The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1897-09-24
The Tax Sale Injunction Case.

brated case consumed part of Friday
and Saturday last. 1t attracted con-
siderable attention and the court
house was comfortably filled with in
terested spectators.
The argument was opened by Judge
McConatby who sustained the points
he raised and his well known reputa-
ton by brief references to eminent
and well established authorities. The
Judges arguments were well-knitted.
concise, logical and convincing to ev-
eryone, except, as it now appears, to
Judge Hooker.
Judge McConathy was followed by
Mr.. Neil Alfred. We did not have
the pleasure of listening to his re-
marks, but understand from those
who did, that he spoke fuently and
with ease and acquitted himself cred
itahly.
At this point Mr.. Burford asked to
be heard as he did not expect to be in
the city the next day. He spoke with
great facility, but took no positive
stand either for or against the Iniunc-
tion.
Mr.. Burford was followed by Mr..
Zewadski, who made the most credit
able speech we have yet heard him
deliver. The criticism of the Banner
seems TO have been a wonderful help
to him and he has made the most of
it. His speech was devoid of all per-
sonal references to the editor of this
paper or the robbery of the people"
by newspapers in general. In the de-
livery of his opinion Judge Hooker
seems to have been controlled entirely
by Dir. Zewadski's argument.
Mr.. Zewadski was followed by Mr..
Albert Wright, who read in a frigid,
desultOry sort of way the tiresome
opinions of great many judges on
matters almost as irrelevant to the
case in hand as Greeley's expedition to
the polar seas.
Mr.. II. L. Anderson followed Mr..
Wright. What he needed in forensic
laurels this speech fully supplied. His
appearance was commanding. His
manners graceful and his utterances
forceful. His wit and facetiousness.
fresh, spontaneous and amiable. His
logic and his law were weighty and
seemed conclusive, but the sequel
showed that upon the court it was
like the flower whose fragrance is lost
upon the circumanbient air. Though
not born to blush unheard his great
speech was delivered to no purpose.
When Mr.. Anderson closed Judge
Hooker announced that he would
render his decision at three O'Clock in
the afternoon. At that hour many
spectators gathered and the hush that
followed was almost oppressive.
At little after the appointed hour
Judge Hooker made his appearance
Juggling three big, Ominous looking
law books. Dispossessing himself of
his books he assumed grave, judicial
air. He read with great deliberation
the demurrer, and began his decision
by saying that the revenue statute
was the most difficult that had ever
come before him for his determina-
ton, but after saying which he found
no further trouble. The ice being
broken, the barriers burned away, he
brushed aside the points raised by the
demurrer like cObwebs before raging
gale. No Texas COW boy, mounting a
bronchO, ever went with swifter, pell
NELL headlong speed. His great law
books stared ut him with grave con-
cern, but to no purpose. The Judge,
in his GiIpin speed, became oblivious
of his law. He played all trumps and
swept away all the grave legal prob
lens raised by the attorneys for the
board with such swiflness that 1t
wreathed Brother Porter's face in
rainbow of delight, and the good man
thinks today that Judge Hooker is the
greatest Judge that ever graced
bench.
We are glad to be able to agree with
Judge Hooker on one point at least.
1t is that this statute is very difficult
of construction, and as some of the
abiest lawyers at the bar believe that
the contention of the attorneys for
the board is right. and that the publi-
cation of the list as it now stands
would be illegal and void, we are glad
that the case is to be carried to the
supreme court for final settlement.
Precedents justify us in saying that
it is possible for Judge Hooker to be
turned down, and after all perhaps
the man who laughs last laughs long.