Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1891-05-28

The fine was paid, and while
this disposition Of the case excited
some comment nothing was ever
done about it. the people Of the
neighborhoOd seeming to agree with
Judge benson that it was a good
way to get rid Of the negro
The Judge had more respect for
the Bible than he had for the law,
and when negroes appeared as wit
nesses in his court he made them
kiss the almanac, i don't allow
no reflections Oh the Bible in this
court, he explained one day when
a lawyer objected to having colored
witnesses sworn on the almanac.
Judge Denson's form of oath
and his form OF the marriage
ceremony were brief and not
exactly according to the code,
but both were effective. When he
administered the oath TO witness
he said You swear here in the
presence Of God A'mity and this
Court, to tell the truth, so help you
Jesus. Amen :
His marriage ceremony was
something like this John, you
love this woman Mary, you love
this man: Then you are man and
and wife the cost is 81.
His first divorce case came up
after he had been in office eight
years, and the principals happened
to be couple he he had united in
marriage some five years before
The husband was the plaintiff and
the wife had engaged "A lawyer.
When the husband told how his
wife had pulled his hair boxed his
ears and then went to candy pull
ing with another man Judge Den
promptly declared them put asun-
der according to the law and the
Gospel.
Bat, your Honor, You have
no jurisdiction IN this case sug-
gested the defendants attorney.
NO what ? asked the Judge,
stcrnly-no man had ever before
dared question one of his decis-
ions.
You have no authority in this
case. The law does not give JUS
tlce OF the Peace power to grant IA
divorce.
'Dldn / marry tins couple :
Yes, but
Then II unmarry them AL ;
YOU are fined $40 for being in con-
tempt OF tins court. Ia like to
see the law that gives me the power
to splice people an then says
can't uncouple EN- when they've
got scriptural proof.
The decision stood and no APP
peal was ever taken.
p" In the trial of a a,it for dam
ages where the plaintiff claimed to
have been cheated in "A horse swap
the defendant demanded IA jury to
try the case, and Judge benson had
a jury summoned. 1t was summer
and Court was held in the shade of a
big oak tree that day, because the
Judges office was two small to hold
all the spectators. When the evil
dence was all taken the jury retired
to thick clump of bushes some
distance away to make up their YER
diet. At the end of an hour they
returned and reported that they
could not agree.
But You must agree said the
Judge, and he sent them back to
the secluslon of the bushes. Again
they returned without IA verdict.
and reported that eight were for the
plaintiff and four for the defend
ant.
Well, that's verdict. A ma
jority always rules in this country
and the Judge entered "A verdict for
the plaintiff on his docket.
"Once negro was on trial be-
fore Judge benson for carving
concealed weapons. lie had law
yer who wanted to prove that the
prisoners life had been threatened.
and under such circumstances the
law allowed him to carry weapons.
The evidence all in, the lawyer arose
with book in his hand said
May 1t please your Honor, | have
here recent decision of the Su-
preme Court in case similar in
every way to this one, and the Court
ordered the acquittal of the defen-
dant.' i.
Then III override the Supreme