American Justice.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 3 January 1891, Page 3

American Justice.

To the English reader there is :■* something delightfully refreshing about ' the Ameican adminiß%ation of justice. The courts have none of that solemnity and dignity which render legal proceedings in Great . Britain so impressive Thus, for in- •^ stance, the other week at Wilkes- * barre, an important tcwn of Pennsyl- | va/nia, with a population of 30,000, • the principal judge of the district became so indignant upon hearing the testimony as to the cruel treatment to which the prisoner at the / Jt>ar had subjucted his wife, that he

fdiinci himself unable to wait for justice to take is slow coil'.s ; e. Bouncing from the bench he locked the door of the court-room, lore off hj£ coat,, and then and tlierepolished off the prisoner in thortiost approved style, wliilo the spectators pnseni rent the air with approving cheers. He then reascuided the bench and proceeded to discharge the prisoner on the .around that it is uncouatitn-ti'-.nal that ft man shall be punisbe'l twice for the saiiie oifenco. Fftr from rendering hi:nse'f liable in damages or to . reproaches on tho pait oi the pdblic % this extraordinary, method of legal prod duta, tile judge in question is to-day the most popular man in Wilkesbarre, and is pointed out by his admiring fellowcitiz U3 as a man who lives up to his highest sense of duty, and who, by his ei'efget ; c action, has eoip ferod a public benefit. A Cnlifoniian judge achieved notoriety a fortnight ago by getting drunk rtutt afterwards fining himself £10 for the offence. This is in truth a sample of high old Roman virtue. The stern' magistrate, moreover, has publicly promised in court to resign if his thirst should ever again crowd his judicial digiiity off the bench. Meanwhile his struggle hot to he hauled up again before himself is being watched with anxiety by the Californian philanthropist' 1 . Even in New York there is much amuse ment and instruction to ba derived from tho administration of justice. One night Jiul.-e Ford, who is one of the principal police ma istrites in the city, fo..n 1 a burglar in his house. As thfi'e Wiis IjO policeman within hail, Judge Ford, who is an extremely powerful ican, arrested' his nocturnal visiter, took him off to the station, and entered a oapplaint. He then got on the bench emd remanded his prisoner for three days, after which he quietly returned homo, set his house in order, and then went <> hed.—PalUlatt Gazette.