The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-13
"reminiscences Of
North CaTO||Rians
BY VIM. Ell. BAILEY, JR., LII. d.
John NJ. DICK.

He had not the remotest sense
of humor and this anecdote is
told on him A case was called
before him on circuit and Judge Strange
appeared for the plaintiff, He an
nounced that he was not ready. ON ac-
count of the absence of witness
Sarah Money. Call her." said the
Judge. The crier caled-Sarah Money
but there was no answer That Judge
remarked: You must go to trial, Judge
Strange" Judge Strange Responded:
"What--is your Honor going to turn me
out of court without cercmony"-Sarah
Money.
The pun told on the bar and they
could scarcely refrain from theatrical
applause.
Judge Dick saw nothing, and when
going out for recess he armed one of
the young lawyers and said to him:
Them lawyers laughed nightly
Were they laughing at me?'
"Oh! no, Judge" responded the nco-
phyte and then went to explain the
pun. Well, the Judge still did not see
anything to laugh at
Well, Judge Dick kept riding around
the circuit aud trying to see where the
fun came in. but failed until after finish
ing his courts as he was driving up the
avenue to his home the whole thing
with all its inwardness, flashed upon him
and just as he reached his door he was
laughing fit to break his sides. His
wife came out to meet him and found
him thus situated. Said she, why,
dear husband, what's the matter?"
The Judge finally restrained himself
and said:
L DnIA Y
told Strange that he must go to trial
and he had Mary Money called-she did
not answer-and when | repeated You
must go to trial." Strange said, lis your
Honor going to turn one out of court
without Mary Money Well, said his
wife. 81 see nothing to laugh at by
that "WeH," replied the Judge. Il
don't now, but | did q minute ago" A
blonde.
ROBERT PAINE DICK.
Son of the foregoing. He was L. S. Dis
trict Attorney; member of the secession
convention: State Senator; member of
the convention of 1865: Supreme Court
Judge of North Carolina from 1869 to
1872, and then appointed Judge of the
United States District Court for the
Western District of North Carolina.
A delightful companion en- rapport
with all the literature and science Of the
day. / do not think that he ought to
have gone over to the Republicans; it
aaddened me; | could make allowances
for the Wings as they regard secession
as rebellion. He may have been honest
in his recreancy-let it be so. He is a
genial, social man, but, like all Guilford
people, there's a stiffness about it. No
heartiness. He is Il lucky man. He
lacks the power of generalization; has
little Of analysis, but as a mere rhet0ri-
clan is without his peer. He is a pleas
ant conversationalist and quite amiable.
/ must relate an anecdote, if for no
other reason, than that it illustrates that
it was the only one ever recognized or
appropria ted by a Guilford county man.
defended fellow for resisting a United
States officer. | waived jury trial. 1t
was just before noon-our dinner hour.
/ managed to raise a suspicion against
the officer of completely with the ''moon-
sinners" Dick just went for him with a
terrible cross-examination; indeed, seem
ed to have lost sight of my client; about
this time the dinner bell rang and che
Judge ordered a recess. / went to my
room after eating and was lolling on
my bed. My client came in and ex-
claimed: "Why didn't yer give him hell,
give him hell" / replied that if / had
the Judge might have turned front TO
rear on the first company" He went
off and probably took "a schooner" of
blockade and then returned, when he
repeated his question, when | told him
that / refrained from policy; that
never liked to divert Judge when he
was going for an enemy. He went off
and came back loaded up with the corn
juice and again repeated his question. l.
living on the bed, said: II would not
enter on my list of friends, though
graced with polished manners and fine
sense, yet wanting sensfbility, the mar
who needlessiy sets foot upon worm.
My client Immediately replied, 600
damn John Wordsworth; / thought ht
had more sand in his gizzard than that
He thought when / said Wordsworth
that meant livery stable keeper nam
ed Wadsworth. Well, | just fell off OF
the bed and rolled, with unconquerablc
laughter, on the floor and as he woult
repeat / had to beg him to disist a:
my laughter was nearly killing me. HI
retired, saying he'd go and git another
drink. When / came TO / slipped al
extra cigar in my pocket, went over t.
the other hotel where the Judge stayed
and found him on the balcony. | ten
dered him the extra cigar and said
Judge, / want to make terms. I'll tel
you the best thing you ever heard i
YOU will let my client off with the costs
With a genial smile the Judge replied
"all right" Then ] told him and the
Judge could hardly keep from falliD:
off his chair from the force of hi
laughter. So / obtained the best terms
for my client. Dick has certainly beer
a lucky man. He is a rhetorician with
out a peer. | pronounce him-on thu
whole-a good man. ] do not-canno
think that he went over TO the Republi
cans from sordid motives, as did III,
great majority of the ScaIlawags. NJ,
wishes and my prayers-wheneyer | shall
say them-are for his recovery from bi
present severe illness. / think he will
pass the ordeal at the final day. A de
cided blonde.
JOHN III. DILLARD
Was Associate Justice of the Supreme
(tol1Ft of North CtgroIin1 held NO otba