The Columbus journal., 1908-12-16
THE JUST JUDGE
AN OLD READER STORY.

AN OLD RE.
A gentleman who possessed IN e.
tate worth about five hundred . year,
in the eastern part Of England, had
two sons. The eldest, being of . ram
bling disposition, went abroad. After
several yeals his father died, when the
younger son. destroying his will, seized
upon the estate. He gave out that
bis elder brother was dead, and brib.
ed false witnesses to attest the truth Of
it.
In the course of time the elder bro.
Their returned, but came home in destit-
ute circumstances. His younger bro
Their repulsed him with scorn and told
him that he was an impostor and .
cheat. He asserted that his real bro
Their was dead long ago, and that he
could bring witness to prove it. The
poor fellow, having neither money nor
friends, was in . sad situation. He
went round the parish making COM
plants, and at last to q lawyer, who,
when he heard the poor mans story,
replied, "You have nothing to give
me. IF I undertake your cause and
lose it, it will bring me into disgrace,
as ell the wealth and evidence are on
your brothers side.
However, I will undertake it on
this condition; you shall enter into an
obligation to pay me 1000 guineas if
I gain the estate for you. If I lose it I
known the consequences, and I ven.
ture with my eyes OPEN" According
ly he entered an action against the
younger brother, which was to be tried
at the next general assizes at Chelms-
ford, in Essex.
The lawyer, having engaged in the
cause Of the young man, and being
stimulated by the prospect Of 1000
guineas, set his wits to work to con-
trive the best method to gain his end.
At last he hit upon this happy thought
that he would consult the first judge
of his age, Lord Chief Justice Hale.
Accordingly he fastened up to Lon.
don, and laid open the cause and all
its circumstances. The Judge, who
was . great lover ofjustice, heard the
case attentively and promised him all
the assistance in. his power.
The lawyer having taken leave, the
Judge contrived matters 80 rs to finish
all his business at the kings bench be.
fore the assizes began 1t Chelmsford.
When within . short distance of the
place he dismissed his man and horses
and sought . single house. He found
one occupied by miller. After some
conversation, and making himselfquite
agreeable. he proposed to the miller to
change clothes with him. As the
judge had q very good suit on the man
had no reason to object.
Accordingly the judge shifted from
top to toe and put on q complete suit
of the miller's best. Armed with a
miller's hat and shoes, and stick, he
walked to Chelmsford and procured
good lodgings, suitable for the assizes
that should come on next day. When
the trials came on he walked like an
ignorant country fellow, backward and
forward, along the country hall. He
observed narrowly what passed around
him, and when the court began to gil
he found out the poor fellow who was
the plaintiff:
As soon Is he came into the hall the
miller drew up to him. "Honest
friend" said he, chow is your case like
to 60 today!" "Why, my cause is in q
very precarious situation, and if I lose
it I am ruined for life" swell, hon.
est friend" replied the miller, will
you take my advice? I will let you
into . secret which perhaps you do not
know; every Englishman has the right
and privilege to except against any
one juryman out Of the whole twelve,
now do you insist upon your privilege.
without giving . reason, and, if posi-.
bic, get me chosen in his room, and I
will do you oil the service in my pow
en-"
Accordingly, when the clerk had
called over the names of the jurymen,
the plaintiff excepted to one of them.
The judge on the bench was highly
offended at this liberty. what do
you mean," said he, "by excepting
A REFORMED COUNTRY.