The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1895-06-20
JUSTICE CAUGHT MAPPING,
How Justice Irving Was In
duced TO sign His Own
Death Warrant.
New York prcs~

N'N ibIh IlfF
A prominent lawyer Of New Jer-
sty, who has M Office on lower
Broadway, te'ls story about n New
York city Judge Of 40 years ago that
ilyays ietches smile. Judge John
!. Irving, the upright and con.
scientioas brother OF Washington lrv.
ing is the hero of the alleged incident.
l. occurred in the days when Judges
r.cciyed fee Of 81 for every paper
they signed. One day two prominent
New York lawyers, so the stnry runs
were in Judge INings's court when
he was busily engaged in signing pa.
pers. There was long line of law
yers fling slowly in front Of his desk,
and as each passed up his papers he at
the same time laid down u correspond
ing number OF dollars. The judge
would glance nj the papers, make n
scrawl on each and take up the next
package, the pile Of grcenbacks grow
ing steadily as the line Of lawyers
thinned out. One Of the two lawyers
looking on said to his companion;
have the highest respect for the
judges integrity, but I'm satisfied he
doesn't know halfthe time what he is
signing. Why, watch him. Its inn
possible for him to get half OF IN idea
Of what is on the paper II he OK
amined each ono closely, he'd never
get done, but he should DO more caro-.
fal nevertheless" Tho other law
yer declared the Judge caught at n
glance the important sentence or
pbrase Of each.
"Well | don't believe IT," cxclaim-
cd the other. 81 feel sure, in spite Of
better intentions, that that 81 fee acts
MS m incentive and causes his honor
10 slight his work, and I'm going TO
prove what say" With that he
strobe ont Of the room aud presently
returned with n legal form signed by
the sheriff, and which set forth that
on such day and at n certain hour
and in certain place Judge Irving
was TO bo hanged by the neck until
he should be dead. The lawyer then
took his place In the liuc fling before
the judges desk. When il camc his
turn, hc held up the paper, folded be-
tween his fingers in nonchalant
manner and laid down his 81 with
the other hand.
Hiu honor unfoldcd the paper and
hurriedl% plunged his pen in the ink.
There was splutter and n scrawl,
and Judge Irving had signed his own
death warrant, That night the law
yer went to social gathering, which
Judge Irving was TO attend, with the |
doath warrant in his pocket, When
he found himself in corner with the |
judge, he saldi Judge, was watch
ing you signing papers today, end |
couldn't for the life of me understand
how you can read thcm all, DO you
really read themy'
"Why, certainly, It's matter of
habit, you know. ] have acquired 1t
by years OF pMctice, can at a
glance detect the really important
sentence or word"
"Well" said the lawyer producing |
tho death warrant and folding 1t in
such q manner that the name Of
Judge Irving only was visible, "ls
that your signatuFey"
The Judge put on his glasses, stared
ut the paper an Instant and then de-
eaFed il was his signature, The law
yer then unfolded the paper and
handed II 10 lhe Judge, The latter
Iead II and turned crimson,
Af'er that the signing Of papers IN
Judge lVlng's court was rs long and
tedious n process as " had heen rapid
and careless helbpe,