The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-08-02
KINDLY TO TIE CORE HE ALWAYS
LISTENED WITH INTENTNESS
TO A PLEA FOE LENENCY
Noted Jurist Had Keen Sense Of Hu1nor
And Could Appreciate
Good joke

| The late Judge Aston G.. Dayton. OF
. the District court Of Northern west
8 Virginia had unique personality. one
that appealed strongly TO a newspaper
writer who attended his last term OF
court in Wheeling and who had not met
the eminent jurist prior /" that time
II was the writer's good fortune 10
also meet Judge Dayton on seNera! &C.
CasiOnS at tho Mcclure hotel and enjoy
/ short exchange NJ views with MN
: during the evening hours.
Judge Dayton made II a rule to never
talk shop after he left the court room
J Of course. making exceptions IN the
! case Of court attendants who wished 10
/ consult him en- matters of business.
I after hours.
! Il want it understood" said the judge
! In court durirg tho last session IN TINS
| city. that want to hear from no wit
moss. or principal. or anybody that mas
| any connection with any Of the cases
| that come up in my court until the case
| Is brought 10 court. I frequently re-
ceilc letters IN regard To cases. ana |
! wish IN say that the people who write
such letters ar" in contempt All Such
I matters arc In tho hands of and Will be
! attcndrd 10 by the District Attorney
Was Most we'll Informed
| Judge Dayton always kept abreast or
! the times and read tn" daily. papers
| thoroughly. lIc enjoyed having the
little unique details Of court happenings
/ brought out: those things that flash IN
and relieve the daily grind Of court life
and even cause faint smile to appea"
upon the face Of tho presiding Judge.
! fc usually covered the ground with
, th"rOuEhncsS in his charge 10 the
grand jury, in respect II violations OF
the National Prohibition act. but It can
not be said that il" was severe i'll pun
ishinE III" Ntolators.
If there was The lcaSt ground for cX-
! trnuation brought out by tho attorneys
! L.
wife and dependent children. or II he
was ar ignorant alien who could Meth
| or road ar write and who could not have
"A distinct understanding Of tho law. the
! penalty Was light.
| one Case. in particular. is remember
Cd that Of = man who pleaded guilty 10
. both manufacturing and selling liquor
over near t;raiton. West Va. He was
| given six months in jail. His attorney.
q George R'n"k". came forward with tho
Plea that tho client WAS a farmer AM,
had broken un many acres or ground
ready for Planting. II" had purchaser
= his farm oi III" Installm"nt plan.
: would Lose His All
! Not only would n" lose his. crop. hut
the farm. If II" was sent to serve the six
months at that time. last May. MI.
! ii IN" cl.,nt was allowed 10 put in AMI
gather his crOD and commence to serve
tho sentence IN October
assistant District Attorney Harry II.
} Pyrc' .ltSscn,rd. claiming the man
might make and soil enough liquor be-
fore October to buy Scycral farms.
4 Judge Dayton considered for mo-
mont and said to the prisoner: II want
d You 10 promise me yuu Will not mako or
sell any NOR" liquor. Under this prom
isc will accrdc 10 your attorneys re-
Gurst. In these days ! think every man
. that farms an acr" OF ground Is doing
, the country n service. ] hear that pota-
tocs are quoted today ut nine dollars a
I hush~l You go and farm that ground
and h" ready - serve your sentence in
| bCt0hcr,"
! Judge Dayton's intense patriotism
+ was ono Of HI. characteristics. A num-
her Of young alien soldiers were before
him 10 DO admitted 10 citizenship.
! Young mon. how before you" he
said ct IS ono Of tho regrets Of my
. life that ! was TOO old 10 take any part
In that great StruEEl" Rut. | consider
! II an honor % hn chosen "a tho instru-
mrnt through which YOU Will he admit
, tod as CITIZENS to O country for which
Won have riskcd your lives under it's
haG lot everyone in this room stant
UT. while | administer the oatn Of ale.
glance"
Appreciated Humor
At tho close Of the May term ~
court IN Wheeling. humorous littl"
happening took place. Judge Dn"'hn
stated that he had gorc through with