The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1858-09-24
District Judge.

In this judicial Dletrlct, Judge OlaRett mas
held seat upon the bench something more
than one year. His predecessors, Judges
Mason, Williams and Lowe, presided nearly
fnenty years. During these twenty years
there was no trouble-no excitement-no
oriminasio9>or ro- crimination, by the people,
the bar, 1fhe bench The ablest bar 10 the
| The bay of this district stood high both ut
home Ind abroad. We do not fatter when
We say that the bar Of this district will CON-
pare favorably with that Of any other bar In
| the State. Such bar Judge Clagett found
when he came to the bench.
| The citizens OF this district also were al
WAYS distinguished for intelligence and their
! high appreciation OF law and order.
/ We have had no outbreaks--no trampling
upon the laws-no disposition to trifie with
! the power Of our courts or the tribunals OF
the country. In this respect, the people OF
/ the First Judicial District maintained char
acter equal, il not superior, to any other
| portion Of the State. Such we're the people
Judge Clagest found when he came upon the
bench.
The moment Judge G. came upon the bench
he opened a warfare upon the members OF
| the bar. His court was an arena in which
he Lost no occasion to traduce, abuse, ride
over and Islander the profession. He exer-
cised his power to an extent never heard OF
before. lie made war upon them, and sought
with all his influence, both in court and out
Of court, to get up feeling in the minds OF
the people prejudicial to the bar, and so far
has this been carried, that he claims to be
re- elected, because he "has put the lawyers
through"
The people, too, have come in for their
share, and this power has been used to put
many OF them through.
The result has been this: Judge Clagett
has in one year produced more disturbance
more difficulty and more bad feeling in COM
munity than was ever produced by any Judge
in the Union before.
Judge Clagett has fined more people, i'm
prisoned more for contempts against the dig.
J nifty Of his court, than have been fined and
imprisoned in twenty years throughout ths
entire Territory and State OF Iowa. There
is not man in the district who, If he vii
deliberately examine his own experience, bu
must say that he has never known or heard O.
such state of things in any state or countr,
before, and that Clagett has fined mere peo
pie for contempt than they ever heard Of il
J, their lives before.
II is a serious question for the people +
decide, whether this disturbing influence
this continual excitement--this extraordinar
state Of things shall be continued for fou
years longer 81 liawkeye.
o. obituary or harvey n. Runners.
A meeting Of the members Of the Bar was hel
at the Court Room on Thursday morning 2sd inst
for the purpose Of appointing Committee to dra
" Resolutions expressive Of he regret If the mer
beers of the Bar, upon announcement Of the dea
Of HARvEY H. RussELs, Esq., Of Fort Madison.
The meeting organized by calling Judge 7. '
CLAoxrr to tho Chair and Appointingc w. LowRl
Secretary.
Judge Clsgett stated the object Of the meclil
In a few brief and eloquent remarks, after which
Lynch, Esq, moved that Committee Of five be =
% pointed draft Resolutions expressive Of the
OF the meeting with reference TO our decess
Brother, and that the Committee report at an
journsd meeting, to be held In tho Court Room
w | clock, =. M.
The Chair appointed the following named gent
m men said COMMITTEES, to-wit:
~ A. Lynch, Il McAlIister. Geo. G. Dixon, w.
worihingtop, and C. w. Lourie.
M On motion meeting adjourned until o'cl' X, !.
G. W. LoWRlE, sec'y
90 o,c,u 4
~ Meeting called to order--Judge Clagett, in I
" Chair. Alex. Lynch, Chairman Of the Commit
'ai appointed At the previous meeting, after maki
WIS some appropriate remarks with reference to
me character and legal position Of deceased presen
Of the following resolutions.
WagRKAs, HARvsY II. RuxsRIs, Esu. for 40
" time member Of this Bar, has departed this II
nd aud whereas, we have been well acquainted, and
!. habits Of frequent business and social intsrcou
se- with the deceased. therefore
OF Reseired /. That IN the departure OF cur =
!. fessional friend from our midst, We recognise
ssS loss Of young member Of the Bar, whosS tales
ro- industry and diligence, gave promise Of high
respectable position ct che Bar, and whose ami a
uos qualities and social disposition endeArad him Il
10. In the private and business intercourse Of life
-. Resviped 2 That We tender our sincere sym
= 20 thy TO the friends and family Of the deceased
sed this hour VI their trial and affection.
a,s Resotrsd 3. That these Resolutions be public
Dse in the newspapers of our city and Fort Maids
yer that q copy thereof signed BY the President
- Secretary Of this meeting be transmitted to
parents OF the deceased, aud that the District ca
the Of this County, in Isession, be requested to
80 nit copy Of this testimonial to be entered u
wv the Il cords Of said Court.
ow- Alex. Lynch, Richard McAlister,
w. III. Morthington, ueo. G. Dixon,
G. w. Lowrie.
pri- Upon the adoption Of the Resolutions, Mes
Of Edwards, Rankin and Reid addressed the meet
IN. In most eloquent manner endorsing the res
"a tons. After which tho meeting Adjonrnsd.
ocu 1HoS. w. CLA1EfT, Chi
ing CIV. LowRls, sec'y.