When an English judge has passed sentence upon a criminal, he has done with him. It would never enter his head to visit a man he had condemned to death. Judge Smith of Cincinnati had different notions of judicial etiquette. One Samuel Covert, about to be executed at Lebanon, had just taken his last meal, when the judge looked in, inquired how he felt, and asked for his autograph. Having obtained the autograph, and learned that Covert was pretty well, considering circumstances, the judge shook his hand warmly, saying: 'Good-bye, Mr Covert; I shall not see you again.'
'Good-bye, Mr Smith,' was the reply. 'Remember my last words to you: you have passed sentence of death upon an innocent man.'
'That is so, is it, Sam?' queried the visitor.
'Yes, sir.'
'If that be true, you've nothing against me; have you, Sam?'
'No, sir; you did your duty under the evidence.'
'Well, Sam, if you are an innocent man, it is a great calamity.'
'I am innocent,' repeated Covert.
The judge then departed, and Covert was marched to the scaffold.
Judge Smith hardly felt so easy in his mind as a Californian sheriff did after being interviewed by a self-confessed murderer, who desired to be sent to New York to answer for the crime he had committed in that city.