Arizona citizen., 1876-04-01
District Court.

During the past two weeks the business transacted in the district eour' has not pre- scented any features Of startling interest. being merely the closing out of the civi! docket. On March ?, the habeas corpus case of Liberada Palm, wife Of Barnabe Palm, for the possession Of the two chil- dren of the parties, was decided by the court dividing the children in twain, giv- ing the younger, a boy, to the mother, and the elder. a girl, to the father, both to be kept within the jurisdiction Of the court. On the same day, in Woffenden vs Ceiling wood and Richard, judgment was rendered in favor Of defendants, for costs Of suit. The undecided cases of Wofienden vs WOf- fenden were dismissed on compromise. The entire criminal and civil calendars having been disposed of, on the 27th ulti- mo the court adjourned for the term.
 This term Of the district court, commence ing on the 4th day of February. has cov- cred Q session of 8 days actual holding Of court. The regular jury panel was dis charged on March s. The amount Of bu- sIness transacted, number of cases called and interests involved have been larger than usual. The expense to the county in this session has been much less than usual. We have not the comparative figures. But the expense of this term Of court has been so much less than that of past winter terms, that we believe, in the matter Of jury fees ] al ha Ao1 afI half in comparison as to length of session and amount Of business. This reduction Of court expenses Is a big item 10 the coun- ty. These expenses ave always been the camel's hump onl olr back. Other ex- crescences and financial swelIlngs We could reduce, but let the board Of supervisors work ever so hard at economy, and all their insignificant efforts would ultimately be wiped out by some unlocked for In- crease in the already enormous court ex- penses. It was no use pleading poor and sparsely settled county; you would be met by the cry that law and order were Of the first importance, and must be maintained at any expense. Well, we have had more
 
 inch Of session, than usual, and at greatly less expense. While there was anything that should be done under the law, 1t was done, deligently and expeditiously. When 1t was finished, the expense was stopped and many dollars saved to the county treasury, and consequently to the pockets of taxpayers. This Is just what Is wanted and what We have been striving after, in vain, for years. There is no place in which common sense economy can be brought tc , hear more effectively than In court. Let this institution be strictly divorced from |, politics, religion, deep sea soundings and divison. and attend to nothing but law and its enforcement and application, and lthe expense need not be burdensome, nor such as 1t is of necessity, will 1t be grudg iingly borne. There Is an innate admIra ton for we'll enforced law, and its instru [ ments, among all well organized and right feeling communities, but the abuses i1 holding courts have been so great, and SC increasingly great, throughout the country generally. that strong feeling Of bitter and undisguised contempt for the average court Of law, has grown up in the public mind, Of late years. This judicial district among others, has suffered deeply an, T long, and can therefore the more readil! welcome the first light on its legal horizon