Rachael and her sister Elizabeth had been abducted from East Nottingham Township

as runaway slaves.

The trial lasted for several days.

Finally

the claimant, unable longer to resist the clear and convincing testimony on the part of the petitioners, consented to verdicts giving them their freedom.

In stature, Judge Bell was a small man, who attempted to make up in carriage what he lacked in height. The boys who played in the streets could recognize his walk by their ears alone, and upon hearing that "one! two!; one! two! three!" would say to one another without lifting their eyes, "Here comes Judge Bell."

As a rule, both on the bench and at the bar, Bell was courteous, notably courteous. I know of but one exception. It occurred in a trial of a case before Judge Haines. Thaddeus Stevens represented the other side. Bell objected to certain questions as "leading," and remarked to Stevens: "Remember, Mr. Stevens, you are not now in the House of Representatives." Quick as a flash came the retort from the Great Commoner: "And you, Mr. Bell, will do well to remember that you are not now on the Supreme Bench."

THE NEW COURT-HOUSE

"Stand now, and judge thyself!"

COWPER, Expostulation.

T the July term of Quarter Sessions, 1845,

AT

the Grand Jury recommended the erection of a court-house and offices together, in one plan, and gave as their reasons:

"The precarious security which the present buildings afford the most important and precious papers of the county, the destruction of which by fire, to which they are hourly exposed, would produce interminable confusion, bringing the oldest titles and most established claims into doubt and carrying litigation, dispute, and distress into every quarter of the country."

At the October Term of Quarter Sessions another Grand Jury reported:

"The various offices in which the records are kept are insufficient, cramped for room, crowded to overflowing with documents and inconvenient in many respects; that unless

these offices are extended and enlarged a very large amount of papers must necessarily decay or become destroyed for want of sufficient room to bestow upon them that care which they demand.”

When this report was published, opposition expressed itself vigorously:

"Chester County's schools," said a citizen, are languishing for want of funds; her lands are scarcely half-tilled and lack buildings for comfort and convenience; many of her streams are scarcely passable for want of bridges, and in some instances communications between contiguous neighborhoods are entirely cut off.

"We are told that bridges cannot be had because our taxes are too great, and yet we are asked to build court-houses and public offices which are not now and for years may not be necessary.

"For whose benefit? For the ease and comfort of a few briefless lawyers and perhaps a larger sprinkling of speculators, loafers, and loungers.

"The court-house is sufficiently large and comfortable for the transaction of all legal matters pertaining to the county. That is its use. It was not erected to enable those

learned in the law to display their talents, nor for those of less calibre their want of talents, nor yet for idlers to while away their time in listless lounging."

The question, "How shall the new courthouse front?" excited even more debate than its necessity.

An eastern front was regarded by many, who contended, as a matter of taste, that a long building should not be placed across a narrow lot, and as the county lot was deeper from east to west, the county buildings should take that direction. It was further suggested that the trees on the eastern front, which afforded an agreeable shade, had been planted there with the understanding that by the time new buildings were erected they would make a pleasing appearance in front.

On the other hand, the advocates of a southern front maintained with warmth that every man acquainted with the principles of building knows that a southern front is always secured if possible.

"It is well known," said one of them, "that the present court-house had originally a southern front, and that to enlarge it an eastern front was necessary, because the alley and the

line of the public lot prevented its extension in a northern direction.

"The country people are interested in having a southern front. It is of some concern to them to have an easy entrance, free from risk, and a dry pavement outside the door. The difficulty and danger of climbing up the ascent to the present court-house is known to all who attend the court; while the south pavement was dry for weeks, the east pavement was thickly coated with ice."

"To give any good reason why it should front east," exclaimed another, "would in my humble opinion puzzle not only a Philadelphia but even a West Chester lawyer."

It was openly alleged that "merchant princes" favored one front and "princely bankers" the other.

By the beginning of 1846, the controversy became so heated that one newspaper felt obliged to notify the combatants that future communications on "fronts" must be quite brief.

What would contribute most to the comfort, convenience, and accommodation of the people? Such was the question that presented itself to the Commissioners.

At last a Solomon appeared who declared: