Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-01-31
For The Oxford Democrat.
EARLY COURT RECORDS.

| NJ. Editor
In my communication OF the 18th,
stated that the 'sConrt OF Sessions" did
the business now done by the County Com.
missiouers from 1901 to 1880. On further
examination find that In ls09 the '.pow-
srs and duties" Of the "Court OF Ses.
sions" was transferred to the Court Of
Common Pleas, and exercised by tina,
Court till 1911, when the "Court Of SEES.
sions was rs-established, TO consist Of 6
Chief, and not less than two, nor more
than four, Associate Justices. From 1914
to 1919 the business Of this Court was
done by the Circuit Court OF Common
Pleas; one Justice Of that Court, with two
Session" Justices, presiding, for the pur.
pose OF "Session a" business; and In 1878
the "Court OF Sessions" was again re.
stored and continued till 1880, when the
Board OF County Commissioners Was es'
tablished.
The Court House was erected In 1915.
The Clerks, Probate, Treasures Office,
and Registry OF Deeds, were then in the
Court House, with fire-proof arches erect
ed for the records, and remained there till
1927, when the brick building which now
contains them was erected. We cannot
say OF those who superintendent the cree
ton Of county buildings that "they build
ed better than they knew" as the originsl
structure proved much too small and in
commodious for the business OF the coun-
ty, and soon had to be enlarged. The i'm
posing stone edifice, or boarding house for
evil-doers, was built in 1928, taking IN.
place OF wooden building used for the
same purpose.
The more important Court, in the early
history OF the administration OF justice,
where civil remedies were sought, and
public wrongs rebuked, was that OF Oh.
Common Pleas, the first term OF which
WAS held on the second Tuesday OF June,
1905, by Simon Frye, Chief, and Samuel
Paris and Luther Cary, Associate Justi-
ces, who were appointed by the Governor
OF Massachusetts. with advice and consent
OF the Council, during good behavior The
nrst case tried in this Court was Samuel
Ball OF Bethel vs.. Calvin Twitchell OF
Bethel, and was declaration on prom
issory note OF hand dated Dec. 2, 1902
wherein the defendant promised the plain
til TO pay him or order, the sum OF sew
enty-seven thousand feet OF good mcr-
charitable white pine timber, turned Int"
Androscorging river in Bethel" The tim
Der is alleged to be OF the value Of 81 20
per usand,-quite 6 contrast between
those figures and the price OF to-day for
such lumber
InlSll, the Commonwealth OF MaSsa-
caaxeiis Ma divided il.o ak Jliic.A! CIR
cults, and the counties OF York. Cumpcr-
land aud Oxford were called the First
Eastern Circuit" snd a Circuit Court of
Common Pleas established therein. Par
ties ag.rieved had the right OF appeal to
the Supreme Judicial Court. This Cir
cult Court OF Common Pleas consisted OF
three Justices, spy two OF whom were su-
thorIzed 10 hold Term, and were Beujs-
min Greene, Chief, Judah Dana and VIII
liam widgery, Associates. The lsst term
OF this Court was held At Paris In Nov,
1888, by Ezekiel Whitman, Chief Justice,
the law having been changed so that one
Justice could preside. Thomas Clark,
esq. was then Clerk. Then came the
Western District Court, the first term OF
which was held on the second Tuesday OF
June, 1889, by Hon Ezekiel Whitman.
Joseph G. Cole was Clerk, who was. sew
srsl years Afterwards, Judge OF the same
Court. This Court existed TIL 1851, the
last regular term being in November, when
the Judge not being present the Court was
adjourned by the Sheriff to the 10Th day OF
1852, when Hon. Stephen Emery presided,
with Vim. X. Hmball as Clerk.
The Supreme Judicial Court held one
term per year in this county in the esriy
history Of the State, sfter its separation
from Massachusetts,, and the first tenn
WAS in September, 1921, held by Pren,iss
Nellen. Chief Justice, and VIM. y. Preble
and Nathan Westerly, jr., Associate JUS
tees. The Atty. General, Erastus Foote,
esq, was present, as was the custom in
those days. j.