Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1919-11-20
LEGAL C1MDATS
AND AMENITIES
Are About The Same Today As
In Shakespeare's Time
Lawyers Quarrel"
AND THEN MAKE UP"
fBy f. S. Rileyl


Shakespeare. in descril ing the legal
profession in his DAY. wrote these
lawyers that quarrel nightly and
then go our and eat and drink to-
gether That these fraternal attles
and courtesies still continue in the
American Tar was mos. strongly pre-
scented in case under argument alou;
quarter OF century ago in The
Court of Appeals OF Maryland 1t va
about high noon. when the writer q
this article went into the Court Of
Appeals. then located in the old State.
House He was in no little hurry.
and. having transacted his business
there. was fastened to spot on which
he was standing by the most extra
ordinary proceedings that he had ever
witnessed in that august rody, IN time
before nor has he ever met its equal
since. though going there frequently
for about a half century.
Tw0sMoted lawyers were a. the bar
William Pinkney Whyte and r.
Stockett Matthews The case was on
appeal from Baltimore City One Joe
Beard had installed a house that lie
called the White Elephant" He had
been indicted and convicted for keep
ing a disorderly house No proof Of
disorder in actual acts had Teen
had been convicted on the legal prin-
ciple that, where persons Of had repu-
tations and other improper characters
assembled, their very presence made
the house disorderly in the eyes Of
The law. Mr.. Matthews was for @he
defense and Governor Whyte being
the Attorney a. that time OF
the State, represented the prosecl-
ton
AT the moment that this descrip-
ing the Court. His face, manner and
his words indicated great feeling. In
speaking to Governor Whyte. who sat
beside him. he used language so per-
sonal and offensive that it amounted
almost to giving the Governor the lie
direct" Governor Whyte sat unpor
turf ed, the only sign that the Ian
guage of his brother at the lar,
moved him, was a rigid and a flushed
face.
The Court did not use its gavel. and
Mr. Matthews continued Mounting
in wrath to a still higher plane Of
denunciation of the theory that the
mere presence of disreputaLle people
At a place made it disorderly, Mr..
Matthews performed a wonderful feat
Of gestural ornamentation to his ad
dress, He, jumped up from the floor
with both feet. and swinging his arms
in the air at the same time, he then
descended to the carpet. his feet max
ing laundering sound, while his
hands came down at the same
moment 10th together on the desk
beside him, as he exclaimed in LOUD
and indignant voice. that such doc
trine was monstrous! | left the
court room in a state Of puzzle and
wonderment at this unique exhibit
ton.
An hour afterward I was passing
down State House, Circle, when. near
the First Methodist Episcopal Church,
TO my amazement. | saw Governor
Whyte and Mr., Matthews. arm in arm
walking up the street. in the most
amicable manner was not ac-
luainted with Mr. Matthews. but
did know Governor Whyte very well
Taking advantage of this acquaint-
anceship. l stopped and stood in their
path, and as they came within few
feet of me and halted. l said: Well
after l heard what | did little while
ago in the Court of Appeals, l am
astonished at this oh" replied
Governor Whyte very cheerily. 1--WE
have been down to Wiegards eating
ice cream together. and cooling Off