The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-08-24
The County Court system a
Fraud-Letter from Hon. VIM.
q. brown.
Editor Preston County journal.

Editor Preston County Journal.
As a taxpayer and friend Of a pur'
and capable judiciary, l think the atten
tiou of the people Of the State ought tt
be called to the County Court system n
now organized. The County Court o
Preston will compare favorably with thai
OF any other in The State, hence, what
say has no reference to one court more
than another: il is The system thai is radi'
cally dettetire.
In each OF the large counties the foui
law terms will consume some ten weeks
whilst the business transacted could b
done by Judge in less than half that
time; besides large per cent Of the bust
ness done by the County Courts tails L
give satisfaction, and is carried to the
Circuit Courts, where it is generally re-
versed, and all the expenses OF new
trial incurred. The aggregate cost Of thu
the law terms OF the County Courts Of thu
State is largely in excess Of that Of thu
Circuit Courts; yet three or four addi-
tional Judges would do more business ID
the trial OF causes than all the County
Courts, and do it better. With fiteer
circuits in theState, the judges could hole
four courts in each county in the year
and do all the business with dispatch
The fiscal and police terms Of the County
Court might be retained, but beyond tina
they have proved perfect failure.
Ii ia claimed that the County Court
are we'll calculated TO aid the young mem
beers OF the bar in commencing thei
practice. This may be true, but the.
afford in consequence OF their limite'
knowledge Of the law, an inviting fell
for the exercise OF what is called th
sharp practice Of the profession. Wher'
the law is promptly and correctly dispenset
from the bench it not only secures justic
to the suitors, but prevents useless dis
cussion by the lawyers and ruinous della.
in the. transaction Of business. ~
But figures will demonstrate the evil o
which / complain better than anything
can say. The March term OF our Count.
Court, which has Just adjourned, contln
| ued In session seventeen days, incurrinl
expense to the people as follow:
PGr dIe,n Of Justlccs.
Cost Of petit jury w
scoo =
Four iuries were impanneled; one Il
try whether a girl was sane who wa
charged with stealing goods Of less yalu
than $40; one in case OF debt in which III
plaintiff claimed S240, but got yerdic
| Tor $50 and was nonsuited; one for q. trees
mass. in which was verdict for defend
ant, and new trial granted; and tn
fourth in detinue for horse, and the iur..
HUNG. The amount realized to the coun
ty treasury for jury tax was Sl2 thu
leaving the county treasury minus S61s
This does not include the expenses Q
the grand Jury, nor the loss Of time an
expense OF probably more than . hundre.
suitors and witnesses, many Of whom wit!
long and solemn faces, occupied the bacl
seats, like the intrm man at the pool Q
Bethesda waiting for the troubling OF th
waters, bnt who finally left for thei
homes pennilesS. Nor have / said any
thing about the incidental expenses
which attend courts under any system
to some extent.
But am trying to show that the Coun
ty Court as now organized is too heavy
system for the taxpayers to carry, or th
suitors 10 endorse. The convention tina
! gave us our present State organization
was hastily, II not unwiSely, called, beiu
. in q time when much party bitternes
prevailed. But now that the dominan
party has got its share Of the spoils, ough
not the men Of all parties to harmonic
and act in concert so rs TO secure the r.
lief we so much need? The reform tbs
, / suggest has nothing to do with feeders
politics, but to give to West Virginia a
! Organization that will invite emigratio
to the State, and keep our young me
from leaving us, to hunt other homes |
less favorable climates, but in better GOV
! erned communities. w. G. BRowN.