The Washington times., 1937-10-25
MATTINCLY KIND,
BUT FIRM GIVING.
MARRIAGE VOWS.
Impresses Couples With
New Responsibilities
Bv ELIZABETH oLDFIELD

With a service blended from his
own conception of the nuptial
vows and the regular church serV-
ice, Judge Robert E. Mattingly, OF
Municipal Court, has joined more
than 1000 couples in marriage.
Woe to the bride and bride
groom who appear to take their
new responsibilities lightly. For
the judge-usually the kindeSt OF
men-is positively fierce While
tying the wedding knot.
EYES COUPLE STERNLY
AS he begins: Marriage is JOY
GUS occasion" he pauSeS long
enough to look Sternly over his
spectacles at the couple before
him. And when he gets to: 1T is
connected in our thoughts with
the magic charm of home and all
that is pleasant and attractive to
the tendereSt and most sacred re-
lations of life" their smiles have
disappeared and their demeanorS
are now properly awed and SOL
eEnn. The gravity of their act Is
beginning to sink in -.
BY the time Hizzoner has con-
cluded with: Having taken these
pledges of your affection and VOWS
of fidelity, I do, therefore, by au-
thority of the laws of the District
of Columbia, pronounce you man
and wife" they have aged viSibly.
PICTURESQUE CHARACTER
But the actual ceremony is only
half of the ordeal. Then the judge
courteously but firmly diSmisseS
the witnesses. What follows is
secret between himself and the
newly welded pair. But those who
love the kindly, gruff old man, will
tell you he probably gives them
round lecture on the duties Of man
and wife and the responsibilities
OF marriage.
Appointed to the Municipal
Court bench III 1919, Robert Edgar
Mattingly is one of the most pic
tureSque characters in judicial cir
cleS.
An expert on civil procedure, he
also serves on the Police Court
bench during the absence of one
Of its four judges.
STICKLER FOR FACTS
None of your long-winded testi-
n1ony, with endless witnesses
mouthin2 nonenIties, when Judge
Mattingly is on the bench! He has
apositiVe genius for getting to the
core of the matter and settling a
case forthwith.
Just and unbiased, he refuses to
be SWayed by the prisoners pre-
ViouS record. All that concerns
him is whether the defendant is
guilty as charged. If he thinks
police officer oVer-zealouS he will
gHowl:
This case is dismissed"
Yet when convinced of a pris-
oner's guilt, Hizzoner's intensely
blue eyes will clash as he snaps:
six months!"
Feminine offenders from other
cities coming before this chival-
rouS old man, who hates to see
a woman smoke. are told:
IF I let you off-wilI you
leave town."
ONE MORE CHANCE
And when an assistant district
attorney. trying to hide a grin,
remarks:
Your Honor, you dismissed
this woman'S case week ago
on her promise to leave town."
he never bats an eye, but comes
back with:
well, I'll give her another
chance"
Later If asked he will explain:
IF I put her in jail the citi-
Zens pay the bill. If she leaves
we're all better Off"
BIRTHDAY AN EVENT
His birthday is an event. Every
editorial room in town, every
clerk, bailiff, marshal and police
man in court goes around eating
ice cream bought by Hizzoner.
And each year he gets younger.
For a long time he was 40. Dur
ing the last two years he was
A and 43-now it's AZ again. It's
little joke he likes to play and
in which his friends join.
Born of an old and distinguished
Virginia family, Judge Mattingly
began his career as a Stenographer
in the Government service. Later
he became law clerk and pored
over legal lore at night. After his
admission to the bar he entered
private practice. Then came his
appointment to the bench.
Short, Stocky and bald, Judge
Mattingly is, nevertheless, one of
the most MISUNDERSTANDING
men on the bench.
His left hand is always covered
with a thick, black leather glove.
It isn't real. His own was acci-
dentally blown off by shotgun
when he was in his teens.