The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-06-26
Justice Is Both BIIad and Deaf Cut
Your Speeches Short"
SAYS SUPREME COURT CUTS NO ICE.
Hs Scorns ID Consult Law Book. and 0acs
Adjourned Court 10 Thrash an
Attorney.

Kansas city, KAN. justice of the peace.
there Is the type of character that is
fast disappearing, even so far west az
this. where the deeds OF his contempo-
raries are still fresh I'm the memory
of the people. But Bowing diners
from all other bad men" that have Won
renown through their love for ngnting,
i'm that he Is neither soldier nor desper-
ado. While he sometimes trangresses
the law, most of the deeds that nave
brought him into prominence have pesn
performed, while trying to defend the
cause of justice, and IL IL this that
makes him particularly distinguished
from the rest of his kind.
There have been crowded into the lie
of tbs man, who has yet seen but
quarter OF the century's calendar
turned by. more events than most men
encounter In a lifetime. At 10. young
Bowling was deputy sheriff, under his
father, Thomas b. Bowling. then high
sheriff OF Wyandotte county. Half
dozen yairs later he was assistant post
master OF Kansas City, Kan. ana In 1898
he was appointed by Governor Leedy 20
the judgeship Of one OF the Kansas city.
Kan. justice courts. 1t was while pre-
siding over his little court that young
Bowling won the title of the nghung
justice" and that he became sufnciently
prominent to be known outside the DO
main or the SunnOWef iuttIopohs "hSic
he was born and reared.
HIS MANNER WAS ORIGINAL.
When Gov. Leedy forwarded him his
commission young Bowling donned his
judicial robes without any ceremony
and proceeded TO dispense justice in
manner that was entirely new TO most
of the people that came before his tri-
bunal One time ne made a ruling In
the trial OF a case that was not accepta-
BILE to the attorney on one side. and he
demurred 10 the decision of the boy
judge
supreme court" said the lawyer.
81 do that every day. my friend sic
down." replied the Judge. and his de-
cieion was recorded.
III, there WAS one thing that Judge
Bowling had an yabhorrence for during
the time that ne was on the bench. ie
was the attorney who came into case
with an armful OF law books.
You don't need all those books" said
the Judge to one OF those lawyers once.
e"r think will satisfy the court at the
proper time that I do need them," re.
piled the attorney. There are deci-
sions here handed down by the higher
courts. which will prove our case"
''The decisions of the higher courts
can't prove anything with me-" replied
witnesses, and if you haven't got them
you may as well quit right aow."
TERSE ADVICE TO ATTORNEYS.
II was neither his ignorance OF the
law nor his disrcspect for the opinion
cf his superiors that caused him to ig-
more them in rendering decisions OF his
own, but rather his original idea or ad-
ministering 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's court there were
no rules OF practice. no technical cr-
ders. no legal complication. Evidence
was brought cut in such a way Us it
might choose 10 come. and from Ii the
Judge formed his decision without con-
sulting authorities or seeking the ad-
vice of law books. Sometimes these
were satisfactory, and sometimes they
were not, but IL amounted all the same
to his judgeship.
1t may be said to the credit Of this
youthful jurist that never was a law
yer fined for contempt. Once there was
a lawyer who disputed his word. No
fine was imposed, but the court sud-
denly adjourned. and for two hours his
honor and the offending attorney tested
their physical prowess upon the com
mons in front OF the court house. The
court came off victor. and the police
ambulance conveyed the lawyer to his
home.
At another time two opposing law
yers in the court of trial came to words,
and the AFFAIR finally eliminated in a
row which necessitated the adjourn
ment of court. The judge closed up the
room and would let neither combatant
out until the disputed point had been
settled. When they ceased lighting and
shook hands the court resumed Its
grinding.
A NEW FORM OF. OATH.
One time a Jewish merchant. who had
been subpoenaed as q witness I'm a
case before Judge Bowling. objected to
taking the regular form OF oath admin
istered by all the state courts. He in
sisted upon being obligated in the
manner that Hebrews are wont TO take
the oath. .l4
'"How is that done?" asked the Judge.
1T takes candles. your honor" re-
piled the 1sraeIite, who hoped 10 es-
cape being put ON the stand.
THE best We can accommodate you
with Is a coal oil lamp" replied the
Judge. and much to the chagrin OF the
Hebrew he was made to take the oath
while the court held the lighted globe
solemnly over his head.
There was a case on tria, before
Judge Bowling just a few days before
he went out OF Office. In which a party
was trying 10 recover $40 for the death
Of a dog which had been killed by the
defendant. after,thc canine had bitten
the man. The case was nearly through
and IL was apparent that the plaintiff
had made a good case and would re-
cover for the loss OF his animal. when
one OF the witnesses was asked TO de-
scribe the color OF the cur.
ut was yellow" replied the witness.
did you say the dog was Yellow
inquired the judge, seemingly very
much In sursrise.
Yes. sir" replied the witness.
well. this court don't propose Civ
ing Judgment For the loss of yellow
Scr and verdict Is rendered for the
defendant" said the court, and the