Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 07.pdf/200

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A Sketch of the Supreme Court of Ohio. idcnt judge : " What do you mean by that?" Lawyer: "I mean what I say. This court is a Demerara team, composed of one mule and three jackasses; when the mule wants to go, the jackasses won't, and when the jackasses want to move, the mule won't budge a step!" President judge : " This is a contempt of court, brother G., and I fine you ten dollars." Lawyer G. :

"No matter what you do — the «5J-ociatcs will not go with you." Presidcntjudge : "Sit down, brother G.; we will have no more of this. If we are a Dcm-crror-ah team, drive on with your man-dam-us! We will hear you further in argument." It is said that for some time after the organization of the court in banc the judges held no public session. They occu pied four beds in one room in Russell's tavern in Columbus. The luxury of a sep arate bed for each was due their judicial position. THOMAS W. In their delibera (from photograph by tions it is said that when a case was called, Pease, Chief Justice, said he decided in favor of the plaintiff; Hitch cock and Sherman concurred, Burnett dis sented, and the Chiefthen said, "Sherman, you have good a voice, you may read the papers; we will see what these lawyers say about it." The reporter, Charles Hammond, did not meet the court in banc at Columbus, and at the close of the term, Judge Pease packed up the papers and sent them to Mr. H., with a letter reading something in this wise : " I

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inclose to you a batch of unlicked cubs of opinions, which you are to lick into shape and publish according to law." But the biographical sketches of the judges of the old Supreme Court must proceed. Samuel Huntington was appointed by the first legislature to a seat on the bench of the Supreme Court, March 1, 1803. He was born in Connec ticut in 1785, was admitted to the bar, engaging in that pro fession in his native state until 1800, when he came to Ohio, liv ing at Youngstown, Marietta, Norwich and Cleveland. Was a member of the Con stitutional Conven tion of 1802, and a state senator from Trumbull County. He was a member of the Supreme Court when articles of im peachment were filed against that body, and resigned the judges h i p, as he was elected Governor of the State. It has been said of him BARTLEY. that " his character BAKER, COLUMBUS, O.) for strict integrity, great executive ability and accomplished scholarship was second to that of no incum bent of the executive office." WILLIAM SPRIGG was appointed April 2, 1803, by the first legislature under the Con stitution, assembled at Chillicothe March 1, 1803, together with Return J. Meigs, Jr., and Samuel Huntington as judges of the Su preme Court. He was appointed from Jefferson County, but after a most diligent search and inquiry nothing can be found