EXPEEIEXCES WITH COEXSEL 159 



to interpose palliatives and to plead for Miinn. Commis- 

 sioner Shepard joined in tlie pleadings. It Tvoiild be very 

 trying, they said, for Mr. Mnnn, as it ^onld be for any 

 attorney, to have a peremptory dismissal from such a board. 

 We should not act hastily, they contended, in so important 

 ■ a ease as this. The official relations with the freeholders 

 were friendly. Might not differences arise, should the pro- 

 posed dismissal be made effective ? Give Mr. Munn a trial 

 — another opportnnity, provided he voiild promise to do 

 better, they urged. His salary was not large for a coimsel 

 in so responsible a position. Perhaps this may, in part, ac- 

 count for his lack of attention to his duties, they continued. 



It was decided to call Mr. Munn in, explain the situation 

 to him, and, unless he would promise to do better forthwith, 

 that he should go. He entered. His manner was serious ; 

 his bearing courteous but grave. He took a seat at the end 

 of the commissioners" table, where he could be closely ob- 

 served. The status of matters was explained to him. He 

 listened attentively, scarcely uttering a word. He was told 

 how the business of the commission in his charge was suf- 

 fering from his neglect : how serious the result was becom- 

 ing ; that it must be stopped, or a change made. His man- 

 ner indicated more clearly than words that lie realized the 

 truth and the force of the charges made. I then looked him 

 directly in the face and said : ^^Mr. Munn, if we retain you, 

 can we rely upon your properly attending to your duties 

 here ?'*^ In a subdued but clear voice he replied : "Yes, you 

 can!" He was excused. 



The pleadings of Messrs. Shepard and Murphy for his 

 retention then continued. He had made a pledge in the 

 presence of us all ; why not at least give him an opportunity 

 to redeem that pledge. Who else could be selected, of all the 

 attorneys in Essex County, who could then come into the 

 department and have the grasp of the legal situation that 

 Mr. Munn already possessed ? These arguments prevailed. 



It then seemed logical and consistent to give him a 

 further trial before exercising our right of peremptor}^ dis- 

 missal. Those of us favoring this latter course hoped for 



