The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-25
JUDGE BAKERS HUMOR
WROTE HIS OPINION OF A CASE IN
THE LATIN LANGUAGE.
In submfttfpg the Matter to the Re-
porters He Gave One of Them
Cold Chi1Is.

Attorneys In the Crider-Barnard case, In
Judge Bakers court, yesterday afternoon
smiled audibly when they read in an after
noon paper the statement that DIR. j. N.
Hurry had ''blossomed out in an entirely
new role the day preceding-that OF a
handwriting expert. Ferdinand Winter
was in a position to know the inaccuracy
of the statement since he was leading
counsel in the famous Mcdonald win case,
tried at Noblesville a few years ago, and
had the duty devolve upon him of cross
examining DR.. Hurry as a signature expert
in that case. DR.. Hurry has since that
time made many private Investigations Of
disputed signatures and is well-known
expert.
Senator Winter set the attorneys for Mrs.
Crider to guessing yesterday afternoon
by introducing in evidence three big legal
tones bound in the conventional sheep"
They were volumes of Davis's Supple
ment to the Revised Statutes of Indiana"
The object of putting the books in evidence
was to support the testimony Of Witness
Roberts. who had said in fixing a certain
date that about that time he was engaged
in helping make up the index to these vol
umes. Mr.. Winter read the title-page in
SCllpllOiS, the pre1aCeS ana the printing On
the ''backbones'' of the volumes before he
handed them to the official stenographer,
by whom they were taken in custody
Messrs. Edenharter and Null, Mrs. Cri-
over Mr.. Winters action, asking him to
explain IL more fully. The senator went
over again his reasons for introducing the
books in evidence, and Judge Baker as
sen-ed to their validity, whereupon the
plaintiffs attorneys reluctantly allowed
the incident to be closed.
The evidence was completed at o'clock
and Judge Baker ordered an adjournment
taken until tomorrow morning, first eau
toning the jurymen not to discuss the
evidence either with each other or with
outsiders and TO refrain from forming any
opinion on the case until the arguments of
counsel have been made.
Judge Baker has strong vein Of humor
In his composition, and this cropped out
In the case on trial yesterday. 1t is his
custom to spend a part of his leisure time
when on the bench making notes on a
tablet of scratch paper He was OBJ
served to be engaged in this occupation
yesterday afternoon and occasionally TAX
ing a sly glance in the direction of the
table occupied by the newspaper men. Sud-
denly the digniied jurist left his elevated
seat and marched straight towards the re-
porters, who became not little worried.
fearing that they might possibly have Of
Tended him in some way. One Of the re-
porters in particular had reason to tremble
az the approach of the judge, since he had
used In his paper recently a story to the
effect that certain man had been in
dcted by the grand jury before the in
dictment was actually returned into court.
Judge Baker might, If he had chosen, had
this venturesome young newspaper man
brought before the bar of his court on
charge of contempt, which would have been
a very serious situation indeed. However,
the visit Of the judge was tinged with
humor instead of outraged dignity. Hand
ing piece of paper to one OF the report
ers-who, oddly enough, was the young
man in question-he said with a smile
There is my opinion of this case" The
young man grasped the paper eagerly,
seeming a good feature story" but to
his chagrin the writing thereon proved TO
be in the Latin language. Judge Baker is
one of the most accomplished linguists in
the city and IL is said by those who know
him well that the writing of Greek or Latin
comes almost as naturally TO him as does
the writing Of his native language. II will
get this translated" said the reporter land
IL it is all right 1 will print it Monday
ut may, however, be an intimation that
the Judge knows of my dereliction,' he
added.