Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-27
CARELESS WAY OF SIGNING.
How a Judge Signed His own Death
Warrant.

How a Judge Signed His own Death
Warrant.
From the Cincinnati Inquirer.
A prominent New Jersey lawyer tells a
story that possesses more than local In
terest. 1t is a true narrative of how one
man, about forty years ago, constituted
himself Lexow committee of one, and in
a simple but nevertheless ingenious man
ner practically eradicated an evil In one
New York court which had grown to pro-
portions that seemed alarming. 1t was the
court of Judge John T. Irving. a brother Of
Washington Irving. The Judge was con-
sidered an upright Christian gentleman Of
spotless reputation. and never a whisper
had been hesrd against his name.
1t was the rule in those days that every
time the judges signed paper they should
receive a fee of one dollar. 1t remained the
rule for great many years afterward, and
1t still prevails in some branches as Is well
known. 1t meant that 1t cost one dollar to
have the judge write his autograph. One
day two prominent New York lawyers were
in Judge Irving's court when he was busily
engaged in signing papers. There was
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 corre-
spending number of dollars. The judge
would glance at the papers. make a scrawl
on each and take up the next package, the
line of lawyers thinned out. One of the
two lawyers looking on said to his COM
panion:
II have the highest respect for the
JUDGES integrity, but I'm satisfied he does
not know half the time what he is signing
why. watch him; 1t is impossible for him
to get half of an idea OF what is on the
PAPER
tent1ons, that one dollar fee acts as an in.
centiVe. and causes his honor to slight his
work, and m going to prove what 1 say"
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 certain place. Judge Irving was to be
Ear Ranged by tue neck until he should be dead.
The lawyer then took his place in the line
ming before the judges desk. When 1t
came his turn he held up the paper folded
between the fingers, in a nonchalant man.
other hand. watching the Judge narrowly
cut of the corner of his eyes.
His honor unfolded the paper and hur-
r.edly plunged his pen in the ink. There
was a spiutter. and a scrawl, and Judge
Irving had signed his own death warrant
Without a word the lawyer took the docu-
ment and put 1t away carefully in his pock-
ct. 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 death
warrant III MS pocket. Late In the evening
he found himself in a corner with the judge,
and realized that his opportunity had come
to serve his warrant.
Judge" he began. II was watching you
signing papers today. and I couldn't for
the life of me understand how you can read
them all. Do you really read them?''
why, certainly. It's matter of habit,
YOU know. I have acquired 1t by years of
practice. ! can at a glance detect tl,e really
important sentence or word
Don't you think that rather a dangerous
| practice? Mightn'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 little
more hurriedly than he ought?"
II can't answer for other men, but am
difference"
well" said the lawyer, producing the
| death warrant and folding it in such
manner that the name of Judge Irving only
| was visible. .'is that your signatureT
1T looks like it."
Examine it closely and tell me IL 1t is
your handwriting"
the paper an instant, and then declared It
was his signature. The lawyer then un.
folded the paper and handed 1t to the Judge.
The latter read 1t and turned crimson.
When did you get that paper?" he
gasped.
II gave it to you this morning. and YOU
| signed it. I 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 1t had been rapid and careless
| before. 1t was said of him that he was
much slower and more painstaking than
he need have been.