Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-12

Ky Roosevelt presiding.
N>MH WI and with the three ap-
potrted examiners,
sFE-T1 Burrill, Hutchins and
al n NicoH, duly at their
NJ post . class Of sixty or
90 came up for legal
questioning. One old
fellow Of fifty. who had probably failed at most
Of the semi-annuai examinations of . quarter
Of q century, was requested by Mr.. Hutchins to
deinea corporation sole" With the sim
plicity OF ignorance and innocence he made
answer '-Sure. corporation has no soul
The temptation was irresistible and Mr. Bur
rin stsrnly asked him to tell him how he would
proceed II "A tenant for life held over In
order 10 dispossess him. But this was too
much FOR the poor applicant and he quietly
sank back in his seat in fearful and tremulous
Oblivion. Mr.. Nicoll. however, crowned the
climax of sbsurdity by eiiciting probably the
most remarkable reply on record from clumsy,
heavy headed genius whose demesnor had all
the solenlnity of . Scion or Solomon, or both
Said Mr.. Nicoll, With grave propriety Of adj
dress and glancing al his sage subject over the
rims Of his spectacles with extreme sagaclty:
my worthy friend. and I hope future pro-
fessional brother, suppose you were q justice
OF the peace. and q man accused OF arson were
brought before you to be dealt with according
20 Law, now, what would you do with him!
ScfotCnllk hs pOnOerOus ut3o Tic puunph
slowly returned: I'D fine him hundred dol
lars and make him marry the girl" This was
even worse than the stupidity OF the Irish
police magistrate who in a certain dos-steaiing
case stated the law to be that il the animal
went away with the intention of returning it
was . clear case of animal revertendi and con-
sequenty nothing else than downright theft
JUDGE JOHN y. EDNUSps.
A noticeable character Of that day was Judge
John ". Edmunds of the state supreme court
Wiry, gaunt, wrinkled in deep burrows, clad in
rusty black, specialized, grim of glance. yet
good enough natured, plain, practical lawyer
like looking person, still he became . spirit
that subject On the bench he presided with
dignity, wisdom and thorough presence OF
mind; but when discussing the affairs of
another world he at once became strangely per-
verted Of view and stubborniy indomitabie of
determination. He edited and prefaced sew
eral BOOKS spiritualism with extraordinary
vigor and earnestness, and long after he openly
protested a belief in that doctrine he kept his
seat on the bench and laid down the rules of
both law and equity with unquestioned sound
ness. Indeed, very few judges have possessed
20 strongly the confidence Of the profession and
the people at large as this spirit-seeing,
medium believing, tabie-moving jurisconsult-
He made but few converts among his brethren
of the bench and bar 20 his peculiar tenets of
faith, but the weight OF his decisions In legal
and judicial matters did not suffer or diminish
In the public estimation despite his morbid or
imaginative idiosyncrasy and marked pecu-
harity OF mind
Mr.. JUSTICE NELSON.
Mr.. Justice Nelson o. the United States dis
trict court was one Of the most leonine pres
ences ever seen upon the bench. Portly.
horid. massive, with thickly flowing white hair
and vhiskers and shaggy eyebrows. a ponderous
brow and firm. decisive manner, sustained mode
OF oppression and general bearing this Judge at
the age Of sixty or slXty-nve strongly reminded
one OF the mighty and masculine Christopher
North. of the Noctes Ambrosians and the glori-
Gus recreatons, man Of the woods and OF
books, great, healthy Samson with the broad
brain of . lawyer. During the late war he was
largely occupied in the trial for condem nation
OF blockade runners and prize seizures-cap-
tured neutrsls which had risked wreck and
ruin In order to insure by successful fraud on
the government usurious interest upon their
hazardous ventures In these cases he was dis
tinguished for his correct rulings in interna-
tional law, his clear knowledge of patriotic
principles and the uniformly equitable spirit
Of his judgments.
Judges Ingraham and Mitchell were once
ven-known personages among the notable
lawyers Of New York. Both tall, slightly men
of dignihed bearing. singular fairness Of mind
and deep reading III the lore Of their profession,
gentlemen who simply to see was to trust and
believe in-these two goodly personages graced
the bench throughout many years. illustrious
landmarks of the old Manhattan Island bar Of
their distinguished day-a day when there
were giants IN the field Of civil fray.
There were many other famous practitioners
IN the courts OF justice at that time. There
was Hugh Maxwell, one of the counsel in the
tragic Helen Jewett case. a strong, effective
speaker and shrewd eross-examiner of unwill-
ing witnesses. That trim. sharply defined form
OF middle stature. with firm, clean-cut features
and snowy hair worn TO the shoulders, became
In after years respected and conspicuous
ngure among the venerable residents of the
city. Horace Holden was likewise prominent
person NJ the bar. Chiefly a chambers lawyer
. safe and wise adviser Of the widow and the
orphan, and an estate investor and admins
traitor of sAill. he acquired In long lifetime
wealth for himself and left enyiable repu-
tation for soandness Of sense and integrity of
character 20 his descendants.
Daniel s. Dickinson fought the battles Of the
bar with noted ability for nearly half a cen
fury, . strong and solid lawyer among his
eminent contemporaries Frank Byrne, of
dapper make. energetic, iudefstigable and ever
staneh ~ his clients and their causes-a trim,
handsome face GROWING 9 tidy, lawyer-like
Little shape-sIvays appeared we'll in the pref
ence OF . jury, ne having tuency and law and
logic enough to hold their fixed attention
throughou, the dullest and dryss: Of business
ostAls and deep commercial controversies
EDWIN JAMES T.LURx.
IL u 0 curious fact that but few learned for
Ss8Ac<s So--4ho W Seh SeA respect
able figure when pitted against American law
yers- notable IL not notorious example Of
this stAteRen rs was seen IN the instance Of Ed
win James, queens counsel, of London He
had led career Of extraordinary adventure
and vicissitude. or hereulean physique DOS.
sessiug the doughty sinews of a prize fighter.
the heavy face and sturdy setting Of genuine
John Bull and the firm nerves of q naturally
bold MANN the very prime of his years and
mAnhood-this gifted Engiishman fed from
aisgrace and disbarment al home to the FIELDS
of new life and hope abroad. He was, after
strenuous opposition on the part Of number
of members Of the New York bar. upon the
ground Of his dishonor az the English bar and
summary dropping from its rolls. admitted
upon motion. and duly announced himself as
able and ready 10 practice. With the
design OF entering upon sort of
Old Bailey business here, he courted
eompanionship with the ubiquitous bar
of the police court and the general session Of
the peace IL was some little time before he
graduated from the vigilsnt precincts of Justice
Bowling and the Tonbs into the oyer and
terminer. But this he finally did, and the most
respectable practitioners we're On the Jul vivs
" hear the leader Of the nisi prius bar Of Lon
don try 9 cause involving capital punishment in
one Of the common Law courts Of New York. 1t
is enough to say that Q very general sense Of
disappointment resulted Mr. James, although