pedition to the poor woman's cause. In two days the case was decided to her satisfaction. Theodoric then summoned the judges before him, and inquired how it was that they had done in two days what they had delayed for three years.
"The recommendation of your Majesty," was the reply.
"How?" said the King; "when I put you in office did I not consign all pleas and proceedings to you? You deserve death for having delayed that justice for three years which two days could accomplish;" and he at once commanded their heads to be struck off.
Sir John Leach, though by no means deficient as a lawyer, had a reckless, slashing way of getting through business, which often wrought great in justice. In this respect the Chancery Court, presided over by Lord Eldon, formed a strange contrast with the Rolls Court, under the direction of Leach. The first the lawyers used to call the Court of Oyer sans terminer, and the latter the Court of Terminer sans oyer.
The conflicting claims of two towns in Connecticut, Lyme and New London, to certain lands once gave rise to a mode of adjusting the title, of which, we apprehend, no trace can be found in the common law. "The land," says Dr. Dwight, "though now of considerable value, was then regarded as a trifling object. The expense of appointing agents to manage the cause before the Legislature was considerable, and the hazard of the journey not small. In this situation the inhabitants of both townships agreed to settle their respective titles to the lands in controversy, by a combat between two champions, to be chosen by each for that purpose. New London selected two men of the name of Ricker and Latimer. Lyme committed its cause to two others, named Griswold and Ely. On a day mutually appointed, the champions appeared in the field, and fought with their fists, till victory declared itself in favor of each of the Lyme combatants. Lyme then quietly took possession of the controverted tract, and has held it undisputed until the present day."
Recent Deaths.
Samuel Robb died at his residence, No. 1630 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, on the 10th of June. He was an eminent lawyer. Although his practice for a number of years past had been principally that of consulting counsel, he was well known among the older lawyers and business community as an exceptionally able and learned man. Mr. Robb graduated at Princeton College in 1849, and received the second honor of his class. At that early age he gave evidence of a mind of unusual power, achieving his success without apparent effort. His oratorical abilities were of a high order, and he maintained the reputation of being the ablest and readiest debater in college. At his graduation he delivered the valedictory. He was admitted to the bar April 12, 1851, and engaged at once in active practice.
Although well qualified for jury practice, he gradually withdrew himself from the contests of the courts, and became best known as a chamber practitioner. His judicial habit of mind and methodical system of study made him a favorite appointee of the courts, and, by agreement of counsel, as master in equity cases and auditor and referee in complicated matters of litigation. Rarely or never were his conclusions reversed.
Perhaps the most responsible and weighty piece of professional work that Mr. Robb was ever called upon to perform was in connection with the famous case of Asa Packer v. Joseph Noble and Barnabas Hammitt. It was a suit in equity brought by the late Judge Packer against the defendants for the settlement of a copartnership account. It was hotly contested, and involved a large amount of money. The expenses of litigation when it reached the Supreme Court were stated to have amounted to over one million of dollars, and the sum in controversy was many millions more. Mr. Robb was appointed master in the case, his duty being to take the testimony and report and decide upon the whole case. This case was before Mr. Robb, as master, for seven or eight years. The suit was protracted for a long time. Twenty-six years elapsed before its final decision, and the paper books in the case occupy twelve printed volumes.
The elaborate report made by Mr. Robb was the result of a vast amount of labor, and in clearness, exhaustiveness, strength, and general ability,
