The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-05-10

speak of this old bag frequently and l
have seen it many times. 1t was not
handsome thing by any means.
Indeed | remember be once sent It out
by the janitor to be repaired. The fellow
looked askance at the time-wor carpet
sack and retired from the room. When
seen later the man was on his way to the
trunk store. but he carried the old bag
well wrapped in paper. The honesty of
most men in politics is comparative.
Judge Niblack in politics was absolute.
He was open to conviction, but when
once he had fixed his determination that
he was right, no power on earth could
swerve him from his course"
Judge Niblack secured the appointment
OF Mr. Cox as librarian in charge of the
supreme court library The rule has
long been established that the library
should be closed from y noon until
o'clock p. m. Mai. NJ. Wilson was law
yer claiming to have a large amount of
business before the supreme court. One
dav when Mr.. Cox was at dinner Maj.
Wilson wen; to the library and found it
closed. Upon the return of the librarian
the LAWYER, with a show of asDerity and q
large amount of pomDosIty, Immediately
attempted TO call Mr.. Cox to account
| This flashed in the pan. Il came to the
! library" said he to the librarian, and
| found it closed. You have no right to
absent yourself, sir, from your post OF
| duty in this manner to the detriment of
! the practicing attorneys. l shall report
| you, sir, for your neglect of duty"
Mai. Wilson, | have this to say 10
| YOU" replied Mr.. Cox: I'm closing the
| library at noon l have only followed the
precedent which was established long
/ before you were permitted TO practice law
| before the supreme court l have also
| this to say TO YOU: You have shown
Yourself to be about as much of gentle
man as you are lawyer"
"Hou are puppy. sir; puppy" ex-
claimed the irate major.
MIR. Cox Immediately reached for an
iron poker. and Maj. Wilson reached for
the door and went through the opening
in hurry.
In q few moments he returned with
Judge Niblsck. The Judge addressed Mr..
Cox and said Charley, Mai. Wilson
has come to me and told his story. and !
have come to hear yours. What has hap
| pened ?'
Mr.. Cox then related the circumstances
just as they had occurred. Judge Niblack
thereupon turned and walked up to
where Wilson was standing aside, and
fixing his sharp. piercing eve upon the
lawyer, he said:
Maj. Wilson, this library was estab-
lished for the exclusive use of the Judges
OF the supreme court II LAWYERS are
permitted to use it, it has only been ns q
courtesy extended by the court Now,
sir. you have deliberately insulted this
Young man. and only because he was act
ing in accordance with an Old established
| l., Il 81. = I - a q !
be no misunderstanding about this matter
when l tell you that If you cannot accept
the privileges of the library without max.
ing consum Il ate ass of yourself, you will
save future trouble by keeping out of the
library altogether. Do | make myself
| plain, sir ."
The complaining lawyer, Invested OF all
his pomDosity, mumbied a sort of apol
ogy, and. thoroughly crestfallen, left the
| room. That was his last attempt to show
off" before Judge Niblack.
Attorney General Green Smith said
''The death of Judge Niblack remove:
| from this state an historic landmark His
career was intimately interviewer with
| the early history of Indiana, and makes
an era of the greatest development OF this
| country. He has for half century been
| a leading character in the political and
| judicial councils of the state and nation
As politician he possessed that suavity
Of character so needed in a successful
| public career.
"As a member of congress, he bore him
self as a true statesman. and when on the
bench he respected and upheld the dig
nifty of the highest court of the state. His
entire life has been c success, rs success
in this life goes He served his country
well and passed beyond the stream Of
time in the iullness of years and loved
and honored by all who knew him"