The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-03-01
The NEW COURT HonsE.

The new Court House, fronting on Sixth
street, was to-day turned over 10 the city
authorities by the contractor ]. B. Colliday
BY invitation, number of the members Of the
Bar, and the Judges of the Court, assembled
in the Courtroom, and as a commencement of
the dedicatory exercises Judge Brewster was
called upon and responded as follows:-
This is no time for speech making; life n very
short, and speeches should not be prolonged,
This is splendid building for our Courts and
we return our sincere thanks to the gentlemen
who have had it in charge. There have been
two Committees on City Property, and they have
devoted great deal OF their time and attention
10 this work. For something like fifteen years
the citizens of Philadelphia have talked
of new Court House. A great many have
been criticizing the outside appearance of the
building. | always try to be grateful, and I
think that any Judge who is dissatisfied with
these arrangements does not deserve any bet
ter. 1t is well ventilated, and has o neat
appearance, and again return our sincere
perty and the Chairmen and every member
OF the City Councils, and TO every city officer
who has provided us with these substantial
accommodations. am sure the judges aud
the jurors and the witnesses will be well satis-
fed with the edi6Ce." .., ....,..
Judge Pierce was next called upon, and ad-
dressed the gentlemen assembled as follows:-
Nothing more can be added to what Judge
Brewster has said. One OF the poets said
Tetme have light Ajax asks nothing more;'
and for one 1 have hoped that we should have
good pure air and not be compelled to sit
through our llfetimes, breathing an impure
atmosphere at the risk of life and health. am
sure that the comm unity most heartily agrees
with the remarkss1Adge Brewster most happily
expressed, and Sso that they feel grateful for
the fine accommodations which have been
provided for the Judges of the
nf Qrtn and III a h lao
large. These were absolutely needed; the ad-
mlnistration of public Justice in the other room
has been hindered by the lack of accommoda-
tions, pure air, and light'
Judge Pierce related an amusing story in
conclusion and retired amid applause.
The party then retired to one of the lower
rooms, to partake of a substantial collation..
The increased Inconvenience felt by the
Judges of the Court of Common Pleas and
Quarter Sessions of the city of Philadelphia
compelled them to ask Councils in Decem-
Der, 1865, to furnish the necessary and more
comfortable accommodations to them IN a;s i, s. ai
disposition Of their p% ESr reeF er lneir ~ ost E
attended to, and the city authorities in March,
1866, commenced the erection of the building
designated at the head of this article 'NeW
Court House," ...U
The original design or plan of this building
was to place it lengthwise upon Sixth street,
placing the front towards Chestnut street, and
the rear or iudges' bench at the south, and
towards Walnut street. This, however on
the representation of the judges, and after
consultation with the Committee on City Pro-
perty of City CouncilsS was changed, and the
front of the building placed on Sixth street, in
order to put the seat of the judges opposite, or
at the east end, in order to avoid the noise on
the street, thereby to increase the comfort of
all concerned in the transaction of business in
the Courtroom.
The general arrangement and economy of
the editice will recommend it to general favor
The first floor will accommodate the Grand
jury, and the Clerk of the Court, as well as
other, convenient for witnesses, both male and
female, the District Attorney also a room
devoted to the accommodation and use of any
OF the Judges for hearing motions, for their
private consultation, and other purposes for
which they may be required
! These rooms nearly all communicate, so as
to allow parties to pass from one room to
another without interruption from without, a
relief and privilege to a public officer of no
| small consideration. The rooms on this story
are twelve feet in height.
| The second floor contains the courtroom,
! lobby seventy feet; also a room for the District
Attorney, and for the witnesses attending the
trials in Court, but whose personal attendance
! may not be required, or whose withdrawal
/
parties interested.
The main stairway to reach this story from
! Sixth street is about fifteen feet in width; be-
! sides which, there is private stairway for the
Judges, ascending to their seats in the east
end of the room. Connected with this is a
retiring room for the Judges, furnished with
basin, hydrant water, etc. The Courtroom is
well lighted, as well as ventilated by means of
the most modern and improved apparatus.
ThP Courtroom will be lig,..ed with chande-
lier, containing twenty-six burners, besides
brackets on the sides of the room.
The arrangements for the comfort and con-
venience of all parties engaged in the business
| of the Courts whether as Jurors, witnesses.
or parties, as well as the judges, have been
well provided. In the details of the accom-
modatons, we might extend to a greater
length. The separate disposition of the va
rious parties necessary in attendance or as
spectators, is very cOmmendable.
The mode of access for the prisoners from
the van, or otherwise, into the courtroom is
by a separate stairway, cutting off and avoid
ing all communication with the prisoners from
parties without, except under the inspection OF
the officer or by the permission of the Court
There will be, for the convenience and COM
fort of those in compulsory attendance ample
room also for the spectators, there being an
area in the room devoted to them of thirty by
sixty feet
A SUPPOSED MURDER.-Early this morning
Thomas V; Scott, musician who had bee6