Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1891-04-03
INCOURr WITH THE YANKs.
Day az GuiidhsiI-A Narration Of
the Ceurt Proceedings.

(Nrecidt COrTtS7OHdrHcefJ ttt C0lHcOoE DOfeTeeT
We had often heari OF tile free aud
easy" manner in which justice IL meted
out in the erICan courts, OF how
the lawyers, with their feet hoisted
upon the railing Of the Bar, puff their
fsvorite llavtnas in open court, and
even at times call upon the judge TO
throw down his tobhacar." 1t was
therefore with feeling OF curiosity
and expectation that we responded to
u professional call. Il few days ago, 10
attend the County Court at Guildhall
and make known To the judge certain
points OF Canadian hw which were
involved in suit there and then
pending. The first thing that struck
US as being out Of the ordinary was the
opening OF the court by prayer. The
ju lge called upon a reverend gentle
man, who was evidently there for the
purpose. to pray. Our lawyer told us
that this was the first prayer he had
heard since the last term OF court.
The court having been opened, the
first thing done was the calling OF the
juruIs, who stepped forward us their
names were called. The mode OF ad
min. Seriug the oath is n 1t tho same as
Ia our owu courts The Bible is not
Il ed. The right hand is lifted high in
I le dir, the clerk reads the oath and
without any expressed assent or PROM.
ise the witness is considered sworn.
In the meantime there was II buzzlug
sound caused by the talk OF the law.
yers and spectators, whic ! s'eIned to
effect the crier more than the judge.
Order was restored by the cIier rapping
hi, knuckies upon his lesk. The roll
was then re vi Ivy the judge to ascertain
how many cas's were ready Tor trial.
This took until nearly noon. SO il
was not thought hest TO begin case
before dinner. The julge, however,
intima,ed that II any lawyer had II
little matter to bring before him he
could then do so. An Island Pom | at
torney then said he had divorce case
which they decided to hear before dim
her. One OF the parties concerned, il
not both, wasu Canadian and original
" married in tue township OF Eaton.
| Two witnesses were called and ex
amined orally, the lawyer submitted
his case without argument, and judge
ment was rendered granting u divorce
all in about fifteen minutes. After
dinner the judge took his seat upon
the bench, amid the hum OF voices
and laughter o! the lawyers, who did
not practice the Canadian custom OF
rising in silence as the judge ascends
the bench. Three young men we're
then filed through the room and stood
facing the court. As soon AZ the judge
began questioning one Of them, who
was u resident OF Norton Mills, it was
seen that he was seeking TO become al
| American citizen. Ills two coDpau'
ions swore to his good character, while
he swore TO faithfully guard the in
terests OF the Republic, declaring that
he would 10 longer consider himself
"A subject OF Queen Victoria. No
sooner had they taken ;heir seats,
than the High Sheriff 80 called,
brought before the court youth
charged with larceny. Tie pleaded
guilty to the charge and being inter
rogated by the judge claimed TO be O
Canadian citizen. His people formerly
resided at Sherbrooke, his father was
now dead and his mother lived al
Compton, whittier his footsteps were
tending when he WAS o'ertaksn by AL
officer and lodged in gaol. The judge
decided to think the matter over be
fore sentencing him, and called d case
between two residents OF the nd joining
township VI Hereford who had gone
into foreign country 10 have a law
suit. This case was to he tried by q
jury. Little SLIPS Of paper upon which
the name OF jurymau was written
were mixed up In u box and taken
from thence at random by the clerk
who called out the maine OF the juror
who took lis place ia the corner o.
the room to the left OF the judge. The
cause OF action was Il Canadian mort
gage passed some thirteen years ago il
Hereford, before witnesses. Accord
ing to our laws this would only pre-.
scribe in thirty years, according 10 tn,
Vermont laws in eight. Prescription
was pleaded by the defence. TIL,
court held that the American Law
must govern, aud dismissed the Gas,
without evidence. Matters OF mino
Importance were afterwards Gale,
and disposed OF, when the court ad
journed To the day following Tn,
summary nature OF the procedure WI
be seen from the above instances
Matters that would be taxed eadeliber
for weeks by our courts, are there lie
terluined as 1t were Ia moment. A
spectator would not be irupressec
there, us la our courts, that he Is in
court OF Justice, neither was there TIL
same dignity attached to the tribuua
which Is seen even in our lower courts
The Yankee charac teristics are seen Il
and have impressed themselves upo
: their courts Of justice.