Weekly Trinity journal., 1874-03-14
PIONEER JUSTICE OREGON.


Prior to January, 1852, there were no
county organizations south Of the Gala
pooia Mountains, range stretching from
the Cascades to the Pacific, and dividing
Western Oregon nearly midway between
the Columbia and California or the
southern boundary; and for nearly Il
year later no courts were held in that
region other than those of the local al
cdidcS. In the summer of 1852, Il rich
and extensive discovery of gold on jack
son Creek, within half mile of the
present site Of jacksonville, had brought
large number of miners to that locality
both from other portions of the territory
and from California. At this time just
ice was dispensed within the new district
10y an individual named Rogers, who had
been elected prior to the gold discovery.
Rogers was known rs n man of stubborn,
wltul nature, and not credited either
with discernment or honesty ; but, hith
erto, his decisions, involving no consider
able amounts Of property and not out
rageously y unjust, had passed unquestoncd
BY the people. When, in the fall Of 1852
the mining camp was at the full tide Of
prosperity, complication arose between
two mining partners, involving the right
to Il mining claim and the settlement of
partnership, the adjudication Of which
was finally taken in hand by the people,
and resulted in stripping dishonest
judge Of his undeservcd honors.
Two miners, named respectively
Spronger and Sims, owned and worked in
partnership II valuable mining claim on
jackson Creek, and late in the fall, Sims,
taking the partnership funds started for
Portland to purchase Il supply Of provis-
ions, leaving Sprenger TO work the claim.
Dufing his absence, Sprcngcr met with
serious accident, which confined him to
his cabin, crippled and helpless There
was " lack Of woman's nursing" in the
wild mining regions, but there was no
lack Of kindly, generous sympathy
for the unfortunate among the rough
miners, and Sprenger was nur,cd aud
cared for with All the protcrbial human
ity Of thi, class Of people. When Sims
returned, finding hi, partner likely to be-
come a burden on him for The coming
winter, he ut once elected him from the
cabin, and took possession Of the claim r.
Sprenger appealed to Alcalde Rogers for
restitution, but appealed in vain. His
suit was conducted with considerable
skill by Il fellow miner named Kinney
Every point Of law, both territorial and
local, were on his side =; every principle
Of equity in his favor bat the pleadings
Of his advocate fell on the ears Of acor-
rupt and uniocling judge, whose Rcrce
stripped him Of every dollar of his worldly
possessions. His counsel, suspecting the
credibiity Of some OF Sims witnesses,
and satisfied that the trial was as unfair
rs the decision was unjust, demanded a
new one, which was refused by the al
cdide.
Poor Spronger was almost in despair.
He was cripple, dependent on public
charity, his means nearly exhausted
cheated and robbed by the man who
should have stood by him in his misfor-
tunes. In his distress, he sought the SER
vices of another miner named Prim, who
report said, was a lawyer, but who, for
the sake Of avoiding annoyance in petty
trials where the fees were not commen-
surate with the lawyers services, had
kept his true calling secret. Sprenger
found the disciple Of Blackstone in tun-
mel, vigorously swinging his pick among
the muddy and dripping powders, look
ing more like Cornish miner than an
expoundcr Of legal perploxitics. Prim
was disposed to disavow any knowledge
of law foT the sake Of saving himself the
trouble of case, where, under the cir
cumstances, defeat was certain but his
humanity overcame his selhshness, and,
moved by the recital Of Sprenger's griey-
ances. he threw down his pick and es.
poused the injured mans cause as zeal
ously as if expecting a generous fee.-
Kinney, the former counselor of Spreng
er, was sought, and consultation enter.
ed upon. Every known point Of the law
bearing upon the case was discussed =
Every familiar maneuver or pretext
likelv 10 assist In nhfnininr a nnw trial