Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1854-08-14
From the Milwaukee Wisconsin.
The Judiciary of wisconsin lai
HE37-2


The Territory Of Wisconsin was organized
in July, 1896. 1t was divided into three Ju
dicial Districts. Judge Dunn was appointed
for the Western District, Judge irwin Tor the
Middle, and Judge Frasier OF Pennsylvania,
for the Eastern. Judge Frasier arrived mi
this city on Sunday evening, in june, '3l.-I
He put up at the small hotel which stood
where s.Dickerman's Block" now stands
which was called the Tavern
Kept by Mr.. Vail. On his arrival, he fell IN
with some old Kentucky friends, who invited
pating in an innocent game OF sspoker." The
party consisted of the Judge, Col. Morton,
Register of the Land Office, and two or three
others--friends u the Judge. They commen-
ced playing for small sums at first, but lhcrea-
sed them as the hour passed, until the day,
the next morning--when small sums seemed
beneath their notice. The first approach OF
dav was heralded TO them by the ringing oft
bell for breakfast. The Judge made a great
many apologies, saying among other things,
that as that was his first appear ance IN
the State, and as his court opened at 10 o.
clock that morning, he must have little time
to prepare charge to the Grand Jury; ne
therefore hoped that they would excuse him,
which they accordingly did; and he with
drew from the party. The Court met at the
appointed hour--Owen Adrick acting as Sher-
iff, and Cyrus Hawley as Clerk. The Grand
Jury were called and sworn. The Judge,
with much dignity, commenced his charge
and never before did we hear such charge
poured forth from the Bench! After charg-
ing them uron the laws generality. he alluded
to the statute against gambling. The English
language is too barren to describe his
adherence of that crime. Among their eX-
travigancies, he said that ga gambler was I'M
fit for earth, heaven or hell - and that "God
Almighty would even Shudder at the sight OF
'one!'
AT that time we had but one session OF the
Legislature, which had adopted mostly The STA
-tutes of Michigan-which allowed the Court
to exercise its discretion in granting stays OF
executions, &c. A suit came up against al
Imam who resided in the Second Ward, and had
9:lo counsel. The Judge ordered to call the de-
PENDANT. He did so, and the defendant appear
'ed. TheJuige asked him If he had any thing
TO say agafd3ttuigem beng rendered against
him. He f4bliaa That he did not know that he
mad ,asitWas ah'njnsst debt but that he was I'M
able to pay IL I'ifeJuage inquired what his oc-
occupation was, Herep.ied that he was iish.
Ferman. Says theJudge-s' Can youpay tin hshE'
The defendant answered that che did not
know but he could, if he had time to catch
them p The Judge turned TO the Clerk, and
ordered him to ''enter up a judgement, paya-
bic in fish, and grant stay of execution for
twelve months - at the same time remarking
to the defendant that he must surely pay it |
at the time, aud in good fish for he weuld not
be willing to wait so long for''stinking fish. p
The next suit worthyof note, was against VIM. /
NJ. Dennis, our present Bank Comptroller. -
He, like his predeces sor, had no COUNSEL
His name was called, and he soon made his
appearance. He entered the Court room wea-
ring his usual smile, whittling-with his knife
IN his left hand. The Court addressed him
IN loud voice-"What are you grinning a.
bout, Mr.. DennIs?" Mr.. ID. replied that he
was not aware that he was laughing The
Court inquired if he proposed to offer any de-
ence. He replied that he did, but was not
eady for trial. ''No NATTER" said the Judge
there's enough that are ready; the Clerk Will
inter- it ''continued." The next case atesttI
ans, who were indicted for numbering d man |
N Rock river They were also feAFeted fer !
n assault, (with intent to KILL upon another :
nan, at the same time. The trial for murder
anne off first They we're fotnd guilty, and
entenced to be hanged. On the day fol- =
owing, they were tried for the assault, &c,
ound guilty, and sentenced to five years i'm
'rlsonment, and to pay fine of five hundred
ollars each. Governor Dodge, however, dee
ned it too severe to fine and imprison a man :
liter he was hanged, committed the imprison-
"NHt loi liic' Lie illttldLS were COnIlneU III
all year or two, but were finally pardoned by
he governor.
Judge Frasier soon afterwards wen. to Green
Bay, and held a Co urt-from whence, for
want of Jail in which to contine prisoners,
lie sentenced man (for trfing offence, } ''to
re banished to Turkey rlver.'' After the
Court adjourned, he returned to this place on
he steamboat Pennsylvania. She anchored in
he bay, and the Judge who was dead drunk
t the time, was lowered, by means of tack Q,
nto small boat, and rowed 10 the landing
t Walkers Point. From the effect Of this
acchanalian reveal, he never recovered His
riend- Col. Morton--took him to his own
louse, called to his aid our best physician, and
Ill was done that human heart could devise.
or the restoration of his health but it was
90 late; the seeds of death had been sown
lie fingered in great distress for four or five
lays, and breathe his last. The members of
he Bar, generly, neglected to attend the fu-
neral; and having no relatives in the Stat e, he
hardly received decent burial. His remains
were followed to their last resting-pace by
only two members of the Bar (MeSsrs. Arnold
md Crocker) besides few friends. They
low remain in the old church-yard in the FRS.
Ward, without even stab to mark the
spot.