The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-07-05
STORIES OF JUDGE GARY
Some Recalled by the Chicago
Jurist's Eightieth Birthday.

Some Recalled by the Chicago
Jurist's Eightieth Birthday.
SAMPLES OF BIS HUMoR IN COURT.
How the Judge Who Tried the An
amist-His Novel Advice to Two
Opposing Attorneys Facts About
His Home Life.
The eightieth birthday Of Judge Jo-
seph Easton Gary of Chicago, who IS
years ago was brought into interna-
tional prominence in connection with
the trial and execution Of the Chicago
anarchists and who for nearly one-half
of his nfe-38 years. to be exact-has
served continuously on the bench OF the
superior court Of Cook county, Ills, re-
calls the following interesting remi-
n%iscences:
Judge Gary is a product Of the state
of New York, but of Puritan extrac-
ton. He was born at Potsdam. St.
Lawrence county, in 1921. Today he
is not only older in point of years and
judicial service than any other Judge
In Illinois, but he is also perhaps the
wittiest, most satirical and in some re-
spects the most picturesque figure who
has ever occupied a seat on the bench
in the middle west.
Though a nal of few words, brusque
in manner, keen of wit and often cut
ting In sarcasm, seeking neither pub
licity nor applause, Judge Gary's pop
ularity has increased as he has adj
vanced, says the New York Sun.
Snowy barred and bowed with his four
score years, he is still alert physically
and mentally. He pays close attention
to witnesses. clipping short their YER
bosity, r%eproving their indiscretions
and punctuating the questions of coun-
sci with wit and apt inquiries Of his
own. He looks like the pictures of
Adolphe Theirs.
There are many stories in which he
figures. One day in court an alleged
bigamist was brought before him. The
prisoner had lived two years with the
second. woman in the case. He had
concluded to plead guilty on the UNDER.
standing with the states attorney that
his sentence would divorce him from
No. 2. Judge Cary leaned over his
desk and said in a kindly voice:
"Of course you fully understand what
that plea of guilty meansY'
Eyes. your honor" A.
"And do you understand that If you
80 plead 1t will be my duty to send you
to the penitentiary? Do you under
stand thatY'
Yes, your honor. Anything to get
Free"
ing look. Then in his inimitable man
ner he said:
II suppose there are some things be-
sides which prison would be a relief.
Any relative or friend Of this defend
ant in court ~
A woman in black stood up on q
bench and in a voice that sounded like
a ripsaw In a knotty plank said:
"l'm his second wife. Judge. yer hon
or"
Without change of voice or facial ex-
preston the judge went Oh as If to
complete a sentence. "Some things be-
side which prison would be a relief.
You ought to be willing to take three
years?"
The prisoner nodded his assent.
Then Judge Cary looked over at the
woman in black. He seemed to read
her in a second. He turned once more
to the man who had pleaded guilty and
said:
II will give you one year. You seem
to have had the other two before they
arrested you"
No situation in his court is so solemn
or serious as to prevent the judge from
humor prompts 1t and it does not con-
dict with the dignity of his Office. Dur
ing an important hearing some time
ago there was a slight commotiOn in.
his courtroom. and the author of it was
grabbed by a bailif and hailed before
the bar.
"What are you making all this CON-
motion about" sternly asked the
Judge.
"Please, your honor" replied the cul-
prit, II have lost my hat"
SIS that all?' said Judge Gary, with.
no less %sternness. why, men have lost
whole suits in this court and not made
one-half that fuss"
Trials calling for the exercise of the
greatest legal fighting ability have al
ways been heard by Judge Gary with
the greatest pleasure. He presided in
the noted murder case of Luetgert, the
sausage maker, who was convicted of
having destroyed his wife in one of the
sausage making vats and subsequently
died under a life sentence in the Joliet
penitentiary. In another case two OPP.
I-