Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1869-04-29
rup Gazette of last week attempts

THURSDAY MORNING, APRIL %, 1889
THE Gazette of last week attempts 10
yindicate the official character and eff
cheney of our Common Pleas Court, and
to reply to the "Plain Talk " of THE
CHRoNIILE of the previous week on that
subject. 1t is possible that the editor has
convinced those Democrats who never
come to st. Clairsville, or who never
have any business in Court, that wehave
misrepresented the character and effi-
cheney of the Judge, but it will take a
great many such heavy editorials to
satisfy those whe were in attendance
during the last term, that Judge Way
is either competent or efficient. 1t Is
possible that by close and diligent appli-
cation, even with a very limited stock OF
legal knowledge or natural qualifica-
tions, he might discharge the duties of
his position and do the business of the
Court. but with these limited abilities
almost constantly paralyzed by the
effect of intoxicating liquors. it is simply
absurd to talk about his ability to effi-
GENTLY discharge them. 1t is a very
poor defense to say that at one time
Republican Judge, from an adjoining
ub-Division of this District, came here
to hold Court and was too drunk to do it.
That Judge was severely condemned by
Republicans as well as Democrats and at
the end of his term he was returned to
priyate life, although ONE of the most
brilliant intellects and best legal minds
in the State. No one attempted to de-
fend that Judge, although when sober
he would do more business in one day
than the present incumbent can dc In
three. 7gos
When you say that ait is admitted by
all respectable members of the bar-sore-
heads excepted-that the Judge labored
more faithfully and diligently. and dis
matched more business at the last term Of
the Court than at any previous term."-
You simply misrepresent and slander
the respectable" members of the bar,
for meeting of that class, including
those of both parties who do nine-tenths
of the business in this Court, held
at the close of the term sent delega-
tion to Columbus to ask the Legis-
lature for some mitigating legislation to
saveSus from utter ruin. When that
committee went to Columbus they found
that you had been there, and in secret
session with the Judicial Committee had
meanly misrepresented the wishes of the
bar. If, however. it is true that at the
last term he did more business than at
any former term, then his sincompetency
is clearly established, for at this term,
long as you claim it was he did little or
nothing, not half as much as Judge Ken
non or Judge NcIlvaine would have
done in half the time. Ibid he not
hold Court five weeks?" exclaims the
Gazette, certainly he did, and in all that
time he tried but eight jury cases, al
though two jauies we're under pay large
portion of the time.
But say the Gazette, "he kindly wait
one-half day on account of their wit
nesses," which was given as a reason
why more business was not done. There
is just where apart of the difficulty lies.
Without much legal knowledge, and
without decision of character he per-
mits the Attorneys to spend the time of
the Court in discussing questions of law
and practice, that one-half of the Justices
of the Peace in the county would decide
at once, and thus save the time of the
Court. Under his administration the
Court has lost its dignity as well as its
efficiency, and in point of true character
it is below the average Police Courts in
our incorporated villages.
At the opening of this question we in
tended to say but little, but the unprin-i
cipled and unfair defense, made by the
Gazette, has compelled us to press it
further than we intended, and we charge
that during large portion of the term
of Court Judge Way was SO far under
the influence of intoxicating liquors as
to be really unfit to discharge the duties
OF his position in oreditsble manner.
If he was competent and anxious to
do the business of the Court, why did he
adjourn before the docket was more
than half disposed of? Hehad no ether
Court to attend until April 26, and he
might have spent four weeks longer, if
that had been necessary to do the busi
ness. 1t is worse than pettifoging. to say
that he tried all the cases in which wit
nesses had been subpenaed, forhe him
self prevented the issue of subp9nas by
fixing a time for adjournment full
week earlier than that for which the
Docket was set. 1t is useless to say that
Attorneys were not ready. 1t is the
duty of the Court to see that cases are
not continued without good cause, and
Attorneys never will be ready for trial
as long as the Court is willing to accept
any and every plea for continuance, or
is itself not ready or fit to try the cases.
THE Ohio Legislature is still in session.
A joint resolution has been passed fix
ing the 4th day of May as the time of
adjournment The people will rejoice
exceedingly when the time arrives, ana
they are done with this retrencltment
Legislature. The session has been one
of the longest ever held in the State, and
has cost the taxpayers, for the pay of its
members alone, more than TWO HUN
DRED THOUSAND DOLLARS more than
its predecessors. The promise of re-
trenchment and reduction of taxation,
made wheni was elected has been
shamefully disregarded, and in spite of