Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 09.pdf/94

The Supreme Court of Wisconsin. farm, not as a farmer, but with the idea prairie chickens to hang out of his bed that a gentleman should own an estate. He room window till the legs and the bills were had a law office at Fond du Lac and also green, and the feathers rubbed off by a at Milwaukee, between which he divided his stroke of the hand, and the odor told of time. It soon became apparent that he was decay, before he would allow them to be cooked. He was a proud man and stood profoundly learned in the law. Tall, hand upon his dignity. It is told that he had a some and of imposing presence and com , who had been manding mien, he bore those insignia of client, one Captain В superiority that men, even in democratic an officer in the British service, and being a

communities, instinc man of wealth had tively respect. In the settled in Wisconsin. first judicial election He was a little per he was chosen circuit emptory in his bear judge for the fourth ing, yet he and Stow circuit, comprising were warm friends, the then northern and the latter was his counties of Brown, trusted counsel. One Manitowoc, Sheboyday, Captain В gan, Fond du Lac, rode up to the door Winnebago and Calu of his office and not met. wishing to dismount, He presided over which was something of a task to a man the old Supreme Court with great dig of his bulk and years, nity, and impressed he called to Stow all the pioneer law through the open yers of the State as door, " Judge Stow, a man of great learncome out here a mo ing and power. ment." The lawyer, Ryan, Chief-Justice o ff e n d e d by the Cole and many of the brusqucness of man earlier lawyers speak ner and dominating MORTIMER M. JACKSON of him as a giant air, which had often of the profession. nettled him before, The terms of the judges of this court were, sung out, "See you d d first; if you under this system, determined by lot, and want to see me, come in here." A general in the drawing Judge Stow's term was the substitution of attorney followed this episode. shortest, and ended with the year 1850. Another anecdote is told of this jurist. He then resumed the practice, residing One of his cases decided at the circuit had nominally on his farm at Fond du Lac, but been reversed by the Supreme Court of spending mpst of his time in Milwaukee. which he was the chief justice. The reHe was long remembered in Madison, mittitur confronted him at the circuit, and where he presided as Chief Justice, by his he was reminded that his decision was re tastes, so strange to the Western people. versed. " Then," said he, " I have only He had acquired in foreign travel, the taste one other decision to make, and that is, for game well " ripened." It was told with that the Supreme Court are consummate disgust that the Chief Justice required his I blockheads."