Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-17
THE LAW OF MUSCLE.
PRACTICE IN THIS BRANCH BY TWO
MEMBERS or THE BAR.
Dir. Sands and Judge waadm Take Up
This Line of Argument, but Neither
Wins His Case.

Proceedings took sudden and rather
exciting turn yesterday in the Honrico
County Court, where one Of q number of
registration cases were being heard by
Judge Minor.
II was an act in which only two members
Of the bar took part, and the law that they
endeayored for the time being TO expound
was directed to the scientific use of
muscle.
Mr. William II. Sands took the initiative
10 the brief battle. and his antagonist was
ex-Judge Edmund Waddill, Jr. The gentle
meu appeared as opposing counsel, and it
was language used in the discussion of a
certain point involved in the case that led
TO the alteration.
REMARKS REGARDED AZ OFFENSIVE
Early in the proceedings Mr.. Sands took
exception TO the manner and remarks of
Judge Waddill, which he considered per-
sonal and offensive and requested tho ex-
Congressman to be more particular in
what he said. subsequently Judge Wnd-
dill argued point OF law, and at the close
MIR. Sands in reply said that he did not
think 1t becoming IL a lawyer while ar
guing legal question 10 indulge in po-
htlcal harangue for the edifcGtion of the
class of persons who we're cOngregated IN
rear of the bar. He said further that such
conduct was beneath the dignity Of a
member Of the bar, or words 10 that effect.
Judge Waddill retorted and closed by
saying that If any person said that he had
been guilty Of conduct unbecoming q
member of the legal profession they said
what was not true. He also made some
allusion 10 Mr.. Sandss reconciling his con-
science 70 certain acts.
THEY COME TO BLOWS.
When that remark was made Mr.. Sands
jumped to his feet and rushed at Judge
Waddill. Blows were passed, but without
effect. The two then chnched. About
this time the courtroom was in an uproar.
Sheriff Southwark, who was sitting near
the Clerks desk, leaped over the bar and
ondeavored to separate the combatsnts.
The negroes and whites gathered around
the couple and above the din and confu-
sion Judge Minor raped his desk furious
ly with his gavel. The two were finally
separated. Neither of them showed any
marks of punishment; in fact, it did not
appear that either was struck.
APOLOGIES TO TIE COURT.
Mr.. Sands Immediately proceeded TO
apologize TO the Court, saying that no
knew he had not acted as he should have
done in court, and he felt that an apology
WIS uub but hOuIAs Oul W no Onb tlots Ilc
regretted exceedingly that it bad occurred.
Judge Waddlil also made an apology to his
Honor.
The Judge in reply said that while he
personally accepted the apology the gen.
tlemen had been guilty OF dIsrespect to
the Court, and he would therefore fine
each of them $40. The fines were prompt
ly paid. -,
Judge Minor answered that he would
not proceed with the case, and adjourned
the court over to Monday.
A motion to this effect had been made
before the difficulty and oveTruled.
Appeal Cases Decided.
Before this break in the proceedings seve-
raj cases, in which persons claiming the
right to vote appealed from the decisions
Of the registrars in refusing TO put their
names on the books, were passed upon. In
two of the cases the registrar was reversed.
In the others the Court held that the action
OF the registrars was legal and proper.
Further cases of this character will be
taken up on Monday.
Judge Wexford, Of the Circuit Court,
heard the mandamus case brought by W.
Southwark against Wells, registrar, asking
that Wells be required TO enter the names of
some fourteen or fifteen colored men who
claimed that they had been deprived of
repatriation by reason Of the sickness of
the registrar. Colonel Tazewell Elicit,
counsel for Wells, asked for a continu-
ance until Monday, which was granted.