New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-06
HOW BEDFORD ACTS HIS PART
THE Ex-JUDGE THEATRICAL IN ALL.
HIS WAY OF MAKING'A " HIT . IN COURT ROOM
BRINGING DOWN TIE PLAUDITs


BRINGING DOWN TIE PLAUDITs
OF THE PoPULAcE.
Although ex-Jurge Cunning s. Bedford is best Known
as public prosecutor his chief title 10 fame IS really
his ability as theatrical Manager Ills devotion 10
the interests OF his star is touching It's ingenuity and
perseverance. The actor whom he Is thus tirecssIy
seeking 10 keep prominently bdore the public, In
season and out Is mono other sthsn exJldge Dedford
himself. He is theatrical in everything. Ills every
pose word and action is studied effort to be dramatic,
and TO attract the notice Of the Dopulaoe
A visit TO a court ia General sessions In which ex-
Judge Bedford Is representing or better is-ths
People is treat to the student Of human nature. by
constant playing 10 the grand stand" baseball
term IL, the ex-Judge seeks to impress jury and
spectators his transcendent ability and fairness. Ills
idea Of his own importance is shown by his calling out;
Let the witnesses answer 10 their names that may
try the casc,' not that the Judge and Jury may. 10
would be well to every one WHO does not wish
to- offend him not TO leave of tie title Judge In
speaking TO him. man did cal him Mr." onco
inadvertently, but the ex-Judge never spoke to him
again. unless compelled TO do BIZ business and be
came his most bitter enemy
IL may occur to the reader that he has heard
the ex-Judge spoken Of as "GunnieF Perhaps he
has, but never In that PERSONS presence II any ono
should do tIat-welI, in all probability the ex-Judee
would swell up with Indignation until he reached
state In which the prick OF pin would scatter him all
over the walls and ceiling Of the room. The
feminine sufhx is perhaps only the natural eonse-
quence Of the ex-Judges dminutiye person. 1t Is
true that he is only knee hight TO giraffe
but IL is unknd to refer 70 this. IN view Of tie re-
mendous spirit that dominates the confined quarters.
" II 'Gunnie we're only as big as lie thinks he Is he
couldn't enter this COURTROOM remarked lawyer
once.
Although nature has made the ex-Judse small
enough, his enemies, by taking thought and talking
from his stature. Notable among these enemies Is
Colonel A. Hannibal Humboldt Dawson, the hery
southerner who has 10 get under hydrant when he
Is In passion TO keep the blood from burning through
lbs veins. When the Colonel and the ex-Judge iougis
their memorable duel lat 5000 PAGES, through ITO
newspapers) the Southron, with suggestion OIL con
tempt in his tone, told reporter that MS ah'ago'
only came up TO his knee. OF course tihS was 'no
vision of a mind diseased by hate and passion IN
reality, ex-Judge Bedford could pull the Coioheis
mustacle by standing on his tip-toes
IL is common talk In the General sessions Bninhs
that the ex-Judge selects the cases 70 be tried In MS
mart ~ the court 'Tis further reported that lle
chooses only cases In which it is either almost ini'
possible or exceedingly easy TO secure cohViction'
In the handling Of Of the former Kind he Always
makes a hitn with the spectators. When 1t mas DO
come perfccty plain that there is no case against
the prisoner exJudgc Bedford refuses to prosecute MIN
In a grand speech. The jury, without leaving their
seats find verdict Of not guilty. and the impression
gets abroad that the exJudge never lets the zea Of
prosecutor interfere with his sense OF JUSTICE Inns
scere with its accompaniment OF the calcium nBh's
and red and blue fire Of his eoquence, Is sometimes
enacted when the spectator is by means convinced
~ tho urisouers innocence In these instances ones
mind reyerts naturally to the big chunks OF eA-'
travagant nattery which tile lawyer for the defence
has cast at the ex-Judge, TO whom such triDues a"
sweeter than honey and the honeyeomb.
Ex,JudGe Bedfords oratory is such that be Is SAID
to remind himself Of Daniel webster II Is Oh tis
kind that used to signalize the Fourth OF july anu
still to be heard in the debating societies Oh So IT,,
academies. 1t aloft like an eagle any I'LL
gives the impression that the speaker ID wy ms
himself instead OF prosecuting criminal inuoa 0y
after time does IL cOndescend to sink to the c0mmV
place issues OF the charge OF larceny or assait winch
IS named in the indictments. IL aepnnas III pnrase,
like . most foul and damna6e conspiracy eycs
hatched," GOD forbid the day WIIlin u'G sae eS
pered in high heaven" and so on In the midst II
such fights Gupne' becomes Transformed aln See I
to be nearer feet four than fonr feet SIX s vocs
a wee tiny bit OF one that is lust MS size its
height is extraordinary, however, Ill man Oh uie Ca
The talk that exJudse BEDFORD will try to snSesd
Rufns B. CowIng as City Judge recalls c,cmns'iaC d
~ The formers career on the bench ESJuaso be 20
ford is always striving to coueract u,c enSHy ri
in ealing attention to and aecentuatng IT, When aa
was City Judge he had the bench at Tc nc Is s bssS
SorS II he used 10 sit on tall chair with NVoiVms
seat which could be raised aP0 2 t ec hah " Was
Oh o. sr HE feet court officer for joke, used 70
screw the seat to its Lowest point g SeiGe 1s
9pchnIu' trettnS and tuning as he spent minute OF
two in wng the seat up to the tSS T %n T With
4. III little head visible above the high desk, ina,
QUIZ itfin how asked his father II that wasn't the rcN
jan Ii.b al these little idOsyscrasies the exJudge Is
hard working earnest Assistant cectlyc Win
ii5 ora aDd az a prosecutor he has many admiraDB
Qualities Another prominent feature ,. o. his Tar
acer is that he is an eXceednSy go4 90 eas norsons
- hop, he likes. In his manners; too ne IS snave
courteous and polished ana aitoyether' '"e1e e "'