Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1910-06-24
JUDGE MARTIN IN NEW YORK.
Exposition Of Law viii Be Quoted for
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Side Took Excep.
ton In Sugar Trust Trial

United States Judge james L. Martin
of Brattleboro who has been presiding
al the trial Of the sugar trust scandal
cases In New York city was the sub
ject Of sketch in the New York Globe
and Commercial Advertiser of MAY 26
in the department People In the Public
Eye printed on the editorial page II
was accompanied by a halftone portrait
and read as follows
Legal biologists would call him throw
back. He dates from that better period
in American law when a place upon the
bench was won by character and know
edge, and pull or purchase never figured
He Is typical country jurist of forty
years ago-grounded in the last item Of
the law, courteous and simple but never
forgetful Of the dignity OF his office. He
is an old-fashioned American that the
federal bench may well be proud of
just as the flower of New York's bar
to-day respects James Lorin Martin who
is hearing the sugar trust cases the
greatest graft prosecution of a gener-
alton. He wasn't known outside his cir
cult when he came to New York Today
when he speaks the world of lawyers
listens. SiXty-four years old. kindly and
democratic and genuine, no man within
recent years has left such an imprint
upon the cynical and brilliant bar OF New
York as he
He attained honor in the first hearing
of the sugar cases Then he demonstra-
ted that he knew the law and was
prompt in its upholdng. But few out
side OF the immediate circle in constant
attendance upon the hearing had recog-
nized II. Then he charged the jury, and
his exposition OF the law bearing upon
criminal conspiracy will be quoted for
a generation to come in the estimation OF
the most successful attorneys in practice
haR ~
judges charge is welcomed with hover
ing pencils by the attorneys on either
SIDE At every opportunity they note
exceptions for use in demanding a re-
trial. When Judge Martin read his
charge the lawyers sat with useless pen
els between their fingers. BY and by
they began to close their notebooks
Then they put their pencils away. When
he concluded, every lawyer on both sides
went TO the bench to congratulate him
upon the most mastery exposition of
law in their recollection. Not an excep-
ton was noted on either side-and this
IN atrial marked by its bitterness, and
IN which the most persistent fighters of
the bar were engaged.
But II is not alone in his knowledge
or the law that Judge Martin has en-
gagged liking and respect. He is so thor
oughly, so delightfully."- human He went
10 ball game, and came home hoarse
from roofing only to discover that some
alert thief had nipped his watch while
ne watched the bases. He is apt TO
STOP on his way out after court to thank
the telephone girls for the courtesy they
nave shown him. He has displayed an
unusual consideration for the Jurors in
the sugar cases.
Il viii not lock them up" he said, de-
lying custom to that extent. "A man
should not be penalized for doing his
Under the high windows at the courts
lett elbow sits a dear old lady through
out many or the courts sessions She is
Judge Martins wife-like himself a Yer
monter born and bred, and interested as
ne is IN the days work. 1t doesn't need
the occasional glance and smile to prove
that they are emotionally behind the
times. With shops and theatres a~beck-
oning, she prefers to spend her visit TO
New York in her husbands court room.
IL was she, perhaps who inspired that
gift OF real Vermont maple sugar. pro-
duced in Judge Martins own bush. to the
attorneys on either side of the sugar
cases though 1t was Judge Martins quiet
humor that dictated the little note that
accompanied TIA proof that the court
knows something of the sugar business
himself"
real New Yorker in his position
would hardly hide his light under
bushel. OF Judge Martin nothing can be
learned from Judge Martin He will not
give photograph for newspaper use.
FINDING an artist sketching him, he de-
clared with smile that he would not
interfere, provided that your sketch
does not look like me; If 1t does you will
be in contempt of court"
lie conducts his court here as he would
IN that vacant store room in Vermont
which occasionally shelters the federal
circuit-with precisely the same dignity
and simplicity. A lawyer Is never asked
TO read a precedent he cites. for the
court knows 1t by heart. But the court
doesn't say so. He only asks that the
citation be handed up ITO be read at tbe
courts leisure" That Saves face" in
the profession. Even the fact of which
Judge Martin is most proud must be
learned from others. After nine years