The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-12-20
Oxford Court Matters.
A Law Abiding People-A Town Suit
and a slander Case-A Work for the
Legi stature.

To the Editor of the Press:
PARIS, Dec. Is, 1875.
The S. j. Court has been in session at this
plaee during the last two weeks. Judge Dan.
forth, who is favorite with the ''Oxford
bears, presided By law. of last winter, no
grand jury was summoned at this term. Com
paratively speaking, there is but little need of
jury of inquest in this old county of steady
habits. But few criminal trials are hal in this
county, and the Jail is frequently without a
tenant. 1 would not have it understood that
the people of Oxford county wink at crime, for
in no place in the state are the laws more faith
fully executed.
Oxford county courts are fortunate in having
faithful, accommodating, vgilant corps of
officers Sheriff Whitten has long been known
as an efficient deputy-before being elected to
his present position. No better man ever
filled that place in the county. Jas. S. Wright,
the clerk. has just been reele,ted He is a
genial, correct, honest officer, prompt and i'm
partial in the discharge of his duties Geo. d.
Bisbee, the County Attorney, has also been
elected to a second term, and is dessrvedly pop
ular as prosecuting officer.
This county is perhaps peculiar in another
respect, which is that comparatively large
number of actions are arranged and settled
without trial in court. This disposition of
cases is favored and advised by the leading at
torneys in the county, and is undoubtedly
the better way for the parties most interested.
Nearly four days of the term were occupied
in trying the case of "Rolfe VS.. The Inhabi-
tants of Rumford." This was action for an
mir 70 oil
count of an alleged defective highway in said
town. Several physicians were called as ex-
perts among them Drs. Tewksbury and French
of your city. The case was closely contested
by the defendent town, upon nearly all the
points usually open to the defense in such
cases. The verdict was for the plaintiff for
1915. The plaintiff carries the case to the Law
Court on exceptions and motion for new trial
on the ground that the verdict is unreasonably
small compared with the alleged injury.
Messrs. Stront and Andrews of your city are
counsellor the plaintiff. and Harlow and Foster
| for defendents.
| Several days were consumed in the trial OF
scandal case", which in the region of the
country near the parties, excited intense inter-
est and filled the court house to overfowing
| from its commencement to the close. The
plaintiff, VIM. F. Wardwell, sued the defend
| ant, Isaiah A. Caldwell, for seduction and
adultery with plaintiffs wife. Some forty wit
nesses were in attendance, and the case was
vigorously fought upon both sides to the erd.
Just as the case was going to the jury, through
the influence of the counsel of the two parties
and their friends, and under the advice of the
presiding Judge, the whole matter was so far
| arranged that this action, with another be-
tween the same parties for slander, were both
entered ''neither party" Ger. Perry, now of
your city, and Foster of Bethel, conducted the
case for the plaintiff, and Messrs. Ludden of
Lewiston, and Black of Paris were counsel for
defendant.
Paris Hill is a splendid place for the courts
in the summer. but it is cold and dreary in the
winter. A petition signed largely by the Ok
ford bar and others that the December term
may be removed to Fryeburg, will be present.
ed to the next Legislature, and many think the
change prayed for, will be made.
Although but few verd;ets were rendered o
large number of cases were disposed of. With
Judge Danforth's patience, impartaty, in
dustry and correct rulings, court dockets can
not fail of a large reduction.
'OLD OXFORD.