Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-09-06
aNisttllanrous 3caaine.
HIS DEATIIWARRANT.

His DEAliiM AKRAAI.
A prominent New Jersey lawyer
tells the Cincinnati Enquirer story
that possesses more than local interest.
1t is a true narrative Of how one man
constituted himself a Lexow committee
Of one, and in a simple but neverthe-
less ingenious manner practically Grad
icated an evil in one New York court
which had grown to proportions that
seemed alarming. 1t was the court OF
Judge J. T. Irving. 1t was the rule
that every time the judges signed a
paper they should receive fee Of one
dollar. 1t meant that it cost one dol
lar to have the judge write his auto
graph.
One day two prominent New York
lawyers were in Judge Irvng's court
when he was busily engaged in signing
papers. There was long line of law
yers filing slowly in front of his desk,
and as each passed up his papers he at
the same time laid down correspond
ing number of dollars. The judge
would glance at the papers, make a
scrawl on each, and take up the next
package, the pile of greenbacks grow
ing steadily as the line of lawyers thin
ned out. One of the two lawyers look
ing on said to his companion:
~ have the highest respect for the
Judges integrity, but 1 am satisfied he
does not know half the time what he
is signing"
With that he strobe out of the room,
and presently returned with legal
form signed by the sheriff, and which
set forth that on such and such day,
at certain hour and in a certain
place, Judge Irving was to be hanged
by the neck until he would be dead.
The lawyer then took his place in the
line filing before the judges desk.
When it came his turn he held up the
paper folded between the fingers, in a
nonchalant manner, and laid down his
one dollar with the other hand, watch
ing the judge narrowly out of the cor
ner of his eyes.
His honor unfolded the the paper,
and hurriedly plunged his pen in the
ink. There was splutter and a
scrawl, and Judge Irving had signed
his own deathwarrant.
Without word the lawyer took the
document and put it away carefully in
his pocket. His companion, who had
watched the performance with bated
breath, could scarcely believe his eyes.
That night the lawyer went to a social
gathering, which Judge Irving was to
attend, with the deathwarrant in his
pocket. Late in the eveving he found
himself in a corner with the judge, and
realized that his opportunity had
come to serve his warrant.
"Judge" he began, ~ was watching
you signing papers today, and |
couldn't for the life. of me understand
how you can read them all. Do you
really read them"
"Why, certainly. It's a matter Of
habit you know. have acquired it by
years of practice. can at a glance
detect the really important sentences or
words"
"Don't you think that rather dan
gerous practice? Mightn't you put
your name to something you ought
not to?"
"Oh, my, MOI"
"You don't think the dollar fee is an
incentive to the man to do the work a
little more hurriedly than he ought?"
~ can't answer for other men, but l
am sure in my own case the money
makes no difference"
SWELL" said the lawyer, producing
the death warrant, and holding it in
such a manner that the name Of Judge
Irving only was visible, "is that your
signature ?"
''It looks like it,
"Examine it closely, and tell me if
it is your handwriting"
The judge put on his glasses, stared
at the paper, and then declared it was
his signature. The lawyer then un-
folded the paper, and handed it to the
Judge. The latter read it, and turned
crimson.
"When did you get that paper ?" he
gasped.
II gave it to you this morning, and
you signed it. 1t told Lawyer Bland
you would sign it, and you did"
After that the signing of papers in
Judge Irving's court was as long and
tedious a process as it had been rapid
and careless before. 1t was said of
him that he was much slower and
more painstaking than he need have
been.