The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1895-06-07
JUSTICE cAcar,, nArpINe.~



How Justice Irving Was Induced to Sign
His Own Death Warrant.
A prominent lawyer Of Kew Jersey,
who has an Office on lower Broadway,
tells story about Now York city judges
Of 40 years ago that always fetches d
smile. Judge John L Irving, the mp
right and conscientious brother Of Wash
ington Irving, is the hero of the alleged
Judges received fec of Il for every pa
per they signed. One day two promi-
nent Now York lawyers, so the story
runs, We're in Judge Irving court when
he was busily engaged in signing papers
There was u long limo of lawyers filing
slowly in front of his desk, and as each
passed up his papers no at the sume
timo laid down corresponding number
Of dollars. Tie judge wcu'd glance at
the papers, make scrawl on each and
take up the next package, the pile of
grecnblcks growing steadily as the line
of lawyers thinncd ont Ono of tho two
lawyers looking Oh said to lis compan
ion:
81 have the highest respect for the
judges integrity, but I'm satisfied he
doesn't know half the time what he is
signing Why, watch lin. It is impos-
sible for hir to get half Of an idea of
what is on the paper. If he examined
each one closely, he'd never get done,
but he should be more careful neverthe
less. - The othor lawyer declared the
judge caught at a glance the important
sentence or phrase Of each.
"Well, don't believe it; exclaimed
the other II feel sure, i'll spite of bet
ter intentions, that that 81 fee acts as
ali incentive and causes his honor to
| slight his work, and IN going to prove
What say" With that he strobe ont Of
tie room and presently returned with a
| legal form signed by the sheriff, and
| which set forth that ON such and snch a
| day and at certain hour and in cor
tan place Judge Irving was to be
hanged by the neck until he should ke
de.;d. The lawyer ;hen took his place IN
tho line filing before the judges desk.
| Vixen it came his turn lie held mp the
paper, folded between his fin ers IN a
nonchalalt manner, and laid down his
| 81 with the other baud.
| His honor unfolaed the paper and hur-
richly plunged his zen i'll the ink. There
WIS splitter and a scrawl, ard Judge
Irving had signed his own Geath war
rant That night the lawyer Went to a
social gathering, which Judge Irving
was to attend, with the death warrant
in his pocket Whcl lie found himself in
corner with tie judge, .hes ,id: Judge,
/ was watching you signing papers to.
day, and ! couldn't for the life of Inc
understand how you can road them all.
Do you really read them?"
why, certainly. It's matter Of
habit, you knew. have acquired it by
years of practice l can at glance de
tect the really important sentence o.
word y
well" said the lawyer, producing
the death warrant and folding it i'll sucl
manner that the name Of Judge Irving
only was visible, lis that your sigma
ture?"
The judge put on his glasses, stared a
the paper an instant and then declared
it was his signature. The lawyer the1
unfolded the paper and handed it to thu
Judge. The latter read it and turnet
crimson.
| After that the signing of papers il
Judge Irving's court was as long alS
tedious process as it had been rapid ant
careless before. New York Press.