The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1894-04-13

eliminating in the petty criminal cas-
es constantly arising discriminating
between the moral and legal wrongs,
and the petty errors of the head rath-
er than of the heart. Review the re-
cords of the court during the long
years that Judge Porter has held the
office, and there is found nothing to
criticise in the conduct of him who
has Just retired from the bench.
Judge Porter arose and had consid-
cradle difficulty in suppressing his
emotion. He said that it was the I'M
expected that happens, and it was so
in this case. He had expected to re-
tire from the office at least with the
respect and confidence of the bar and
of his fellow citizens The resolu-
tions read here this morning and pre-
Sented to be spread upon the minutes
of the court were wholly unexpected.
He felt that he was not worthy of
the resolutions. During the long
term of years he had sat on the bench
many questions had arisen and thOus-
ands of cases had been presented to
him for his consideration. That he
had committed errors went without
saying. In the many cases more or
less important that had come before
him there must have been some where
his Judgment had been misled, and he
had made mistakes. He had endeav-
ored to the best of his ability to do
what was right and proper in all cases
that had come before the court. He
retired with a clear conscience toward
all, and kind feeling toward all the
members of the bar and his fellow
citizens. He returned the bar his sin
cere thanks for the courtesy ever
shown toward him. There had been
times in the heat and excitement of a
case when the counsel may have tho't
the court had erred, but he had re-
ceived kindness and courtesy always.
He bespoke for his successor the same
kindness and courtesy. He thanked
the members of the bar for their eX-
pressions in the resolutions, and de-
clared they would always be to him a
sweetness. He did not think he had
deserved all, that been said, and all he
had expected when he retired was con-
idence. He again thanked the court
and the members of the bar.
The resolutions were unanimously
adopted, and the court ordered that
they be spread upon the records.
Mr.. Freeman then arose and said
that at the request of the members of
the bar he took pleasure in presenting
to Judge Porter a little token of re-
spect. By the peculiar form of the
token it was not intended to say that
the sands of life of the recipient had
nearly run their course, or that his
usefulness was gone. Years hence he
could rely upon this slight token, and
as he relied upon it's strength those
present wished that he would think
of it as being a symbol of the strength
Of the affection which the bar enter
tanned toward him.
Judge Porter arose to reply, but it
was some moments before he could
master his emotions sufficiently to
trust his voice, and even then he pro-
ceeded with great difficulty and with
dim eyes. He said truly that he could
hardly find words to express his feel
ings. AS he had said before, he fully
! appreciated the good will of the bar as
shown by the resolutions adopted.
This beautiful gift at the hands of the
bar OF the city was wholly and totally
unexpected. That he appreciated it
they might be well aware. 1t had
come so suddenly and Unexpectedly
that he had no words to express his
thanks. He felt that he was not
worthy of the compliment which had