The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1855-06-09
For the Gate City
County Records.

County Records.
Mr. EDITOR The Undersigned, Clerk
Of the County Court of Lee County, has
had his attention called to a communica
lion in late number OF the Keokuk
Daily GArr Cry, signed . L. which
abuses Judge Johnston, because tie
County records are not made up to date
Although these records are not made
up to date, yet it is not true that tey arc
behind, as stated by L"
Though /" l." may be lawyer having
strong desire TO be County Judge him
self, yet he is mistaken VIII Sc day il is
. make up the records Of The County
Court ] quote from the Code, sec. LAP .
The clerk Of the District Court is ex-
oihclo the clerk Of The County Court and
the register Of probate, Sec. ll2 He
shall keep bis office at The county seat !;
shall attend the sessions in the District
and County Courts, himself or By deputy;
keep the records. papers and seal of The
District Court and keep record Of the
proceedings Of each oil those courts IN
separate sets OF books, as may belong 70
his Office, and as required by law, under
the direction of those courts scverally /"
Sec. l46; F" 1t is the du'y of the clerk 10
keep full aud true record of tie proceed
ngs in the County Court in session, en-
terlng distinctly each Step in the progress
Of any proceed ng But such record Shall
be equally valid if made BY the Judge"
In the District Court we have an in
term Of six months in which to mike up
The records; but in the County Court the
sessions are monthly, and the business ten
times mere great and varied than in the
District Court, besides which The County
Court is constantly in session Tor all mat
tiers not requiring Notice.
Judge Johnston is constantly employed
durlng tie whole day from d,y 10 day 10
the duties Of lis office, and whenever bus
mess is sufficiently slackened aids the
Clerk in making up the records, frequent
y remaining in his office till l2 or |
O'Clock at night
Where the records are behind full
memorandums are kept. AMI III papers
carefully filed, so that no one interested
has had any cause Of complaint, nor com
planned, FOR want Of Information as 10 the
proceedings Of The Court which are nor
yet entered.
Much Of tie business Of de County
Court comes from kcokuk, and Is 4 nc BIZ
letters, the cores ponlence causing add
tlonal lsbors and necessary delay te
some extent in making up the RI orls.
Judge johnston has given his constant
and asslduous attention t. the duties Of his
Office for nearly four years. at salary
grossly IN .deqaate to lis abilities and the
duties Of the Office which he has dis
charged
He has without doubt saved Hundreds
Of dollarsi might safely say thousands
TO estates in the county by gratuitous
advice and preparation Of papers, where
estates were Of small amount. II may he
that this has interrefed with the fees Of q
lew attorneys, and may in part account
Tor the attack Of IL"
Should the records not Sc made ~
when Judge ,lol,nstou's term expires. i,
may then be time 10 speak Of these things,
but without Cause or provoeation--none
having been injured in the premises
must regard the attack Of al" MS entire
~ gratuItous and malicious. showing great
ignorance Of the law, and intended Tor ~
other than political purpose.
lie iaitering notice which IL. be
slows on the undersigned, together Will
The official relation which the undersign
ed snstains TO Judge Johnston, will doubt,
less be taken as sufficient apology FOL
his communication, which Is con,iderec
n but due . ali parties.
S. X. JAMES.
Fort Madison, Iowa, June s,h, 1855.
New loRk. Jure 6 - Col. Kinney gave
- ~ 81, 4