Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-06-01
Washlu9toa Standard
OLYMPIA. WASH.
FRIDAY Morning, JUNE |, 1906.
Presunptuous Zeal.

Presumptuous Zeal.
The case OF Williams VS.. the Spo-
kane Falls Il Northern Railway Co.,
now pending before the Supreme Court
second time, on petition for Il re-
hearing, presents some unique features,
to say the least.
1t was an action brought in the SUI
perior Court Of Spokane county TO
recover damages for personal injuries.
The plaintiff, Herbert l.. Williams, q
young man tweniy-one years oi age,
was permanently injured through the
negligence of the railroad company.
became blind in one eye and the sight
OF the other eye was seriously affected;
he was also SO badly crippled that it
was necessary to wheel him about in
a chair. The jury returned verdict
for So, 900 damages in his favor. The
company appealed.
On the first hearing in the appellate
court, the defendants attorney said
he did not question the amount OF the
verdict, but insisted on a reversal be-
cause the lower court ruled erroneous.
ly as to the admission Of evidence.
The higher tribunal found there was
nothing in this position and sustained
the verdict of tho jury. Judge Cor
don, the company's counsel, then
came before the Supreme Court with a
vigorous application for rehearing;
claimed that the court was mistaken
in regard to his position; he had con.
tended in the trial court, by his mo.
ton for new trial, that the damages
were excessive, and, therefore, that
question was properly before the Su-
preme Court. A rehearing was grant.
ed and second opinion was filed, re.
dncing the amount of recovery to
$4,000. Now comes Attorney Will
G. Graves and presents q petition re-
questing that the court adhere to its
first decision. In this petition Mr..
Graves uses much forcible language,
bordering on sarcasm; claims the court
assumed powers not delegated to il.
At one place he quotes the following
passage OF poetry:
"Now in the name of all the gods at once,
Upon what meat doth this our Cesar feed.
That he hath grown 80 greatf'
At another place in the printed ar.
gument of Mr.. Graves this language is
found:
Is it essential to the due discharge OF
its sworn duty that the court play Rich.
ellen to defendant, as Julie de Mortemar
81 Mark. where she stands!-around her form l
draw
Bet but foot within that holy ground,
And onthy head-yea, though it wore a Crown
launch the curse Of Rome!''
1t is said that Judge Gordon, on be.
half of the company. has moved to
strike this document from the court
records, as impertinent and a reAec.
ton upon the court. Whether the
learned lawyer will be required to fish
or cut bait" remains to be seen?
This unpleasant situation results
from the unfortunate admission made
ct the fret hearing. Doubtless, the
plaintiffs lawyer thought by reason
OF such concession. it was agreed that
il the young man was entitled to re-.
cover anything the amount was not
too great, since the court had ruled
there was nothing in the other claims
Of error presented by Judge Gordon.
Making all proper allowances for an
attorneys zeal in his clients interest,
We think the argument would have
been just a. effective had much of the
language used been omitted.
THE Reverend Doctor William Howe,
of Boston, in late sermon delivered
in fremont Temple. declared that
"The Passing of the New England
Sabbath has made that section the
modern Babylon" Fifty years ago,
he declared, "the ministers preached
the doctrine that people should go out
in the woods and fields, on Sun.
day. and there worship the God of Ma.
ture; now We have empty pews on
Sunday, while people spend the day in
riotousness." He then cited San
Francisco Is an instance Of punish
ment from Heaven for wickedness of
the people. And he portends that
New England will suffer the same
fate, if her people do not 60 to church
on Sunday.
A HOBsoN1zED PARsON.-In Kansas
City, the other day, Rev. E. Nelson
Allen was accorded q Hobson salute,
by some OF the fairer portion of his
former congregation of the First
Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
while on visit to them. He is now
assigned to Portland, Oregon, and it's
leading paper publishes the fact with
big-head announcement ss q feather
In its cap. At the end of his sermon,