The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1874-04-23
The U. S. District Court
TOPEKA. April 10Th. 49,

TOPEKA. April goth, 1874.
DEAR EAGLE :-Greatly TO our cha.
grin an officer of the United States dis.
rict court. last week, served upon us a
summons. The document was pulled
upon us without moments warning
while in brown study over The prob.
able effect of the currency imitation
scheme. A speedy compliance with
the unreasonable mandate or the pay
ment of 800 fine was the only consola-
ton the officer was able TO offer.
''C. 5. rersus J. L. Holmes" was the
title Of the ease. Under the circum-
stances we concluded that duty called
us to Topeka, and here we are.
This court has been lately rcorganiz-
ed, as most of your readers are aware
by the appointment of Judge Foster in
Dclahay's place. Geo. X. Peck In Judge
Horizons place, as district attorney,
and senator Wilson AS clerk, in place
of Adolph Thomas. In our glorious
country the people constitute the gov
eminent; they are above all constitu-
lions, courts and officers, but an unfor-
tunatc individual once in the clutches
of these officers is apt 10 conclude
otherwise. The style. strict rules and
pageantry Of the L. :. courts and their
arbitrary powers, as sometimes evinc-
ed, smacks of anything but demo-
cratic government. There sets Judge
Foster in his high place with his ema-
culate shirt BOSOM and cuffs, boque:
of flowers at his right and at his back
the portraits of Judges Miller and Dill
lon. AT his left, surrounded by pal
ings, is a nice white-haircd old gentle
whose sole duty it is to rise and an
nounce the opening and adjourning of
court. AT his right. fenced in also, is
the chief clerk and his assistant, in
their possession the great seal of the
court. In another inclosusc to their
left is the L. :. marshal and his sever
I'll utIutlt>. w tilt
room goes n red. shocky-headcd old
official. whose principal business seems
10 be to make a noise in trying TO keep
Others still. Al the door stands a dark
colorcd subject of the civil rights bill,
who can beat the judge in looking wise.
Between the jury box and the Judges
Gland e hinh ,,1,gfn,,, IL
witnesses sit and testify. In front,
within another inclosure sits twenty
or thirty lawyers. The grand jury
comes and goes in solemn procession
at intervals Around the room at large
roam the mob of witnesses, made up OF
honest meu forced here against their
will, and drcadrng their turn 10 be
brow-beatcn by the crowd of hard
faced lawyers drawn here from all por-
tions of the state Such is the United
States district court as viewed from
our stand point.
Judge Foster, the new appoiniec, is
a tall, slightly built, rather dark COM
plexioned man, with black hair, heavy
black eyebrows, dark moustachc, and
a keen black eye set well back in his
head. His forehead is rather broad,
but not high. his chin prominent, a
pure erecian nose, and withal a strik |
ing face or the bench he is a COM |
paniona5,c gentleman, and the high |
position has not changed him socially,
rs we can detect. As yet he seems a
little timid in delivering his charges
and judgements in our estimation. but
We put it down that with the cxper-
icl Of years he will make federal
juSse of whom the bar and people of
our state will be proud.
Geo. X. Peck, the new L. s. District
attorney, is new man TO even the
older portion of the public men of
Kansas. His appointment was a sur
prise TO nearly everybody. He is a
mad of medium size, with brown curly
hair, very light mustache. fair com.
plexion and blue eyes He is. of course.
on his good behavior. putting his best
foot forward and indeavoring to do his
whole duty. With the noted and able
Tom. Ryan rs an assistant. offenders
against the piece, dignity and laws of
the L. S. will have rough time here.
after.
Senator Joe Wilson. the new clerk.
Is one of the best men in the state.
Our only surprise is that he ever ac-
ceptcd such a position. With the petit
jurors, grand jury, the clouds of wit
nesses aud deputy marshals. this CO.
ordinate brand of general govern
ment is pretty expensive piece of
machinery, costing in the aggregate I
$500 to $500 per day. n
The case of L. 5. vs.. j. L. Holmes.
postmaster AT Wichita. was opened I
yesterday. The charge is the embezz- 4,
ling Of several registered letters. an
Indictment having been presented by (
3 grand jury some time since. The c
,ase is being prosecuted by the L. S. t
special mail agent, John NJ. Crowell. C
lie has about eighty witnesses here n
rom nearly every part Of the United Il
;tates, all the postmasters from south d
Vesteru kspsas, dozens Of his route e