The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1896-01-10
by WAY OF ANECDOTE,
JUSTICE CAUGHT MAPPING,
How the brother of Washington IRWIN
Was Induced TO sign His own Dealt

How the brother of Warrington Irwin!
Was Induced to sign His own Death
Warrant.
A prominent lawyer OF New jersey
who has an office on lower Broadway
tells a story about New York city
Judges of 40 years ago that always
fetches smile. Judge John L. Irving,
the upright and conscientious brothei
Ipf Washington Irving, is the hero OF
the alleged incident 1t occurred in
the DAYS when judges received fee
of 81 for every paper they signed. One
day two prominent New York lawyer o,
so the story runs, were in Judge lrv
ing's court when he was busily en-
gagged 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 corresponding number OF dol
lars. The judge would glance at the
papers, make IA scrawl on each and
take up the next package, the pile or
greenhacks growing steadily as the
line of lawyers thinned out. One OF
the two lawyers looking on said to his
companion:
II have the highest respect for the
Judges integrity, but I'm satisfied he
doesn t know haIf the time what he is
signing. Why. watch him. 1t is i'm
possible for him t. get half of an idea
of what is on the paper. If he ex-
ahmed each one closely, he'd never
get done, but he should be more care
full nevertheless. The other lawyer
declared the Judge caught at glance
the important sentence or phrase OF
each
"Wel. / don't believe it, exclaim
ed the other. II feel sure, in spite OF
better intentions, that that 81 fee acts
as an incentive, 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 legal form signed by |
the sheriff and which set forth that |
on such and such day and certain
hour and in certain 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 II
came his turn, he held up the paper,
folded between his fingers in non
chalant manner, and laid down his 81
with the other hand.
HIS honor unfolded the paper and
hurriedly plunged his pen in the INK
There was splutter and a scrawl,
and Judge Irving had signed his own
leath warrant That night the lawyer
went to a social gathering, which
Judge Irving was 10 attend, with The
leath warrant in his pocket. When
le found himself III corner with the
Judge, he said Judge, was watch
ng you signing papers today. and i
couldn't for the life of me understand
low you can read them all. Do you
eally read them?' |,
"Why, certainly. TIA matter of
labit, you know. | have acquired II
~ years of practice. | can at glance
etect the really important sentence or
rord. y
"WelI, " said the lawyer, producing :
he death warrant and folding it in
uch manner that the name of Judge
rving only was visible, lis that your I
ignature?' o
The Judge put on his glasses stared !
t the paper an il slant, and then de
Jared it was his i;gnature. The law
er then unfolded the paper and hand
d it to the judge The latter read if !;
nd turned crimson.
After that the signing of papers III
Judge lrving's court was as long and
adious process as it had been rapid :.
nd careless before. - New York Press