Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 09.pdf/137

SAMUEL CRAWFORD was born inBallibay, told upon his strength, and in 1865 he sailed for New York. On the day after taking County Monahan, Ireland, April 11, 1820. passage on the steamer he was found to be He was the fourth son of John Crawford, a in an exhausted and sinking condition. He wholesale linen merchant, and was given an died on the 3d of June, just after the vessel excellent academic education. He came to had arrived in New York, and was buried at the United States in 1820 and studied law at Warwick, Orange County, New York. his home in Milwaukee. His memory is kept green in Wisconsin, He came to Galena in 1841, and there con tinued the study of law with J. M. Douglass,

though his peculiar political and constitu then a prominent tional views are no lawyer. He was ad longer entertained. mitted to the bar in He lived to see them 1 844, and began prac become the settled tice in a smart town law of the State. He of mushroom growth was the leading spirit in the mines, which that originated and bore the literal name taught them. But all of New Diggings. agree that he was a Here were then a man of high intellec number of able law tual powers, strong yers, many of whom native ability and afterwards became liberal culture, a famous in the State. prominent figure on Among them was the bench and at the James Nagle, a witty bar. If he went too Irishman, of whose far and trod on dan droll sayings many gerous ground it was traditions remain. because of great love Chief-Justice Ryan, for the principles of in a most inimitable civil liberty, and be way, used to tell one cause he would secure that ran as follows : the rights of the SAMUEL CRAWFORD. A case was on trial in downtrodden. His the Galena district, decisions, however much we may dissent from his ultimate con over the line in Illinois, before a quarterclusion as to the scope of the powers of the sessions court composed of three justices Federal Supreme Court, are an interesting of the peace, the senior or presiding jus and able discussion of great principles, and tice being also an Hibernian. Nagle arose a part of the great controversy. Matt. H. at a stage in the trial and said, " And Carpenter, who differed widely from Smith's now may it plaze yer honors, we'd like to opinions on this great question, said they swear one of your honors as a witness in "were honestly entertained, and with great this case." ability promulgated and enforced." Of the "Which one of our honors, Mr. Lavin?" Judge's patience, kindheartedness and cour asked the presiding justice. tesy, particularly to the younger members "Yer honor's own honor,1' replied the law of the bar, all his contemporaries bear wit yer. ness. "And what would ye ax me to be swear