The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1873-07-18

The DISTRICT COURT CoMEDY.-Whep
the writ OF quo acGrraat0, issued at the in
stance of the Attorney General of the State
against James Potts, President Judpe of
tiie District Court of Cambria county. came
/ before the Supreme Court at Harrisburg
for argument last May, the case was con-
tlnueu, and Tuesday the Tth of October
| next, at Pittsburgh, was fixed for hearing
1t. An order was made by the Court that
III the meantime, and until the validity of
Judge fottS commission should be dis
posed OF, no business whatever should be
transacted by the District Court, except to
meet and adjourn. The Court was thus
IKE Mahomets coffin, suspended between
heaven and earth. The first day of the
regular term of the Court was last Monday
week. BY an act of Assembly passed last
winter, the purpose of which was, if possi-
bic, to start the Court in its judicial career
once more, the County Commissioners
were required to procure a suitable place
Tor holding its sessions, and Parke's Opera
House was accordingly rented for that pur-
pose. The sessions of the Court had pre-
viously been held in Union Hall, but the
lease had been rescmded. Judge Potts,
uIsregarding the action of the County
Commissioners in making a lease of Parke' S
Opera House, as they had authority to do
under the law, repaired to Union Hall last
Monday week with the Associate Judges
directed the court crier to open the Court,
which was done, and then adjourned the
same until the first Monday in October.
The Clerk OF the Court, Mr.. George T.
Swank, refused to be party to the Union
Hal solemnities, but wended his way to
the Opera House, to which place he was
either preceded or followed by the Sheriff;
the county Treasurer ore of the County
commissioners, the District Attorney, all
the members of the bar, a considerable
crowd OF sight-seers, and by Patrick Mar
Key, upstaft OF the Court. In very
short time Hon. David Hamilton, who had
just presided as one of the Associate Judges
of District Court No. 1, i'll Union Han.
made his appearance in the Opera House.
and feeling that while he had already as
sisted in opening one branch of the Court
there could be no constitutional objection
to his lending helping hand in inaugu-
rating another, mounted the woOl-sack
and recognizing tipstaff Markey as court
crier pro tenn, directed him to make the
usual proclamation for opening District
Court No. "a duty which that bland and
courteous official performed in his well
known dignified and impressive STYLE
Then followed the reading of George r,
Swank's commission as Clerk of the Court
after that the suspending order of the
Supreme Court was read, and as a finale to
Chese Drlet ana interesting Judicial proceed
lngS, the accommodating and useful Mar
key adjourned District Court No, until
the first Monday of October next,
Surely Johnstown has no right now to
complain that she has no Court, seeing
that she can boast of ta10-one of which is
presided over by gentleman Learned in
the law" and the other by one who has
not heretofore been suspected of knowing
any law at all. 1t is true that they are
both more for ornament than use, but then
they are handy things to have in large
lived, moved and had a beiug," all classes
and shades of Johnstown society could be
accommodated with mixed law on the
theory of the thimble rigger, "YOu paws
your money and you takes your choice.''
The County Commissioners having COM
piled with the act of Assembly and fur
nlshed suitable place for holding the ses-
siOns of the Court, the question presents
itself, why did the President Judge go to
Union Hall instead of the Opera House {?
The answer is, that to meet in Union Hall
might possibly in his estimation give official
sanction to an illegal and unauthorized
lease of that building to which he was one
of the contracting parties
The second act in the comedy of "District
Courts" will be played to an admirine .
public on the first Monday in October On
the next day the gao 7cdFrant0 will be
heard by the Supreme Court at Pittsburgh
and after that Union Hall, which once
knew the District Court will know it no
more forever.