But he
had great influence with the juries and was very sound and
correct in his law. I once tried a case before him for damages
for the seizure of a stock of liquors under the provisions
of the Statute of 1852, known as the Maine Liquor Law, which
had been held unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. He began:
"The Statute of 1852 chapter so-and-so gentlemen of the jury
commonly known as the Maine Liquor Law which has created great
feeling throughout this Commonwealth some very good men were
in favor of it and some very good men were against it read
literally part of it would be ridiculous and you may take
your seats if you please gentlemen of the jury I shall be
occupied some time in my charge and I do not care to keep
you standing and some of it would be absurd and some of it
reads very well." And so on.
A neighbor of Judge Byington from Berkshire County was Judge
Henry W. Bishop of Stockbridge. He was an old Democratic
politician and at one time the candidate of his party for
Governor. He was not a very learned lawyer, but was quick-
witted and picked up a good deal from the arguments of counsel.
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