Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 April 1907 — Courtroom Repartee. [ARTICLE]

Courtroom Repartee.

Tb 6 following anecdote is related of Judge Thornton, who was’chief justice of the court of common pleas in New Hampshire and judge of the superior court of the state in the eighteenth century. While he was presiding in the common pleas a counsel who was making the closing argument to the jury in a protracted case on a warm afternoon discovered that the presiding judge on the bench was absorbed in reading a book, and his associate was soundly sleeping by his side. The advocate turned to the jury and, with indignant emphasis, remarked, “Gentlemen, my unfortunate client has no hope but in your attention, since the court in their wisdom will not condescend to hear hte case!” Of course there wgs no sleeping on the bench after that, but Judge Thornton looked up from his book and remarked: “When you have anything to offer, Mr. , which is pertinent to the case on trial the court will be happy to hear yon. Meantime I may as well resume my reading.” ~*<