Mr. Taylor. I was summoned as a witness on that trial on the part of Callender. I attended and was sworn. On being sworn, Judge Chase inquired what it was intended to prove by my testimony? I do not recollect the expressions of Judge Chase, nor do I recollect precisely the answer made to this inquiry; but Judge Chase desired the counsel for the accused to reduce their questions to writing. They did so.
I had come into court very near the hour when the Court met, nor had I previously given any intimation of the testimony I could give either to Callender or his counsel. I should have added that, after, I think, the judge had declared the witness could not be examined, he applied to the district judge for his opinion; who replied in so low a voice that I could not well tell what he said. But this was after he had given his own opinion that my testimony could not be received.
Mr. Randolph. Did you observe anything unusual in conducting the trial?
Mr. Taylor. One or more motions were made by the counsel for Callender, who was interrupted by Judge Chase repeatedly. The words in which these interruptions were couched, I cannot recollect, though I formed an opinion of the style and manner of them; the effect of which was to produce laughter in the audience at the expense of the counsel. If I am required to declare the character in which I conceived them to be made, I am ready to do so.
There was here a short pause, when Judge Chase rose and said, he had no objection to the opinion of the witness being delivered.
Mr. Taylor. I thought the interruptions were in a very high degree imperative, satirical, and witty.
Mr. Randolph. Did there appear to you any thing unusual in the manner of the counsel for the accused towards the Court?
Mr. Taylor. I neither discovered the least degree of provocation given by the counsel, nor perceived any anger expressed by the Court. Judge Griffin was silent, nor were Judge Chase’s interruptions accompanied by the indication of any anger, as far as I could perceive.
To an interrogatory made, Mr. Taylor said, the interruptions of the Court were extremely well calculated to abash and disconcert counsel.
Mr. Harper. You have said you considered the interruptions of the Court as highly calculated to abash the counsel; did you mean thereby to give your opinion that they were so intended, or that such was their tendency?