Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-05-31
JUSTICE CAUGHT MAPPING.
How Justice Irving Was Induced to Sign
His Own Death Warrant.

How Justice Irving Was Induced to Sign
His Own Death Warrant.
A prominent lawyer Of New Jersey,
who has an Office on lower Broadway,
tells story about New York city judges
of 40 years ago that always fetches a
smile. Judge John T. Irving, the up
right and conscientious brother of Wash
ington Irving, is the hero Of the alleged
incident 1t occurred in the days when
judges received fee Of 81 for every pa
per they signed One day two promi-
nent New York lawyers, so the story
runs, were in Judge Irving's court when
he was busily engaged in signing papers.
There was a long line of lawyers filing
slowly in front Of his desk, and as each
passed up his papers he at the same
time laid down a corresponding 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 to his compan-
ion:
II 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 him. 1t is impOs-
sible for him 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 other lawyer declared the
judge caught at glance the important
sentence or phrase Of each
"Well, don't believe it" exclaimed
the other. Il feel sure, in spite of bet
ter intentions, that that 81 fee acts as
an incentive and causes his honor to
slight his work, and I'm going to prove
what l 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 and at certain hour and in a GER
tain place Judge Irving was to be
hanged by the neck until he should 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 his fingers in a
manner, and laid down his
81 with the other hand.
His honor unfolded the paper and hur-
riedly plunged his pen in the ink. There
was a splitter and scrawl, and Judge
Irving had signed his own death war
rant. That night the lawyer went to a
social gathering. which Judge Irving
was to attend, with the death warrant
in his pocket. When he found himself in
a corner with the judge, he said Judge,
l was watching you signing papers to-
day, and / couldn't for the life Of Inc
how you can read them all
Do you really read them?"
"Why, certainly. It's matter Of
habit, you know. / have acquired it by
years of practice. / can at glance de-
tect the really important sentence or
word. +"
WELL" said the lawyer, producing
the death warrant and foldingi in such
q manner that the name Of Judge Irving
only was visible, sis that your sigma
ture?"
The judge put on his glasses, stared at
the paper an instant, and then declared
It was his signature The lawyer then
the paper and handed it to the
Judge. The latter read it and turned
crimson.
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. New York Press.