The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-01-23
A Queer Old Judge.

search. i ne next udy coi" ~" 49,
was found near the river bank. Marks OF
4 struggle were also discovered. lmme-
liately there arose Il cry that the man had
heen murdered: and about this time, there
came along reputable citizen who de-
clared that he had, several days before,
hoard Sam White and Al Miller swear
that they would kill Peters. The two men
were arrested and taken before justice OF
the peace. They avowed their innocence,
and their lawyer declared that they could
not be held for murder until 1t was proven
that murder had been committed. This
proof was not wanting, for fisherman
soon arrived with the information that he
had found the body of Peters. The body
was identified, and the preliminary lrlal
proceeded. resulting not only i'll establish
inc the fact that White and Miller swore
that they would kill Peters, but that they
were overheard to declare that they would
drown him. They were held over and
indicted by the grand jury
When the case came up before Judge
Ouirk. of the Circuit Court, OF the HEX
ory Flat Circuit. some of the ablest lawyers
in the state were in attendance, for White
and Miller were not frendless, and, more
over. they were not without means.
After more than week OF 'skIrmlshlnS
4 iurv was impanelcd, and hence the great
trial was begun. The majority OF the
people, including the press, iour-coIumn
folio set in small plea and printed in the
hack room of i. Il. WhitsUn crossroads
store. believing that a verdict of guilty
would be rendered, and bets were made
with persons who believed that the prison
crs were guilty. but who thought that the
jury might be ''culvered
The trial had not proceeded far when 1t
could be clearly seen that the judge WAS
convinced that White and Miller were
guilty. This jurist was something more
than peculiar old fellow. He was de-
cided character, and so set were his opln-
ions when once formed that no argument
and no proof could change them.
.sGentlemcn of the jury, said the Judge
when all the testimony had been heard.
Il don't think it is necessary to 90 into an
argument concerning this case. The guilt
of these men is so clear that it would be ii
criminal act to waste the cOuntys money
in prolonging this trial. Now, prisoners,
the best thing you can do Is to confess
your guilt and throw yourselves upon the
mercy of this court Have you any con
ifession to make. Mr.. White
No, your honor, except that | am III
nOcent -,
Have you any confession, MIR. Miller:
None. except to say that | had moth
Ing to do with the killing of our friend
Peters.
All right. said the judge, Il see that
YOU do not desire any mercy; but II you
expect to escape punishment by making
prolonged fight, let me tell you that you
will meet with nothing but disappointment.
am here as the fearless agent OF justice.
have made up my mind. | have deter
mined that you are guilty, and nothing on
earth can change me. Gentlemen OF the
iury. YOU NAV retire and agree upon a
verdict"
.Gentlemen," said the Judge, ''to ex-
pedite matters and thereby save expense to
the county, will sentence these men now.
The law may be in favor of delay, but JUS
tice is not. The law might permit the
sheriff to take these men to jail and feed
them at the county's expense, until some
distant day of execution should arrive, but
Justice. the one bright flower in our judi
ciary garden of weeds, looks up and says,
No. Mr.. Sheriff, these men must be hanged
forthwith so take them out when the
death sentence has been passed and hang
them to the most convenient tree. PrlS-
oners at the bar stand up and receive your
sentence
The prisoners stood up, and just as the
nudge pronounced the last words of the
sentence. the wife of Mr.. Peters uttered Il
shout, and bounding toward the door:
threw her arms around Il man who had
lust entered the court room. y wild COM
motion followed
Whats the NATTER" the judge de
manded. .'Who is the man that the be-
reaved widow is hugging?'
Il amt no bereaved widow, jedge, the
woman answered, fur this is my husband,
safe and we'll
'Silence woman,' the judge demanded.
You ought to have better sense than to
interrupt this court.
''Your honor, said the lawyer, 81 sup
pose my clients can now 90 free
And why so, sir ?"
Can your honor ask such question
when Mr.. Peters stands here before You 2
'.Who is Mr.. Peters p
your honor, cannot understand you?
But you will pretty soon. The MIR.
Peters that the court has taken into con-
sideration is dead.
"No. I'm not p exclaimed Peters
stepping forward.
'sYou may think you are not, Mr. Petcr'
but you are. Never in all my profes-
sional career the judge continued, shave
seen facts that so clearly and strongly
established the guilt of two men,
''But, judge, "Peters pleaded, "tha
cannot be. for no murder has been com
mitted."
"Mr Peters you have not examined thu
evidence as'closely as | have.
"But here | stand in refutation OF al
evidence.
MIR. Peters, you have not read as many
text books on evidence as | have. Th'
case against these prisoners is perfect,
clear They swore that you and you
coat were found near the river. Is thi
not strong evidence ?"
''Yes, but"
.'Hold on The body of a man wa
taken from the river and identified as you
remains"
"But | am here to refute the identifi
cation
"Ah, you are here to throw an obstruc
tion in the way of justice, are you?
have heard on several occasions that yol
are man who has very little respect 70
the decision of Court And you hay
come around here to bully me, and that to-
ia the face of the strongest evidence tina
was ever brought before court of justice
Mr.. Sheriff issue bench warrant of arres