Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 January 1895 — Two Stories About Judges. [ARTICLE]

Two Stories About Judges.

A good story is told on Judge French, of South Dakota. Some years ago he became Judge of the Supreme Court, and was known all over the state by the name of “Old Necessity,” and thia title was given him because it was said he “knew no law.” As an illustration of how apt this appellation was the most remarkable decision the Judga ever rendered is directly to the point A case was before 'him wherein the prosecution failed to prove its charges. The attorney for the defense refused on that ground to put in any evidence. When asked by Judge French if he in* tended doing so, the lawyer said “No.” and then the Judge drew himself up and said: “Well, in that case I shall order the jury to convict If there is any one branch of the law I fully un« derstand it is criminal law, and if a man is innocent he has got to prove himself so ” Another good story from the sama section is on Judge Gideon C. Moody, recently elected United States Senator from South Dakota. When he was some years ago Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a noted horse thief, known as “Light Fingered Harry,” was up before him on a charge of stealing a horse. The trial was a long one, and Harry got a long term in prison. In sentencing the prisoner Judge Moody scored the thief in a most unmerciful manner, and closed by asking the usual question if he had anything to say. Harry looked his denouncer in the eye for a moment, and then said in an even, cold tone: “Judge, I wouldn’t have chat temper of yours for the best horse in the Black Hills.” _ An exchange exClaims-. “In these days of roguery a man must have lost bis wits to indorse a note.” At any rate he is apt to lose his balance.— Philadelphia Press