Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-20
Joseph Sherier, Lawyer, Ap-
pears Before House I'M
parchment Committee.
OPINION ALSO HELD
BY OTHER ATTORNEYS
Courts Action in Several Case.
Cited to Prove Contention.
Stenographer Heard.

Joseph Sherier. an attorney. told the
wright impeachment subcommittee NJ
'he Rouse today that he had gone
through an experience in Judge wright's
court which left him with the distinct
impression that he had been treated in
an arbitrary manner. He related the
details OF case where. he said. the
judge had admitted to testimony a piece
OF evidence to which repeated objection
had been made. and that the Judge had
said he had heard no objection. Fur
thermore. said Mr.. Sherier Judge Wrigh,
had made the remark that the paper was
admissible anyhow
Miss Maccartee on Stand.
Miss Edith J. MacCartee, a s,enor.
rapher, appeared as a voluntary witness
before the committee to take exception
10 the statement by witness in a for
mer nearing that she had been incom-
petent to take court proceedings It was
her transcript OF a charge In one Of the
cases that is alleged to have been
changed by Judge Wright. ard on the
change hung thousands OF words OF
previous testimony. She said that she
was perfectly competent. but also said
later that she had not taken all Of the
remarks at certain portion because OF
noise in the room.
Couldn't Interrupt Court.
II couldn't interrupt the court to tell
him to talk louder" she said with con-
siderable conviction in her tone Miss
MacCartee happened to be in the court
room for practice at the particular time
and was not employed by either side in
the controversy. but sold a transcript to
one Of the attorneys on his request.
Il read that some one here said I was
incompetent" she told the COMMITTEES,
and that would keep lawyers from en-
am small am young. or that / am in
experienced. II this committee stenogra-
pher here should dress In boys clothes
some one might take him for small boy
1 have taken many important cases"
Joseph Sherier was asked by Repre-
sentative Nelson as to Judge Wright's
reputation in the courtroom:
1T Is common rumor that the Judge il
arbitrary in the conduct OF his court"
said Mr.. Sherier.
He mentioned to the committee that he
had heard lawyers say that the judge
had been arbitrary in the Berry case, the
Young case. and cited an experience OF
his own in a case where suit was brought
against the Arcade Company.
Statute Refused, He Says
Mr.. sherier said that Judge Wright re-
fused to recognize a West Virginia stat
ute without its being proved; and also
claimed that the Judge was shown author
ity in a Court of Appeals case whore It
was demonstrated that federal Judges
should accept the statutes Of the various
states without a lot OF formally.
Judge Wright said it was not the lAW
In his court, and sustained the oh5oode0.~
continued the witness.
did that cause any commoux3' A10o0
Representative Nelson.
Il think it did. But as NO seouTe6 .
direct verdict. l dismissed the matter
from my mind"
Judge Wrght's court in a case involving
a sale of real estate. A memorandum OF
agreement had been written by the party
against whom Mr.. Sherier was appear
ing. but because of some dispute as to
whether both parties to the sale had been
present when the memorandum was
written Mr.. Sherier objected twice. he
said, to its admission as evidence.
Directed It's Reading, He Says.
Later. said Mr.. Sherier. in rebuttal, the
witness in the court case told Judge
Wright that both parties had been pres
ent when the memorandum was written.
and Judge Wright directed that the MEM
should be. read to the jury and
later that the paper should be handed to
the jury for inspection.
Mr.. Sherier said he made objection to
this right along. and took exception on il,
and when the jury found against Sheriers
client he made motion for new trial and
in this motion that the offer
ing of the paper to the jury was an err
ror.
Mr.. Sherier said:
when l objected Judge Wright said TO
me, Why, you sat there with your mouth
closed and never said word II you had
objected 1 would never have let it go it,
1 told him that if my memor. was cor
rect. 1 had objected several times. lie
then said, Your memory is defective.
Asked About Stenographer.
Mr.. Sherier then started to read the
transcript of the testimony. he said. and
the judge asked who the stenographer
was. He was a perfectly competent
said Mr.. Sherier, and
The notes showed exceptions. he
claimed.
1.-The Judge then said: The paper is
admissible anyway"
According to Mr.. Sherier, Judge
Wright expressed himself. after the
rial. as having felt like turning over
Sherier's client to the grand jury for
ais point. however. and was granted a
lew trial on the point that the admis-
sion OF the disputed paper was an er-
-or.