Litchfield enquirer., 1870-05-19
FIFTY YEARS AT THE LITCHFIELD
 COUNTY BAR,
4 LECTURE DELIVERED BEFORE THE LITCH. FIELD CNpNTY BAR, APRIL 13, 1870; BY CHARLES E. sEDGwICK, ESQ.
IT.
JUDGE DAGGETT.

resignation of Judge Bristol in 1926, crea ted two vacancies in the court which were to be filled at the session of the legislature of that year. The same party which had effected the change in the government of the state, and in the constitution of the Court, was still in power, but nearly all the eminent lawyers in the State adhered to the federal party. Probably the most obnoxious man in the State to the domi- nant party was David Daggett, not SC much from personal dislike as from his prominence in the ranks of his party. His talents. integrity and high legal abilities were conceded by everyone, but when the legislature assembled. there was probably not man in tn e state who looked to his election as judge.
 There were few men in the State be longing to the toleration party who fell deeply the importance of having reputa- ble court, and who, on this question, were willing to forego all party considerations Morris Woodruff of Litcbfeld County Thaddeus Betts and Charles Hawley oi Fairfield County, Walter Booth of New Ha- ven County and Charles J. McCurdy of New London County were men of that stamp and it was through the influence of these men, and of others of less prominence, that David Daggett was elected Judge of the Supreme Court. The same influences, ex- erted by the same men, secured the cleo ton of Judges Williams and Bissell, three years later.
 After the election of Judge Daggett was effected, no one seemed to care who the other judge might be, as with Chief Jus tice Hosmer at the head of the court. and Judge Daggett as an associate, it was felt that it could have highly respec table character. The Hon. James Lanman re. ceived the appointment, but after short term of service, resigned.
 An elaborate sketch of Judge Daggett is given in the twentieth volume of our re- ports.
 THE SUPERIOR COURT, FIFTY YEARS SINCE. There were sessions of the Superio, Court in each year, holden on tho third Tuesdays of August and February, and the terms rarely extended. beyond two weeks. If they reached to the third week, they were deemed to be of extraordinary length. The Superior Court had no original juris. diction, except as court of equity. All it's actions at law came up by appeal from the County Court, and generally impor- tant cases were carried up without trial in the court below. The party wishing to appeal his case would demur, either to the declaration or plea, as the case might be, suffer judgment to be entered against him. and appeal from it, and then changs his plea in the Superior Court as the exi- gencies of his case might require. The making of copies in the case appealed was a very profitable item in the business ot the clerk. All cases at law wherein the matter in demand exceeded seventy dollars were appealable, and all matters in equity in which the sum involved exceeded three hundred dollars were brought originally to the Superior court In criminal matters the jurisdiction of both courts was concur. rent, except in crimes of higher grade which were tried exclusively in the Supe rior court. A case was pretty certain tc reach trial at the second term after it was entered in the docket, unless special req sons could be shown for it's surther contin uance.
 THE COUNTY coURT-JUDGE PETTIBoNE.
 The County Court had an important agency in the administration of justice, fiji ty years ago. Under the old form of gov ernment it consisted of one judge and four justices of the quorum; under the constitu ton. of one Chief Judge and two associate judges. When came to the bar Angus tus Pettibone of Norfolk was Chief Judge; Martin Strong, of Salisbury, and Johr Welch, of Litchfeld, associate judges Judge Pettibone had presided for severa years in the old court, and although he was federalist of decided convictions, ht was continued in office by the party in power until he resigned the place in 1882 It will be remembered that .the judges ir this court were appointed annually by the legislature. Judge Pettibone had higt standing as man ofintegrity and of sound common sense. His early education was deficient and he made many grammatical mistakes in his charges to the jury, but he had been esteemed, and was lawyer ot respectable attainments He was native of Norfolk, where he lived to very great l age. He was tall and slender in person somewhat round.shouldered, with hail which was very abundant and which re- mained so during his life. No one could doubt the fairness and good sense of his decisions; and, upon the whole, his career as a judge was creditable to his reputa. | tion. 1g 4s. JUDGE STRONG. @ Martin Strong of Salisbury, was the sen. ioz associate judge. He was son of Col. Adoniiah Strong of that town. lawyer of