The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1873-12-11

The district court opened Monday noon,
with Judge w. r. Campbell on the bench.
Preceding the formal command for the sherifl
10 announce the opening, Mr.. Stanley submit
ted the matter Of difference between Sheriff
Smith, the appointee. and Sheriff Massey,
elect. Mr.. Balderston appeared on behalf Of
Sheriff Smith. II appered that Nj. Massey had
duly qual,led, and his bonds having been up
proved BY the commissioners, he claimed that
under the law he was entitled to and that II
became Incumbent upon to assume the active
duties Of the Office. The judge said that In
chambers he had no power to adjudicate any
such matter; that he should recognize as the
possession Of the books and papers pertaining
TO said ofice Of sheriff, aud that amer the court
had regularly opened he would be ready to
hear any matter brought before him IN proper
form In the regular practice. Mr.. Smith opened
the court, and 80 the matter stands atrresent.
Mr.. s. Irwin was admitted to practice m this
district upon certificate from the supreme
bench Of Iowa. W. II. Downs appeared as .
candidate for admission 10 the bar. The ex-
animation was conducted by attorneys Ssula-
bury, Brewer, Stanley and others. Mr.. Downs
acquitted himself in manner 10 creditable ~
TO call forth from the judge complimentary and
congratnlatory words. Tuesday morning the
case, state Of Kansas W. Joseph Lowe, alas,
Rowdy Joe, was Called, The court room filled
with curious and interested people. In secur-
lag jury the usual number Of preemptcry
challenges were exhausted by the defense, but
an unobjectionablc jury was empanneled
within an hour or two. II. G.. Sluss for the
state, Fisher, Tucker and Deveny for the de-
Tense. Much interest has been eyinced by
court, bar and jury in the evidence given
by the witnesses for the state, who, at this
writing, W ednesday morning, we give In their
testimony, and the prosecuting attorney will, in
o few moments, rest his case. We understand
that q large number Of witnesses will be exam
ined for the defense, aud when the case will
he given to the jury It Ia Impossible 10 say,
although verdict may be reached before to-
lsorrow morning. To give an opinion, or
even 10 hazard = g,sesa, ~ TO what the verdict
viii be, would be impossible, Of course, in this
connection, but should one be rendered before
going TO press tonight We shall append It to
this article.
Wichita Library and Lecture association.
At meeting held on the evening Of the LIT inst.
ct the Methodist church, Judge Fisher presid.
charter, and committee OF five was appointed
to prepare and forward the documents to the
secretary Of Estate, according to the provisions
Of the general law governing such matters.
Messrs. Hsrsen, Walker, Hobson, Smith and
Adams constituted the committee, which met
ct the county clerks Office the next day, pre-
pared . charter and forwarded the same At
once. The charter provides for capital stock
Of q, 10000, in shares Of $1,000 each, and 1t
was the idea Of the committee that the price Of
shares might be paid In monthly instalments
or In one payment, ~ might best suit the stock
holders when the association SHOULD be finally
organized. tslso provides for the maintain
ance Of . free reading room, public library,
whether free or not, to be determined by the
stock holders ut some future time, and such
other matters n the stock holders or managers
may deem best for the interest Of the associa-
ton, aud benefit Of the citizens of Wichita, as
lccturcs, debates etc. Il also provides for .
board efdirectorr, nine In number, to manage
the Affairs Of the association, for an annual
election Of directors and officers, for annual
and other reports, and In believed to be care
fully wor,ied, and to cover the probable opera
tons OF the association thoroughly. The COM
mittee had hoped to have been able to present
the charter, duly endors ed and completed by
the proper authority ut the meeting called tor
last Monday evening, but it had not returned
from Topeka, ~ the meeting adjourned till
Friday next, the 18th inst, to meet at p. M,
in the Methodist church. It Is hoped that
every one interested in the mental prosperity
Of tins community and the vast number Of
trancient visitors It receives, will be present,
end help to launch this enterprise fairly and
successfully upon its voyage Of good, that 1t
may fully demonstrate its power to elevate the
fnls1ectnal ability, and minister to the comfort
asd p,sasurs Of all those who may hereafter
cooe to ~, to jein their fortunes with ours and
bringup or lively and prosperous city. We
ere hyng 1se1fn1i6a sor tn. 0,srre that We
hepanGy tsss 1ualof energy and life D the
past q this soGnlnunity hos been, snd prspas.
iag the way for the permanency attraction and
retention OF the very best class Of citizens frca
all parts Of the world, that our manifest and
manifold advantages warrant us in expecting.
Let us then plan wisely, and now, in our in
fancy, show that we mean to provide oil the
means that may aid in securing perpetual
growth, and healthy maturity TO our city, and
supply all the appliances Of culture and morali-
ty to make 1t Il home for the cultured and
moral. II. j. WALKER.
We herewith give come Of the statistics Of
the Presbyterian church Of tins place AS de-
velopcd in the reports Mt the annual meeting
last week. Number members ut present, 102
number lost by death and dismssion, y; num-
Der received on probation, 40; by letter from
other churches, IS. The pastor Rev. MIR. Har-
sen. has preached during the year lls sermons,
has baptised % infants and adults, attended le
funerals and united 81 couples in marriage,
has also aided In organizing two churches one
ct West Wichita and one at Caldwell. The
church has sustained weekly prayer meeting
with interest aud better attendance than most