The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-02-24
0uR RITCHIE GO. LETTER.
The Late Session of the County
COuFt--WhRt IL Cost and What
Ii Amounted 20.
HARRsvn1E, RTcmE Co., W. Va, |
February 10, 1875. 7

February ~ 1910.
Editors Iatsllissnoer
This has been tempestuous week for
the citizens Of Richie county. The storm
signals have been hoisted at the Court
House during the entire week. The
County Court was in session, and Of
course our town was crowded with grand
Jurors, petit Jurors, Witnesses, lawyers,
pettifoggers, etc. To give You an idea Of
The number Of people summoned here
for the first day Of court, / will say that
some fifty passengers came down from
Pennsboro on the morning train on the
Harrisyille & Pennsboro railroad, and
they made three trips over the road.
The first day Of court the people came in
great crowds from all sections Of the
county. One would naturally suppose
that court thronged with an innumera-
bic host Of witnesses, etc., would dispatch
business rapidly, but, on the contrary, l
will say what nine.tenths OF the people
Of this county will say, viz: that this
court, as usual, was nothing more than a
flash. To give you IN idea how business
is dispatched and, at the same time, what
1t costs to run this court, l will set down
an item or 50.
Two men were indicted during this
court, one for obstructing the road and
the other the river. The court met as
usual on Friday morning, and 10 the
surprise Of the assembled multitude it
was discovered that there was no
business before the court, 1t was
amusing to see three Federal heads con-
sulting together. They seemed TO be at
their journeys end, when all at once our
quick-witted Prosecuting Attorney sprang
10 his feet and said, "If 1t pleases your
worships, 1 would like to have a writ is.
sued compelling William Flanagan and
John Shrake to. appear before your hon
ors to answer the indictments as above
stated" Whereupon the court adjourned
until the Sheriff could go to the country
for the above named gentlemen. In the
course Of q few hours he returned to
town with his men and tapped the court
house bell, and in few minutes our large
court room was packed and the court an
nounced that it was ready for business.
Whereupon Mr.. Flanagan and Mr.. Shrake
appeared and begged time to summon
their witnesses, which request was
promptly granted, and the court again
adjourned and loafed about town until
these men were prepared to go to trial.
Friday and Saturday were thus taken up,
and the jury in both cases returned a YER
dict Of not guilty. These two cases cost
the county something over one hundred
dollars, besides the loss Of time Of all con-
cerned.
/ give you the above as sample Of the
proceedings and cost Of our County
Court. II Is but fair that / should state
that Mr.. Flanagan was indicted more for
spite work. than anything else. He is one
Of the best farmers in our county and .
perfect gentleman. l am not acquainted
with Mr.. Shrake, but have been informed
that his Indictment was entirely uncalled
for.
Judge Jackson will do more business
in one day than three such County Courts
will do in one week. The people, howey.
er, are alive to the situation, and will cor
rect all evils as far as possible in the
coming election, A. ID. NJ.