entered . verdict for the plaintiff
on his docket
'Once . negro was on trial before
Judge benson for carrying concealed
weapons He had q lawyer who wanted
to prove that the prisoners life had
been threatened, and under such cir
cunstanccs the law allowed him to
carry weapons Tho evidence all In.
the lawyer arose with q book In his
hand and said: May Il please your
honor, have hero . recent decision OF
the supreme court In case similar In
every way to this one. and the court
ordered the aequittal OF the defendant
"'Then III overrulc the supreme
court an hne the defendant fifty dollars
and costs
.'Once . civil case was tried by Dem
son, in which two lawyers were en-
ployed. When the evidence was oil In.
the attorneys held brief consultation
| TO decide upon the order in which they
should speak. As the first one rose to
address the court, benson cut him short
by saying: Now You fellows just wait
till decide this case an then you can
spout law all day If you want to-
Migrants OF all degrees. and every
man charged with criminal offensc
who was not able to pay fine. benson
would sentence to terms Of hard labor
on his farm.
"When asked once for an explanation
OF such unwarranted proceedings his
reply was that the law allowed him
costs in every case he tried. and. II Q
man had no money. how was the court
to get the cost IL he didn't work II out?
To this logical opinion there was no
reply, and no one ever interfcred with
the judge afterward.
The redecrning features OF Judge
Dcnson's remarkable administration OF
Justice was that hc usually managed to
get at the truth Of . case. and never
allowed any legal technicalities to In
nuence his decisions II . man was
guilty hc was punished In some way.
and Il innocent he was discharged.
True. the judge decided . great many
cases over which the laws Of the state
gave him no jurisdiction. and In many
ways he violated the letter Of the stat
utes. but Is his decisions were usually
Just from moral standpoint. they were
allowed to stand
several times dissatisfied parties to
civil suits and lawyers called tho atteo-
ton Of the governor or the grand jury
to Denson's method Of doing business.
but every investigation resulted in .
vindication for the judge. Ones he
was called before . grand jury and
asked il he knew what law was
"Yes,' he answered. Law Is lot OF
stuff put IN books BY lawyers to keep
honest people out of their rights
1.-THE jury thought this definition
was SO near the truth that they allowed
the judge to go After eighteen years
service he declined To 0cccpt the OfficC