New Britain herald., 1920-01-10
THE OBSERVER
THE CITY AND ITS PEOPLE.
MAKES
RANDOM OBSER| ATIONS

The late Judge James T. Meskill was possessed of a sense Of humor that was a source of constant delight; 10 those who knew him intimately. Many happy moment were passed by newsps pertnen in the privacy of his office adjoining the court room when court was not in session. He had keen wit and was ever ready With acute repartee, although there was never any sting in his shafts of fun.
 While occupying the bench Judge Meskill preserved dignity without be- ing austere. He had 6 profound re- spect for the law as the backbone of our American institutions and insisted on respect being accorded his office.
 Occasions arose in tho court room when it was scarcely possible for any person to repress a smile and invari- ably Judge Meskll was the first to de- tect the humorous side of a situation and, being human, chuckled with the others present.
 One case illustrates Judge Meskill'5 ready control of every situation A wcll-known character who had ire quentIy appeared before his honor was found guilty of the offcnsc charged against him.
  al the concl .sion Of the hearing.
 "Aw, could do that standing on me hcad,' replied the prisoner.
 Very we'll" answered the judge without losing his equanimity, tale thirty days orc and try it standing on your feet"
 On another occa sion the name of prisoner was called and tho owner of the name stood up, towering above the spectators and others ln attend- ance. He was a second editor Of Fatty Arbucklc so far as Sirth is concerned.
 How old arc you:'' asked Prose- cutor klett
 Nineteen" rcpliced the human mountain.
 'Iour honor, this boy needs legal guardian before his case goes to trial" MT. kIctt told the court
 Gazing around the court room Judge McSkill halted his glance at the press table and with a grin spotted 9. reporter weighing about 9T pounds and confessins to a height of five feet, three inches.
 .'Mr. - said the judge. the court appoints you legal guardian of thls boN.'
 Needless to say a sale of laughter followed,
 Another day Judge AesllilI appoint cd a reporter legal guardian of minor prisoner and after the pTo5ecl- ion had presented the evidence the ncvsgatherer presented such q force ful and eloquent argument that the prisoner was discharged. Incidentally the court pfimentCd the newspa- perman OH his success as an embryo lawyer.
 Judge M csis ill had great interest jn Young America and no boy was committed to the State Reform School at Meriden until it became obvious that this was the only course to pur- sue It was due to the efforts of Judsc Mcskill and Prosecutor klCt that the names of children have been eliminated from the police court col umns in the newspapers.
 AproroS of the visit of pr. Nicholas Murray Butler of New York to New Britain as the guest of the Third Ward Republican club 1t is of inter- est to note that James \. HaSerty, a political writer for the. New York "Herald." has little confidence in the ability of the President of Columbia University to corral the G. O. P. nom ination for the presidency of the. United States. In fact, Mr. HaGerty writes not even a ripple was caused on the political millpond when pr.