Judge Johnson Coming Home

JUDGE JOHNSON COMING HOME

To Spend His Vacation in Ann Arbor

A. E. MCCABE WRITES

From the Philippines Where He Is One of the U. of M. Colony Practicing Law

Albert E. McCabe, a recent prominent graduate of the University, is a member of the law firm of Hartigan, Maple, Solignac, McCabe & Butierrez, of 2 Calle, Arzobispo, Manilla, Philippine Islands. In a recent letter to his friend, Hon. W. W. Wedemeyer, of this city, he speaks of a visit to China on legal business of considerable duration. Among other things he says:

"We have quite a number of Michigan and especially U. of M. people in the Philippines, many of them holding prominent official positions, and others in private life. We have just had another addition to our Michigan colony in the person of Mr. Charles H. Smith, of Jackson, who arrived here a week or so ago and has been appointed prosecuting attorney for the city of Manila. Judge Johnson, one of our city judges, soon will return to Ann Arbor for his vacation. He has worked very hard here and is certainly entitled to a rest.

"Since writing you before, I resigned my position as assistant chief of the forestry bureau to become a member of this law firm, and, while I have now been in practice for some months, I have never regretted the resignation of my official position and feel well satisfied with the work connected with my private practice. We have some things here in the Philippines i the practice of law that render it rather unpleasant; such as the fact that Spanish is the legal language of the islands. All pleadings and record must be in that language. We do not have a jury system here and we sometimes feel that that is a mistake, especially where the case is entirely between Americans or where the accused is an American citizen. I do not believe it will be possible at the present time to institute the jury system in the Philippine Island as to all persons and causes, but I am in favor, if it were possibly to create any such law, to provide for a jury where an American is being tried upon a criminal offense."

Mr. McCabe sent Mr. Wedemeyer some Philippine souvenirs, including a pattern of Jusi cloth for Mrs. Wedemeyer, made by the native women by hand of the fibre of a plant. It is very pretty. Included in the package was a Chinese fan, and some Curabao horn work.