The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-11-30
COOK WHO BECAMEA JUDGE.
Experience i'm The Career Of Judge En-
skiue, ofGeDrgia.

Tho late Judge Ersknc, OF teoi6ld'
did not read law until he was forty-hve
wears old. but he soon made his way TO
the front. and shortly after the close OF
the war President Johnson appointed nm
10 ;he iudgcship OF the United states
Court for the Northern and Southern
Districts OF Georgia. JUICE Erskine TOOK
great pleasure I'm relailn one H'oIy
which dealt with incidents in his early
life and i'm his later years. When he
was about sixteen years old be ran
away from his home in ireland. He join
cd the c-ew of sailing vessel, but as
the captain could not make sailor or
him ne had To- do the cooking, and was
known To everybody on the ship as John-
ny the Cook.
A. the end of the year the youngster
abandoned the sea and returned nome
After completing his education he came
10 this country and settled In Georgia.
whore he was remarkably successful ana
PROSPEROUS He had held his judecsnip
a wear or two when he went 10 sa-
vannah 10 preside over The feneral
Court. One afternoon be stroHed down
IN the river 10 look at the vessels In port
Tho raptqin Of one OF the ships came
ashore and passed. the Judge. giving MN
a sbarD glance. Evidently some,hlnN
nnzzied the captain. for he retraced nus
stems and stared hard at the man. WIN
was ENJOYING the scene ON the river. T..
% If it isn't Johnny the COOK
claimed the bluff sailor. ..,.,.l
tr-kine looked at him. and recognize
mis- old captain. The TWO snooN -
bo,rtflv and the captain told the o-hei
how he had identified him by scar on
his face. rt,l,
81 haven't forgotten the fight in when
vol were so badly cut. said the veteran
of the seas ''YOu proved yourseu Il Hl"n
thai day. and the whole ship sided WIN
yoI." .,,-.,
a trief tall, about old times followed
and then the captain glanced al MS
former cooks clothes.
you must have prospered IN TINS cVun-
try" he remarked "What is your me
of business
There is long. story connected
with that" replied the Judge. ANA a5
1 have 10 meet an appointment now, l
must rostpoue It until / see you again,
Meet me I'm the United states court
room tomorrow morning az 10 cloch'
Untn then. good-by'
The next morning az 10 O'Clock Judge
Erskiue was on the bench I'm MS black
robe. dealing out justice 10 a crowd OF
mOonshiners. In a few minutes the Ola
sea captain Nllhrfl liiAD hltN f'''th 49,
lie glanced around I'm a dazed way. ana
was evidently disappointed I'm not finding
The man he sought. Finally he raised
his eyes 10 the bench For a moment he
seemed dazed. He doubted his own eyes.
Erskine saw him. and beckOncd 10 him
t0 come inside Of the railing which fenced
on the lawyers from tho spectators.
with trembling steps the captain took
BIS stand one step below the platform
on which the Judge sat Erskine well
coined him cordially. and during some
un.mportant routine business told the
astonishel sailor about his career In
America and his elevation 10 the bench.
The story was told In a low tone. and
not a word Of II was heard by anybody
except the captain The latter was so
thoroughly astOnished by what he saw
and heard that he was anxious 10 get
away. and no seemed TO be gratihed when
the Judge dismissed him with an invita-
ton to dine with him at his hotel. When
the mariner reached the bottom step he
faced about and gave the judge a sweep
ing glance.
well. III be ID" he calculated. IN
a distinctly audible voice. lie left the
courtroom shaking his head and looking
back every other step. Even when he
was outside the building he was i'm the
same state OF bewilderment. The incident
afforded Judge Erskine intense enjoy
ment and he frequently referred TO it
Chicago Inter-Ocean.