Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 December 1883 — Legal Humors. [ARTICLE]

Legal Humors.

There are many stories, some of them, undoubtedly, apocryphal, told to illustrate the peculiarities of Western Judges and lawyers, in the days when “the West” was a name to designate the border-land between civilization and barbarism. Years ago, when the Illinois Legislature was not in as high repute as it now is, a man was convicted- in that State of highway robbery. The Judge, named Davis, was what Dr. Johnson would have called “a liearty hater” of thieves. In passing sentence upon the prisoner, he began by reminding him that, though he was a young man of natural endowments sufficient to ’make him a reputable member of society, yet he had been guilty of a most wicked crime. In uttering this scathing prelude to the sentence, the Judge got so warmed up, that when he came to close, he somewhat mixed the State institutions. “Prisoner at the bar,” he said, “I shall sentence you to sevqn years in the Illitaois Legislature!” “The penitentiary, your Honor,” suggested the prosecuting attorney. “Seven years in the penitentiary,” said the Judge, correcting himself, and at the same time muttering, “But for the life of me I can’t see but a slight difference between the two.” Judge Purple, of Peoria, was an able jurist, but he had eccentric ideas of what “doing well” at the Illinois bar meant. While visiting Washington, the Judge was asked by a Boston gentleman as to the success of a young lawyer who had “gone West” some five years before. “He is doing well, sir,” said the Judge. “He is? well, I am glad to hear it,” continued the gentleman: “you think he has a good practice and is making money, do you, Judgft?” “I don’t know anything about his practice or his business, but he is doing well." “How is that, Judge? You say you don’t know anything about his practice or his business, yet vou think he is doing well.” “I mean just this,” sajd the Judge, “that any man who practices law here five years and keeps out of the penitentiary is doing well whether he has muoli practice or Youth's Companion.