The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-02-03

From the Rock County Recorder.

Is Judge Wm.Fs Lyon was Lnes recipient
Eofl ful Photographic album, from
the grand and petit jurors and officers OF
the late sessions of the Circdit3 Court
Econtaining a photograph of each one,
4 showing the kind regard in which the
Judge is held by them. Able remarks
were made which were as follows:D z 2
Your Honor;-We suppose..that as Ju-
rors and Court officers, we are soon to be
discharged from duty for the remainder
Of this Term Before receiving our final
sentence we would like to be heard OF
your clemency a few words. On the 22d
\ of November last, we were called from
our various occupations to constitute
Court of Justice, to settle the matter OF
| difference between our fellow men, and
between the commonwealth and erring
individuals. We came together comper-
ative strangers. Our intercourse has
been such. that we nov claim eacI other
as acquaintance and friends. So com
pIetely have the better feelings Of our
nature prevailed during our daily gath
e-ing here, that the appearance, IN this
respect, has been more like pleasant
soaial gathering, than that of a Count cot
Law. We feel to congratulate you, and
all parties Interested, upon the satisfac-
tory manner in which a very large
|amount of business has been dispatched.
Some two hundred cases have been dis-
posed OF, about forty of which have been
Jury trials. Of these latter cases we take
pride in saying that, owing TO your clear
and concise charges there have been but
two upon which the Jury have failed to
agree upon verdict We refer with DO
small degree of sadness to the fact that
| it has been cur duty to take action upon
the criminal conduct of SO many of our
fellow men, and that in every instance we
i felt it incumbent upon us to pronounce
the verdict of guilty p Yet we firmly
believe that our action has been just, both
to the criminal and our 9law-abiding cit
liens, whose persons, property and char
acter we are called upon TO protect.
AS we are about toseparate, probably
never to assemble again, before we shall
be discharged from the further consldera-
ton of all earthly questions, to be sum-
moned before that court where the Great
Architect of the Universe presides, We
desire as slight token of9our friendship
and esteem, to present. you with this al
bum, in which you will find photographs
of nearly all the Jurors and officers OF
this Court, and with our most sincere
wishes for the future happiness and pros
perity of you andyours. w q
JUDGEaLYoN's REPLY
1 MIR CHEEvER AND GENTLEMEN OF
THE PETIT JuRY:-I have no language to
adequately express the qualification |
feel at your action nsthe presentation OF
this beautiful album and Che accompany
| ing remarks maze on your behalf by. Mr..
ICheever. The duties of the position
which 1 have the honor to occupy, I need
MOI tell you are extremely arduous.S
I do not speak of the labors imposed
upon the Judge, but the crushing weight
of responsibility that is upon him.
! The Circuit Court is the only Court O.:
general Jurisdiction in our State. Appeals
from ali inferior tribunals lie to it, and
are Frequently b-oaght here, and nearly
all the the judicial business of popula-
ton Of at out 10000 comes upon, the
shoulders of one man, shared in, of course,
in one class os cases by the Jurors who
are call ed upon from time to time to as
sist in the t ial of causes. * =
With TINS we GIT Of responsibility up
on ME and feeling as trust the full force
c. il. revcr forge, g for moment the
serious corceouestes Which follow many
of The dec sions Iaul allied upon to make,
In doubt, frequently, whether those decl-
sions ave rigat OF wrong, constantly fear
ing that, for he want OF capacity or
ability, am doing injustice, it is specu-
l;a"Ly gratifying to me when gentlemen
who have been associated with me as you
have been, are so kind as to express your
approval OF my Official conduct in this
pleasing manner. This IN of Court has
been in mary respects marked and mem
orable one tome. In the tirst place., we
have done more business here than has
been transacted at any other term of
Court at which I have had the honor to
preside. There has been larger per
centage of cases on thescalender disposed
OF, and smaller percentage of disagree
ments, than any othet term ever held
And think it is not improper for me TO
saw that think of no case where felt l
had any rightto dissent from the verdict
of the Jury. and I might remark further,
here, gentlemen, what, perhaps, have
said to some of you in private converse
ton, that the longer remain upon the
bench. the better satisfied am with our
system of jury trials. Il is fashionable in
conversation, SON etimes, to speak dis
respectfully OF the verdict Of the jurics.
Sometimes attorneys indulge in a liotie
pleasantly Of this Kind. I think, perhaps,
[ have done go myself when was prac-
ticing at the bar, brit since have been
upon tle bench, I have been ST uck with
this fact that it very rarely happens that
Jury finds a verdict from which tie
court dissents think It IS the expert
ance of the Judges tha5 in nine cases
out of ter, and perhaps ina larger pro-
portion where verdicts have been render