The record-union., 1891-05-20
HE MADE A MISTAKE.
How Judge Starr Managed an OBJ
streperous Attorney,
\ Sentence OF Fine and imprisonment,
and Subsequent Volume
of Apologies.

By apologizing abjectly to Justice of
the Peace a. H. Starr, Lawyer Downward
saved himself from spending night in
the County Jail.
The Judge does not allow any nom
sense in his court, and when Downward
tried to be funny he was brought up with
d jerk.
a restaurant keeper had sued young
man for some $36 for board, and as the
young man did not put in an appearance,
judgment by default was rendered, and
the young mans wages were garnished.
Neither the plaintiff nor the defendant
We're at the time represented by counsel.
But by some hook or crook Downward got
hold of the young man who owed the
board bill, convinced him that he had
not been dealt with fairly, and succeeded
in having himself retained, with the priv
ilege of righting matters.
STARTED IN LIVELY.
The first step taken by the newly-en-
gagged attorney was to appear before
Judge Starr, and move to have the judg-
ment set aside, on the ground that the
defendant was a minor and was not
responsible for the debt.
young legal light that it was customary
among lawyers to notify the plaintiff
when desiring to make a motion of this
kind. And before the attorney was al
lowed to depart the Judge, in Kindness,
read him chapter Of law, showing him
that when minors were not living with
their parents they were responsible for
any board bills they might contract. The
Judge said that if the attorney really
We're to work for the best interests of his
client, he would not swell the bill of costs
by making foolish motions and delaying
the proceedings.
But Downward knew better.
He notified the plaintiff of his intended
motion, and, when the plaintiff re-
sponded by appearing in court, he read
an affidavit showing that his client was
minor, and therefore not responsible.
AS Judge Starr had previously indicated,
this motion to set aside the Judgment
was without merit, and of course he over
ruled it.
INSULTED THE COURT.
Downward got mad. 'You sir" he
shouted, shaking his finger at the court.
have leaned toward the plaintiff all
through this case, and the plaintiff has
perjured himself.''
Here sir, this is contempt. don't
allow any body to
But Downward did not wait to hear the
Judge out, and left the Courtroom in
high dudgeon.
Judge Starr is not the kind of man
who loses his head or gets unduly excited
on occasions like this, and, seeing that
no Constable was about, quietly sat down
and did some writing in his docket or
court recOrd-book. When he had fin
ished, he sent word to Downward that he
wanted to see him. The attorney augured
that this meant that the Judge had re-
covered his mental equilibrium, and
was now ready TO recognize the merits of
with abundant smiles, he hurried to the
Courtroom and saluted his Honor.
Il just thought" began the Judge, in
his quiet way, that l would read this
entry in my docket to you before going
any further. | want to see if it is all
right
THOUGHT IT A PICNIC.
The smiling attorney nodded, and with
wave of his hand babe the court pro-
coed.
But when the Judge began to read that
zone A. Fl. Downward conducted himself
in manner in the presence of this court
whereby he was guilty of contempt"
there was grand physiOgnomic trans
formation scene. The chair occupied by
the legal luminary had stout arms at
tached to it, else he would have fallen to
the floor.
To add to his misory the court exhib-
tied a commitment addressed to the
Sheriff, and instructing that official to
take charge of said Downard' for
twenty-four hours, and also until said
fine Of $40 is PAID
When the attorney regained conscious
ness he apOlogized and begged the court
10 be merciful. He did not mean to insult
the court and must have been talking
through his hat.''
The Judge relented. He gave the
young man some very good advice, how
ever, and wound up by warming him
that the next time he got funny he would
have To go to Jail for life-on the strength
of the prior conviction.