The history of Waterbury, Connecticut - citizen hylbom blog

382 HISTORY OF WATEEBUKT.
science, well fitted liim for tbis position, No man was better proof
against ingenious sopbistry; less likely to be imposed upon by refined
legal subtleties. Tbere doubtless bave been more learned jurists; but
a sounder or better judge bas rarely sat in tbe courts of tbis State-
This opinion prevailed inside as well as outside tbe bar. Conse-
quently, bis decisions commanded respect.
As a man. Judge Bronson was known for trutb, fidelity and probity
— for bis prudence, good judgment and admirable common sense. For
truth he had such veneration that be never indulged in the common
luxury of exaggeration. Nor would be speak carelessly, in way of
statement, even on unimportant matters. lie did not allow himself to
guess. So far as he knew, be would say, but would not go a step be-
yond. No man knew better the limits of one's own knowledge. If bis
opinion was required, be would give it, cautiously, as a judgment,
aware of the responsibility. He did not confound facts with inferences.
Rigidly and exactly just, it is believed be never took an unfair advantage
of the necessities of his fellow men, or of bis own position or knowledge. If
be wished to buy, he was willing to give a fair price, and if he desired to sell,
he would ask no more than tbe thing was honestly worth. He never cried
down another man's goods or praised his own, in order to get a good
bargain. With him, tbere was no haggling or chaffering about prices.
What he would do, he said at the beginning, and that was the end of
it. If a person tried to beat him down in bis price, be would sometimes
raise it, and then get what he asked. If be was cheated, he remembered
it, and would have no more to do with the cheater. If a man
tried to get an undue advantage, he considered himself at liberty to
make him pay for it. For instance, he and another person, whom I
shall call Mr. A., owned between them a large amount of mixed proper-
ty. When ^they came to divide, they agreed to assort it, throw it into
two parcels and then draw lots for the parcels. If either did not like
his allotment, be might bid for a choice. The lot was drawn, and each
got tbe parcel be desired, and tbe only parcel be could use. This both
understood. After a minute's silence, Mr. A. turned to Mr. B. and
said—" W^ell, shall you bid ?" Mr. B.—" I will think of it." Mr. A.—
"I think I shall bid." Mr. B.—" Well, what will you give?" Mr. A.
— "Ten dollars." Mr. B.— " I will take it, and you shall bave your
choice." Mr. A.— " When will you execute the necessary papers ?"
Mr. B.—"Now." Mr. A.— "Well, perhaps we will put it ofi' till to-
morrow." The result was as bad been foreseen. Mr. A. chose tbe
property which had been distributed to him by lot, and paid the ten
dollars.