Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 November 1900 — THIS JUDGE WAS SEVERE. [ARTICLE]

THIS JUDGE WAS SEVERE.

How He Punished a Youna Attorney for Assaulting a Blackguard. Judge Hamilton Finney, who is visiting friends in Kansas City, was formerly Police Judge, and he has by long odds the time record for holding a case under advisement. Twenty years is the time, and the case is not decided yet. It was when Judge Guinotte was a young law student in the office of Tichenor & Warner. He had a case In one of the justices’ courts one day which had been postponed on two or three occasions. On this particular day he demanded a trial. The lawyer on the other side, a man very-unpopular with all judges and attorneys, grew abusive. Then he became so Insulting that young Guinotte’s French blood boiled over, and he threw a heavy inkstand at the man, striking him on the head. The result was that Guinotte was arrested for disturbing the peace. He went before Judge Finuey the next morning in police court. “Are you guilty or not guilty?” asked the Judge. “Guilty,” answered Mr. Guinotte. Ordinarily that would settle a case. The Judge is supposed to have no alternative except to, punish. Judge Finney scowled. “Young man,” he said, “this is a case of a most aggravated assault. You actually struck this man with an Inkstand. It’s so serious I’ll take the case under advisement.” He still has It under advisement, and the reason can be understood from the conversation between the Judge and Mr. Tichenor after court had adjourned on the day of the trial. “You took Guinotte’s case under advisement?” asked Mr. Tichenor. “Yes,” answered the Judge, “but I ought to have fined him for not breaking that fellow’s neck!”