Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1854-09-13
From the Milwaukee Wisconsin.
THE JUDICIARY OF WlSC0NSIN In 1875.

| The Territory of Wisconsin was organ
lied III July. 1886. 1t was divided into
three judicial Districts. Judge Damn
was appointed for the Western District.
Judge Irwin for the Middle. and Judge
Frasier of Pennsylvania, for the Eastern.
Judge Frasier arrived in this city on Sun
day evening in June, 1887 He put up at
the small hotel which stood where +" Dicker
mans 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 him to a
private room, for the purpose of partie-
patlng IN an innocent game of p0ker"-
The party consisted of the Judge, Col
Morton, Register of the Land Office. and
two or three others friends to the Judge
They commenced playing for small sums
at first, but Increased them as the hours
passed, until the dawa Of day, the next
morning small sums seemed be.
meath their notice The first approach of
day was heralded to them by the ringing
of the bell for breakfast The Judge
made great many apologies. saying
among other things, that as that was his
/ tlrst appearance 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 he therefore
hoped that they would excuse him, which
| they accordingly did and be withdrew
from the party. The Court met at the
appointed hour-Owen Aldrick acting as
Sheriff, and Cyrus llawley as Clerk. The
| Grand Jury were called and sworn. The
Judge, with much dignity, commenced his
charge; and never before did we hear such
a charge poured forth from the Bench -
After charging them upon the laws gener-
ally, he alluded to the statute against
gambling The English language is too
/ barren to describe his abhOrance of that
crime. Among their extravagancies, he
said that gambler was unfit for earth.
heaven, or hell ;" and that God Almighty
would even Skuddcr at the sight of one p
At that time we had had but one session Of
the Legislature, which had adopted most
ly the statutes of Michigan-which allow
ed the Court to exercise its discretion In
granting stays Of executions, sc. 4 suit
came up against a man who resided in the
Second Ward, and had no counsel The
Judge ordered the crier to call the defend
ant. He did so. and the defendant ap-
peared The Judge asked him if he had
any thing TO say against judgment being
rendered against him He replied that
he did not know that he had, as it was an
honest debt, but that he was unable to pay
it. The Judge inquired what his occupa
tion was He replied that he was fish
erman. Says the Judge Can you pay
it in fish p The defendant answered
that he did not know but he could, if
he had time to catch them" The Judge
turned to the Clerk, aud ordered him to
''enter up a judgment, payable in fish,
; and grant a stay of execution for twelve
months - at the same time remarking to
the defendant that he must surely pay it
at the time. and in good fish; for he would
not be willing to wait so long for stink
ing fish" The next suit worthy Of ncte,
was against Wm NJ Denuis, our present
Bank Comptroller He, like his prede
cessor, had no counsel His name was
called, and he soon made his appearance
He entered the Court room wearing his
usual smile, whittling-with his knife in
bis left hand The Court addressed him
in loud voice. What are you grinning
about Mr. Dennis 2" MIR d. replied that
be was not aware that lie was laughing-
The Court inquired if he proposed to offer
any defence. He replied that he did, but
was not ready for trial " No matter" 7"
said the Judge, there's enough that are
ready the Clerk will enter it contin-
ued." The next case about which we
recollect, was the trial Of two Indians
who were indicted for numbering man
on Rock river They were also indicted
for an assault. with intent to kill) upon
another man, at the same time. The trial
for murder came of first They were
found guilty. and sentenced to be hanged
On the day following. they were tried for
the assault, &c, found guilty, and SEN
fenced to FIVE years imprisonment, and to
paw fine of FIVE hundred dollars each.-
Governor Dodge, however, deeming it too
severe to fine and imprison man after
he was hanged commuted it to imprison-
ment for life The Indians were confined
in jail year or two but were finally par
doned by the Governor.
Judge Frasier soon afterwards went
to Green Bay, and held Court-from
whence. for want of jall III which to con
fine prisoners, he sentenced man flor
some trifing ofence,) . to be banished to
/ Turkey river" After the Court adjourn
ed, he returned to this place on the steam
boat Pennsylvania. She anchored in the
bay and the Judge, who was dead drunk
at the time, was lowered by means of
tackle. into small boat. aud rowed to the
landing, at Walkers Point. From the
effect of this bacchanalian reyel, he never
recovered His friend-Col Morton
took him to his own house, called to his
aid our best physicians, and ali was done
that human heart could devise, for the re-
storation of his health but it was too
late the seeds OF death had been sown
he fingered in great distress for four or
fre DAYS, and breathed his last The
members of the Bar, generally, neglected
to attend the funeral and having no rela-
tives in the State, he hardly received
decent burial His remains were followed
to their last resting place by only two
members of the Bar (Messrs- Arnold and
Crockerl besides a few friends They
now remain in the old church yard In the
I llarf ,rttbant SLfEJ to mark