The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-17
from NE Kansas cay Times

| any tIhuE Win me- ropllco JudRo bowling. What
you want is witnesses, and II you havent got
them you may as well quit right now"
1t was neither his ignorance Of law nor his
disrespect for the opinions Of his superiors that
caused him to ignore them In rendering decisions
of his own but rather his original idea OF ad.
ministcring Justice. In his court room there
always hung a sign upon which were printed
these words:
| Justice Is Both Blind and Deaf
Cut Your Speeches Short
In Judge Bowling court there wcre no rules Of
practice, no technical orders no legal complication
Evidence was brought out in such a. way as it
might choose to come, and from Is the Judge formed
his decision without consulting authorities or
| seeking the advice OF law books Sometimes
| these were satisfactory, and sometimes they wero
not. but it amounted all the same 10 his judgeship
II may be said TO the credit Of this youthful
| !urst that never was q lawyer fined for contempt
| Once there was q lawyer who disputed his word
! no fine was imposed, but tho court suddenly ad-
iourned, and for two hours his honor and the Of
| fondinG attorney tested their physical prowess
upon the commons in front Of the court house
The court came of victor and the police ambulance
conveyed the lawyer 10 his home.
| ~ another time two opposing lawyers In the
course of trial had to words and tho al air
finally eliminated in o row which neceSsitated
the adjournment OF court The Judge closed up
the room and would let neither combatant out
until the disputed point had been settled. When
they ceased fighting and shook hands tho court
resumed its grinding
One une q Jewish merchant who had boon
subpoensed as witness In . case before Judge
Bowling. objected 10 taking the regular form Of
oath administered by all the State courts He
\ t,,at- III. IL.
Hebrews are wont 10 tako the oath.
How Is that done?" asked the Judge
"lt takes candles, your honor" replied the Israel.
tie, who hoped to escape being put on tho stand.
Tho best we can accommodate you with Ii o
coal oil lamp" replied the Judge and much TO tho
chagrin OF the Hebrew he WAS made 70 take the
oath while tho court held the lighted globo
| solemly his head.
There was case on trial before Judge Bowling
Just few days before he went out of oioe In which
party was trying TO recover $40 for the death Of
dog which had been killed by tho defendant
after the caniue had bitten tho man. Tho case
WAS nearly through and IL was apparent that the
plaintiff had made good case and would recover
for tbs loss OF his animal whom one of tho witnesses
was asked 10 describe the color OF tho cur.
1T was yellow" replied the witness
Did you say the dog was Yellow replied tho
Judge, seemingly very much in surprise
Yes sir" replied the witnssa
We'll, this court dom pro pose giving judg ment
for tho loss OF yellow dog and verdict Is rendered
for the defendant" said the Court and tho next
cass was called.
There are many ludicrous things that occurred
during the time that bowling Was on tho bench.
and the newspaper reporters never thought OF
missing session for fear Of losing o good story,
Bowling would probably ba 20 yet II II were
not that tho Repu bicans uni or unately outnum-
bered the Democrats in his district and asst year
some moved over from the other districts and put
In su icien lumber OF votes to count In the other
man. There Is probably not another case on
record. however whore a man held Office o year
after being defeated over thS protest OF his op-
ponent. Bowling did this, and his little court
ground steadily ahead until tho aid OF tho big
courts was invoked TO stop it. II was only few
months ago that "the fighting usteo- laid aside
his toga after most thrilling career
Now Bowling is plain citizen. acting az deputy
constable whenever tho authorities have o des-
perate man to handle or tedious case 10 dispose
OF, and occasionally he Is heard from because
OF his doing something out OF the ordinary and that
nobody would have ever thought Of. Il was
while acting in the capacity Of deputy constable
Tor tho Justice that succeeded him on the bench
that he attached herd Of cattle Al the stock yards
for a So6 judgment and attSrward seriously cut
pay the constables tee. bowling goa his Zee
and atterward the man got his cattle
The last episode OF "tho fighting Justice calls
TO mind some OF the unusual experiences he had
while deputy sheriff under his father Whom
young Bowling first Strapped ON the big revolver
which his father presented 70 him on his fifteenth
birthday he was hardly big enough 70 swing back
the heavy iron doors OF tho old Wyandotte county
jail, OF which he was the custodian, but he went
into and came out Of many tight place
One cold winter night Bowling Was sent TO
arrest a very desperate charactet who had almost
murdered man lie found his man in bed when
he coached his home, but after he had made the
arrest his prisoner told him that no was too sick
TO accompany him. The young ofioor went 70
another room to got some ono W go for a convey
ance that the man might bs taken to the Jail and
when he returned tho prisoner had locked his
door Bowling fearing that tho man would
escape burst into the room and upon entering was
knocked sprawlinR TO tho floor
lie gotup, started for his man, and then hand.
to-hand fight began which had It's ending in Bowl
ing having tho handouts upon his prisoner.
Il guess you are not so sick you were," Aaid
the officer, -and maybe you can go now without
carriage, or clothes, either.
The prisoner objected most earnestly and pleaded