Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-04-16
ALEXANDRIA, d. c.
FBJDsY MORNING. APRIL 16. 1850.

In our paper OF the loul vi lii' '''
laid before our readers, some remarks relating U
the bill now before the House of Representatives
for reorganizing the Courts of this District. Inc
view taken in these remarks, we hope Is such as
to awaken the attention of the citizens of the town
and county of Alexandria, to some exerlons 10
prevent having fixed upon the District, judicial
system, which. however announcement ana Vexa-
tous it may hereafter prove to be, it will be very
difficult to have remedIed. We think that there
can be found no assemblage of persons, more COM
petent. and from whom it could; with more pro-
priety come, than the Grand Jury now empannell-
ed for this County, to express to congress their,
and what they believe tobe the views and feelings
of their fellow citizens, as to the proposed alter
alton in our Judicial System. We therefore hope
that the Grand Jury will make this subject OF
serious deliberation before they separate
We have been enabled to ascertain from source
on which reliance can be placed, such informa-
ton as to the state of the Docket in the Court of
Washington as satisfies US that speedy and
correct administration of Justice in that county,
SO far as the Courts concerned, does not require
that the proposed bill should be passed.
At the December Term, 1899, of the Court
for that County, there were on the trial docket,
including common law and chancery causes.and a
few cases returned by mandates from the SUI
prone Court, 500 cases. On what is called the
Importance docket, but what is in this county the
rule docket, $40; which may have been accu-
mulating from year to year, owing to the neg
ligence of the parties their counsel in not fiji
ing their declarations other pleadngs, so as to
put the cases upon the issue docket.
| Our informant states that he thinks the number
of cases on the trial and Importance dockets will
be considerably reduced at the next term, which
meets in May. The number of new suits brought
within the last few years is much less than for
merly In confirmation of this, he states that,
to the April Term, 1921, the number of appear
ances was 1926, but to the December Term, 1899,
TIE number was 4S9; in which is included large
portion of renewals of writs, where the defendants
had not been taken on the original process, which
was issued against them: the difference being
1857.
The number of Chancery suits has decreased
considerably since the year 1894: in that year 81
suits were brought, whereas, during the last year,
only 50, making difference of %. The number
of suits at this time on the appearance docket to
IL
law and chancery cases is about 1875.
The criminal docket at the last Court was lar
inal docket will not amount to forty in number
Our informant assures US, that the business of
the Washington Court has fallen off very con-
siderably of late years, except criminal prosecu-
tons, many OF which are for assaults & batteries
The inconvenience which arises from the scrimi-
nal cases interfering with the trial of civil cas-
cs. and that of OBTAINING prisoners long in con-
finement before trial, might be obviated, by tn e
Courts holding special sessions for the trial of
criminals, which the law as it now stands author
ICES. We have laid before our readers the pre-
ceding statement and remarks, with view to
put the public upon the enquiry as to the expedi-
ency Of multiplying the Courts of justice in this
District. We are satisfied that neither public JUS
tice nor public convenience require either nisi
prius Courts or separate criminal or chancery
COurt-we, therefore, trust that efforts will be
made to avert the evils which the proposed bill is
calculated to bring upon the people.
s&aa269ss-
The Hertford hnceadiaries.-A letter to the
Editor of the Norfolk Herald, from friend in
Hartford, says" The wretch, Allen, is in our
Jail, in irons, with the ill-fated negro man on
whom he prevailed to execute his wicked plans.
Behold what man may come to by series of
bad actions! About three years ago Allen was
driving about here in his thousand dollar car
riage, and had considerable visible property; but
twas ascertained he was acting on false ca. IL
tai. He is now degraded bankrupt manacIed