The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-07-29
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

I confess that I look upon the federal age Birmingham negro looks upon the Big Rock To him there is a vast difference between it and the police court, and tc me there is the same feeling between the state and the fed- eral courts.
 It is not often of late years that have followed case through in tho federal court, but owing to a number of reasons, l made up my mind to stick to the Denson case from start to fn- ish It was case of tremendous im- portance, both to the government and to the defendant and justly attracted large crowd.
 It was the first time I had ever seen Judge Grubb try case. I remembered him as the Billy" Grubb of the old days, who was getting ready in the offices of Hewitt, Porter & Walkers for the time when he would be called to a position which any lawyer in the state might well covet. As young man ne was hard worker. close student, and his friends knew that he was going to succeed at the bar, but none of us yision.d the day when he would wear
 the ermine.
 Now I had heard so much about the
 federal court being conducted in a for nal way, and about judges who put on a great amount of legal dignity, that l
 was hardly prepared for the absence of it in our court and judge. do
 not mean to convey the idea that be-
 cause Judge Grubb was not constantly
 bringing it to the front that he repre-
 sented Uncle Sam that anyone for
 moment got the idea that he was not
 clothed with power
 It was Billy" Grubb who refused to
 be spoiled by having honors and dig
 nifty thrust upon him, going about his
 work ana running it in a common-sense, straightforward manner, that to me was far more impressive than if he had been decked out in a gown and observing eastern courts affect. He was a judge. every inch of him, in a sack suit. A man may follow trials the balance of his life here in this district, and 1 dare say it will never happen again that l,o ,,,;n caa tbrea axcbiaf iuSticaS Of the supreme court of the state, and one former associate justice, representing a single defendant. And yet this was the case in the Denson trial. [ rather felt proud that I had the pleasure Of knowing them all personally. for although it has been years since still take pride in the fact that l prac- ticed law. and that l know many ot the leading lawyers throughout the state. Alabama has furnished it's quota of enli- nent jurists, and for years her supreme court was looked upon with respect and reverence, and an Alabama case car ried weight in all the courts of the land
 Now, l am not going into the merits of the Dehson case. am merely try | ing to give the atmosphere surrounds ing the trial The United States was represen,ed by Robert N Bell an old and tried prosecutor; and by Ralph Quinn, young man who has future ]before him. It was legal battle worth witnessing. Every inch of the ground 1 was fought over, and while at all times there was an exquisite courtesy between | the governments and defendants at, torneys. 10th sides were watchful l To me the outward scene itself was ] impressive The judge on the bench l the marshal. the clerk and the deputy
 beneath him. the court reporters at the side. the lawyers in front of him, h, members Of the bar within the rail, tn, l reporters, the artist. the jury in .n,
 box. the crowd in the back of the room together with the tense air of excite
 ment made 1t place of great interest