Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-02-14
NO. VIII.
For the Spectator.

For the Spectator
| Mesrs. Editors. The would be "ioN" David
Fultz in his address to the voters of this Judicial
Circuit, says: Statements from the Clerks will
show that there were pending 10 the Circuit of
Nelson in 1866, $50 cases; in 1856, sos; in 1857,
615; in 1858, 689, and in 1859, 6O3," and from
these figures he concludes that il the business Of
the Courts is suffered thus to accumulate, ''the
wheels of justice, already greatly retarded in
their movements, must soon cease to roll on"
land if suffered to grow in the future as in the
past, in what can it result but total suspension
of justices"
The charge is here distinctly and emphatically
made: That if Judge Thompson is reelected,
the result will be "totaI suspension Of Justice"
and "the wheels of justice must soon cease to roll
on." o Temporal! o mores!!
The gentlemanly and courteous Clerk of the
Circuit Court of Nelson county, has at my in
stance, kindly supplied me with triumphant
vindcation of Judge Thompson, than whom
purer and more learned man does not grace the
Virginia Bench, the opinion of his reckless ,ac-
cuser and opponent to the contrary .notwith
standing. '
You will confer favor on Judge Ts friends
on this side of the mountain-and their name is
Legion-by publishing Mr., LoviDg's letter.
NELSON.
LovINGsToN February 4, 1860.
Mr.. -, SIR In compliance with your
request have prepared the following tables,ex-
hibiting the condition of the Dockets at Common
Law and in Chancery in the Circuit Court of
this (Nelson) county, showing the number of
suits commenced within the year, beginning the
31st of August 1858, and ending the 31st OF Au-
gust 1859, and the number ended within the
same period; also the number ended since the
3lst of August last, together with few explain
atory remarks with regard to the nature and
condition OF the causes still pending on said
Dockets, to wit:
Number of suits at law on the Docket 31st Aug,
Number of suits at law commenced within the S'o
fiscal year ending 3lst OF Aug, 1882. 103
Total ...Ssa
Number of motions at law on the docket 3lst
Aug, 1882. ........................3 81
Number of suits tI at law ended during same time
/" still pending 3lst Aug,
Of cansss sndsd Scnc,hsr torn, ia;o
Number ON the docket at this time. ......l5s
Of this number there are about rs causesof long
standing, which have been continued from term
to term by consent of the parties their attor-
neys-neither party appearing to be ready or
desiring trial besides many others of shorter
duration have been likewise continued by con-
sent of parties leaving, in fact but few cases on
the docket in which the parties are really So
lcitons about trial. Moreover, it may. be
proper to add, that during my continuance i'm of
ice, viz 8 years, all the causes on the said
docket have been regularly called at each term
Of hQ (uyltn hoe ,,f%
when the Judge was seriously iudsposed, when
the docket was partially called) and every case
tried in its order. whenever the parties announ-
ced their readiness for trial; and 10 cause was
continued for one party, when the other parry
was ready, without good cause shown lin my
pinion) for such continuance.
Number of Chancery causes on the Docket 3lst
AuguS y Shs 1000. co,,:os
nScal year 1893, ...........................
OF final decrces during same time, ........
400
OFF final DEGREES at Sept. term, 1859,
Number on the docket at this tile,
Of this number there efe 80 cases at Rules #
long standing, and never Sc. bearing on ao
count of some neglect of cous se in failing to fls
their Bills, the failure of Sheriffs to execute
process in other counties and other CT ses need
less to mention. There are also 1870 cases n
said estimate on the Sleeping Dooket, many
them of long standing, but permit ii to rernall
there for reasons best known to sarties.
whilst others are waiting for repo 4 Corlmis-
sioners acting under some interlo, Try Cecree
of the Court. And of those causes a lue areu-
ment Docket, it has been the practice during my
term Of office, for counsel to take the papers of
cause, when ready for hearing and submit
them to the Court with or without argument,
and without any formal calling of the Docket;
SO that most if not all the DEGREES, both interlo-
cutory and final, depend upon the action of the
parties or their COUNSEL and if they are not re.
dy or desirous for the action of the Court, #
immaterial q would suppose) how long such
causes remain on the Docket. The interlocuto-
ry DEGREES at each term of the Court during the
last eight years, show that great labor has been
bestowed by the Judge on this Docket.
Respectfully, O. Lov1Ne,
CPk. Cir Court n. @.