The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-06-29
30 @{
SQUIRE SLAUGHTER,
So @g

for what he called the gist OF matter.
Lawyers opposed TO him for the first
time were likely To sneer that he SIM
ply cited everything I'm sight. but IL any
court I'm the world could spare the time
TO hear him he stood ready to demon
strate that each reference sustained the
point for which II had been adduced.
Mr.. Slaughter also had a general IL
brary comprising pretty thoroughly
the range OF science, poetry, fiction and
letters. However cheapy or expensive
ly bound book might be. he treated
each one as IL arrived in the same way.
He ripped off the cover and cast II into
the waste basket. and then sent the
work to the bindery (per me, law stu
dent) TO be bound I'm uniform style OF
full calf.
| always doubted, Notwithstanding
this pride and care OF books, whether
Mr. Slaughter had any genuine love for
literature. Books were his tools rather
than his friends. He was wont TO say
that he wouldn't give subterranean
hurrah for volume without an index.
and wherever. one was lacking he set
himself at work supplying it, The APP
piication of this rule was apparent I'm
his briefs, wherein he did not hesitate
TO make unprofessional references 10
Don Juan. Lavengro. or Bacons Es-
says. for instance. IL thereby he could
accentuate point But he absolutely
wanted that artistic sympathy which
inclines book lovers To exchange Inn
prcssions and views. and would sit
apart. during such chit -chat. twisting
uneaa..y I'm his chair like deaf old
lady at "A sewing circle.
Mr.. Slaughter's manner In court-not
manners, mark you, for he had none
was not at all diplomatic. He Was au-
dacious and aggressive. with chip on
either shoulder all the time. His bustl-
ing advent seemed 10 say: Here, i
come TO try the So-and-so case. Mark
my words, I'm going TO win. I'll wear
you all out; I'll grind you all down: my
name is Enoch Slaughter, who doesn't
know when he is beaten; SO. look out!'
And, indeed, IL seemed that predilec-
ton, prejudices. Impressions and facts
were alike bowled down by the force or
his personality. He bullied without dis
elimination the witness on the stand,
the jurymen i'm the box. the bailiff who
reached him glass OF water. the OPP
posing counsel and the judge on the
bench Toward the latter. especially.
unless he was palpally with him. in
which case he scarcely veiled his con-
tempt. he never scrupled TO use innuen-
does OF bias and favor often outrageous
i'm their unwarranted conclusions. but.
which. / am convinced. he stoutly be-
lieyed. Such procedure had resulted
from time To time in open protests. the
throwing Of law books and inkstands.
and the infiction of heavy fines: but
through incessant. untif+ffg warfare
had brought one and all 10 the opinion
that the easiest way TO get along with
the Squire was To let him go his own
gait
AS a remarkable instance of how a
strong intellect may be absolutely lack
ing i'm self acknowledge. IL may be said
that Mr.. Slaughter not only believed
himself to- be generally beloved by the
profession but also took pride In pos
ing as the stanchest champion Of that
bench upon which he had done more
than any other man in the district tn
trouble and chagrin. Indeed. IL was
his ambition for many years to become
a justice OF the supreme court. Owing
to the political constitution Of the dis
trict his only chance Of such advance
ment lay I'm being appointed by the gov
error TO fill a vacancy. Finally, such
an opportunity occurred; and as blithe
and sanguine as a boy, Mr.. Slaughter
called upon prominent members of the
bar to plead his cause. and as clinch-
ing argument presented himself In his
own proper person before the governor
The latter. man as amlable as ne was
astute. who would chase the devil OF
prevarication around the stump of ne
CATION in an orbit which approached
but never quite touched, had been beset
by the lawyers en- masse. protesting
confidentially in the name of order and
good government. against such an ap-
pointment. I'VE don't want a reign of
terror i'm our courts" had been their
cry He therefore remarked mildly tc
the Squire: But Mr.. Slaughter. i an
toid--ahem-that you do not possess the
--er--iudicial temperament.
judicial temperament be damned
growled the squire picking up his hat
and slamming out; and thereafter the
amiable ~hd astute one had vindic-
tive and inveterate enemy
This habit OF profanity was so chronic
with Mr.. Slaughter that one day, in the
vehemence Of an argument before tire
court of appeals-he would argue Ne-
hemently before the Seven Sleepers
though there is no relevancy in this
illustration--h ripped out quite
string of oaths To the rustiing of the
iudiC al robes and the CONSERVATION OF
the assembled bar. Old Judge Graham
a former membcrof the court, and con
sequently somewhat privileged. who
was awaiting a hearing. commented
more or less audibly: And Enoch
walked with God: well well; the ways
OF the Almighty are inscrutable and
past finding out " whereat there was a
comprehensive smile. also more or less
audible But the Squire merely shrug-
ged his shoulders, gave contemptuous
"Humph!" ana picked up the rope. not
the thread OF his argument.
Foiled i'm his judicial ambition. as hC
firmly believed himself to be- by the
machinations OF base conspirators, Mr.
Slaughter siill clung to the .dea OF
holding office The next fal he an
noupccd his candidacy for the District
Autobiography on an Independents ticket
The contest which ensued was torT1d
for Mr.. Slaughter stumped the county
So thoroughly that.his voice was heard
I'm every election dstrict. That follow
ed as matter OF course. g..d judge
Marchmont III hc spoke at all But
fear there was concealed irony la ties
remark At any rate. the ward leaders
were constrained by their fears, foi
the first and only time I'm local polltica
history. 10 spend fully half OF the mon
ey conhded To them for the purposs
OF corrupting the franchise. To- the fin.
anc'al detriment Of their grocers. O'