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LEGAL LIGHTS WERE GOOD SPORTSMEN. Thcrmanby Writes Stories of Some Great English Lawyers and Judges Turf Leanings. Baron Brampton, better known to the world in general as Sir Henry Hawkins, was almost as familiar a figure at Ne-wmarket as in tin- law courts, and there- use-el to be no end of stories current relating to his efforts to combine the duties of a judge with the pleasures of a sportsman. Many of these- stories, no doubt, were apocryphal, but there is ample evidence in Sir Henrys racy "Reminise-e-nces" to prove how keen a lover of sport h - was. and how varied were his experiences in that connection. The prize ring appears to have- shared with the turf his early patronage, and lie has many a good story to tell of great fights he- had seen indeed. In- was once himself mistaken for an eminent pugilist, and by his hold "bluff" in assuming this character, extricated himself from a tight place. Hut it was on the- race e-ourse- that " Oikins" was most at home as a sportsman, and I think some of the- happiest hours of his life- were- passe-el there. In his love for the turf he had. at any rate-. SSM synipathe-tie brother among his contemporaries on the bench in the- person of the late Lorel Chief Jus-tic- Lord Itussell. of Killowc n. who, as sir Charles Basse U, was the- fore-most advocate of bis day. His great knowledge of racing stood him in good stead in the "cause c-elebre" of Wood vs. Cox. when by his masterly conduct of the ease he secured a moral victory for the eccentric proprietor of the "Licensed Victuallers Gaze-tte." For a verdict of a farthing damages without costs for the plaintiff was. of course-, practically a re edict for tin- defendant. Hut neither Baron Brampton nor Lard Russell e-oulel hold a candle- as practical sportsmen to Baron Martin, who openly expressed his regret in his later days that he had not abandoned the bar for the turf as a profession. Baron Martin was the- only judge who had been at the same time an owner of raee horses. It is true that his name was never registered as an owner, but it was a weli-known fact that he and Harry Hill, the famous bookmaker, were- in partnership, and that the baron had a half share in several horses whieli ran under the name aad colors of Air. Hill. Rogerthorpe was the beat horse in which Baron Martin had an Interest. He was a favorite for the Derby, but ran no nearer than eighth to the winner. He-, however, placed tiie Goodwood Cup of 1888 to his owners credit, and that trophy ornamented the Harems sideboard and was one of his most treasured possessions. Quaint Turf Characters Have Passed Away. To write tiie truth, the turf, of which Sir Henry Hawkins was a patron, differs widely from the- institution which first won Haron Martin- affections. I have no intention to discuss here whether tiie teat has changed for the- better or the- worse; but the turf of today is far less interesting than that with which Haron Alartin Urst made acquaintance when William IV. was still on the throne. The- quaint and gnarled bits of humanity for which Haron Alartin. like his friends, the Earl of Derby. Air. George Payne and Lord Strafford had so keen an eye, hive passed away forever: such characters as Sir Charles Alonk. Parson Harvey. James Hirst, Alichael Hrun-ton, Alark Plows. Dick Stockdale. Bill Soertt and half a hundred more- have vanished and left none like- them behind, and tin- world of sport is tiie poorer by their loss, for they infused it with that individual variety which is the spice of life . During the years between 1S32 and 18B8, when he-was appointed a Baron of the Exchequer. Ha ion Alartin had many opportunities of manifesting his partiality for bane racing, although, like many other lovers of the premier national sport, he- was always fonder of watching horses at exercise and of seeing them stripped in the stable than of frequenting! races. Haron Alartin never spent a Sun I ry in York during the Assize week without having a postchaise ready at daybreak, in which, often accompanied by his old friend. Air. James Stuart Wortley. he- dTOTC off in hot haste to Maltoa to visit John Se-otts stables at White-wall. His inquiries about every detail of racing descend- 1 to the minutest particulars, and few facts once committed te his memory eve-r escaped its tenae ious grasp. The time when all this racing knowledge was to be turned to rich account by Air. .Martin who took silk as a jue-ens Counsel