Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-06-15

Inc Judge was pIOuu Va hA9 SN''"sA'S~'
and when some veteran Of the bar erred
in matters of procedure he was prone
to visit upon the head Of the offender
the walls Of judicial wrath. History
records but one instance in which the
Judge was worsted in an attempt to dis
cipllne an advocate conducting q case
before him, the man who turned the
tables upon the court being the late
David T. Linegar, Of Cairo. Ainegar
was one Of the triumvirate In Illinois
politics Of quarter Of a century ago
lknown as the big three" His COM
panions in the combination which prac-
tically controlled all things legislative
In the general assembly (Linegar was
member Of the house for years until
1856 we're Senator Thomas @. Merritt,
Of Saline, known throughout the COM
monweaIth because Of his wit and an
impeachment in speech, and -Jim" Har-
rington, Of Kane And these men assist
ed in adding to the gayety of nations in
the days when Elijah N. Haines was
acquiring fame as speaker Of the house
Distinguished as a lawyer, Linegar
had an extensive and lucrative practice,
much Of 1t In the federal courts, and as
o result passed considerable time In
Chicago, where he made his head0uar-
tiers at the old Gault house, on the West
side.
Late In the '70's Linegar was retained
to defend two young men who had been
arrested by secret service operatives,
who charged them with passing coun-
terfeit money. The case against them
was strong, but the parents Of the
youngsters, people Of excellent reputa-
ton, succeeded In exacting Linegar's
promise to undertake the defense. The
federal grand Jury returned an indict-
ment, the boys were admitted to bail,
and in due time the case was called for
trial before Judge Blodgett and Jury.
Never did Lnegar fight case as he
fought this one. Awaiting himself Of
every technIcality, contesting every
step, he had had many battle with the
Judge before the taking of testimony be-
gan, and on several occasions pushed
Judge Blodgett to the limit Of temper,
the court more than once warning the
lawyer that he was approaching danger
ously close to punishment for contempt
Linegar's final address to the Jury con-
tanned 90 much innuendo and was such a
savage attack on court and prosecutor
that the Judge was In fine rage when
the time had come to charge the jury.
As the jurors retired Judge Blodgett
neglected to instruct the marshall to take
the defendants into custody, and that
evening the two young men called on
Llnegar at his hotel to ask bis opinion as
70 the outcome.
1T looks pretty bad to me-" be said,
"and fear that the verdict Of the jury
viii be against you"
what are we to dOf" inquired his
clients
How does Il come that you are not In
the custody Of the marnhali" asked
Enegar.
His clients replied that no attempt
had been made to arrest them and that
they had walked out-of the courtroom
without moderation.
well" said LinegAf with smile, II
6okn to me e n Jodge Blodsett over
booked something Tor once IN his NE.
You ought % b IN custody. and fan
&c understand VIZ 700 are Il liberty.
Your bail expired When the jury retired.
bnd Il Nas he duiy Of ths court % haYo
7oo loektd w.
EelIfs intEIrcrnlnt o1n q tie toya
'Tln rlInlnrt l1a lsE4e1. ~ -