The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-07-30
signed His own Denth warrant.

A prominent New Jersey lawyer tells a
story that posses more than local interest.
says the Cincinnati Enquirer It is a true
years ago. constituted Himself a Lexow
committee Of one. and In a simple but new
ertheless ingenious manner practically
S Ns% York an court eva which n S GRf
grown 10 proportions that seemed
alarming It was the court OF Judge John
u. Irving, a brother Of Washington Irving.
The Judge was considered an upright
| Christian gentleman OF spotless reputa-
ton, and never whisper had been heard
against his name.
1t was the rule in those days that every
time the judges signed a paper they Shout
receive fee Of 81. II remained the rule
Tor great many years afterward, and it
still prevails in some branches, as is well
known. 1t meant that il cost 81 TO have
the judge write his autograph one day
TWO prominent New York lawyers were in
Judge lrying's court when he was busily
engaged in signing papers There was a
long line of lawyers filing slowly in front
or his desk and as each passed up MS pa
perS he at the same time laid down cor
responding number of dollars. The judge
would glance at the papers, make scrawl
on each and take up the next package
the pile Of greenbacks growing steadily
as the line Of lawyers thinned out. One of
the two lawyers looking on said 10 his
companion;
Il have the highest respect for the
judges integrity, but I'm satisfied he does
not know half the time what he is sign
ing. W ny, Watcn nlIls II Is lfuDuSslDlt lot
him to get half of an idea of what is on the
Il feel sure that, in spite of better in
tentiOns, that 81 fee acts as an incent-
i've, and causes his honor to slight his
work, and I'm going to prove what ! say. -
With that he strobe out Of the room, and
presently returned with a legal form
signed by the sheriff. and which set forth
that on such and such a day, at a certain
hour and a certain place, Judge Irving was
to be hanged by the neck until he should
he dead place
in the line filing before the judges desk.
When it came his turn he held UP the pa
per, folded between the fingers, in a nom
chalant manner. and laid down his 81 with
the other hand, watching the judge mar
rowly out of the corner of his eyes.
His honor unfolded the paper and hur-
riedly plunged his pen in the ink. There
was a splitter. and n scrawi and Judge
Irving had signed his own death warrant.
Without a word the lawyer took the docu-
ment and put 1t away carefully IN MS
pocket. His companion who had watched
the performance with bated breath, could
scarcely believe his eyes. That night the
Judge Irving was to attend, with the death
warrant in his pocket. Late in the even
ing he found himself in a corner with the
judge, and realized that his opportunity
had come to serve his warrant
Judge" he began, Il was watching you
signing papers to-day, and l couldn't Tor
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. / nave acquired II Dy years OIL
practice. l can at a glance detect the real
" important sentence or word
Don't you think that rather danger
GUS practice? Alightn't you put your name
to something you ought not to-"
"Oh, my, no.
you don't think the dollar fee Is an in
centive to a man to do the, work a little
more hurriedy than he ought?"
Il cannot answer for other men, but 1
am sure in my own case the money makes
no difference"
well" said the lawyer, producing the
death warrant and folding it in such a
manner that the name of Judge irving
only was visible, ''is that your signature
1T looks like it."
Examine it closely and tell me if it is
your handwriting"
The Judge put on his glasses, stared at
the paper an instant 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
When did you get that paper?' he
gasped.
ii gave it to you this morning and you
signed it. / 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.