fit ls4:o wvi rapidly approaching and near at hand. The first case which brought him into prominence was the famims Hloomsbury Protest in 1S30. Mr. Ridsdales slashing colt had won the Ascot Derby Stakes in the- previous season, but Lord Litchfield had protested against the payment of the ■ takes on tie- ground that the horse had been misd--s -i-ibecl. Cr-sswell- afterwards Sir Cresswi 11 tYi -well, the first president of the Divorce Court and Martin were counsel for Air. Ridsdale. t!:e plaintiff, but tin- conduit of the- case- was 1-ft entirely in Martins liainls. and he secured a brilliantly-wem verdict for his client. Famous Running Rein Derby Case. In the famous Running Beta ease, in whieh a horse so named came in first for the Derby of 1-11. but was objected to on tie- ground that it was really a four year-old named Maccabeus, A!, rtin was one of the counsel for Colonel Peel. who. a owner of the second horse. Orlando, claimed the stakes. His leader was Page-Wood — afterwards Lord Ratb-erley — a gentle, high-minded, honorable man. and a skillful advocate in his way. but with no comprehension of the turf and its surroundings. He wisely b ft the case practically in tiie banc- of his junior, who pulled his client through triumphantly despite all the machinations of tin- most infamous confederacy of swindlers that e-ve-r blackened the annals of horse racing. It was a masterly display of acute diagnosis and penetrating thought, to my thinking a finer display of forensic talent than anything Sir Bussefl ever did even at his beat, Haron Alartins knowledge of horse flesh- was profound, though, as I have said, he preferred the training stables to tin- race course, yet he was not mfreqw ntly seen at race- lin-ctings. A friend met him once- in the Rois de Boulogne at Palis on a Sunday when tin- races were going em ami said: "It would not do for you. Haron. to be seea in England amid such scenes as this on tin- sabbath day." "Well." said, the hedge piteemriy, "I cannot help it. What would you have me to do when they will not race hero on any other day than Sunday." Once, when he went as judge on the western circuit, he was invited with several members of the bar to dine with the Dean of Winchester, whom be had never met before-. A few days after a friend asked tin- dean what he thought of Haron Alartin. "We-11." was the reply, "he does not appear to be- a man of c-ularge-el information. He actually never had heard of William of Wykeham. and wanted to know who he was." Alartin was asked by some one what he thought of the dean. "Why." said he. "I ennt say I think much of him. He seems deficient in general know bilge: lie absolutely didnt know who John Day was and has never beard of Danebury, though he has been years in Winchester." Entertained Greatest Contempt for Shakespeare. That tin- dean should never have heard of tiie great trainer and his stables, but a few miles away, certainly argued an ignorance more Iniom-proh-nsible than the juelge-s ignorance of the- founder of Winchester SChOOL Hut Haron Martins knowledge of matters other than the turf and the law was certainly limited. Only once was he- induced to se-e a play of Shakespeares. The play be saw was "Measure for Measure," and his feelings as a Judge were s,, outraged by the afro- tously bad law in the play that hi- entertained the greatest contempt for Shakespeare ever afterward. Haron Alartin had the- profoundest scorn of the "prophets," who ptofesstii to give weak-minded no n who are adlicte-el to betting "the straight tip." When a prophet came before tiie baron judii ially, he generally let him know in pretty strong language the peculiar estimation in which he held him. on one- occasion, after h - had become deal, in- was trying a racing ease-, an exorcise of his functions that he reveled in. One of the counsi-1 engaged in it was named Staninit rs, a ssteasa, formal, sententious person, who seldom made a speech without quoting pasaages from scripture. In addressing tin- Jdry he ama about to pursue his old habit, and had got as far as "As tlr- prophet says." when the judge iu- terposed. "Dont trouble the jury. Air. Stamnu-rs. about the prophets; there is not cue «.f them who would not s -ll liis father for sixpenny north id halfpence." "Hut. my lord.-" said Stamnu-rs in a subdued tone. "1 was about to quote from tic- proplu t Jeremiah." "Doift tell me." said the Haron. "I have no doubt your friend Air. Myers ia just us bud as the rest of Uieiii."
