The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-11-01
CORRESPONDENTS.

4
| in the Office of sheriff and so nominated
| Morris instead of Ankrum. This is a little
changed from the way we have been used
to hearing it. The other version is that
the radicals in the party desired change,
so nominated Morris instead of Ankrum.
But the ARGUS don't care which faction
| is right and which is wrong in their quar-
rels. 1t was not responsible for the split
in the republican household, which seems
| to be divided with about six on one side
/ and half dozen on the other, and is not
| the mouth piece or apologist for either fac
| ton. But there is one thing which from
| present appearances seems certain, and
| that is that when the poles are closed on
next Tuesday evening, there will have
taken place as radical change in the office
of sheriff and county treasurer as even
democrat could desire. But the Union
| holds Morris up to view as its ideal of a
reformed remoddled and rejuvenated
| sheriff. 1t will not be out of the
way for us to view him
simply with regard to his qualifications
for sheriff and the policy of elevating him
to that position, and being aware that he
! had acted in the place of sheriff for one
term of court by virtue of his office as cor
oner, upon the resignation of Sheriff Per
kins, we decided to ascertain from those
who were in court during that term how
the great reformer de meaned himself and
| discharged his duties at that time, and this
| seems to be a fair test, as we surely can
have no better means of Judging of his
| fitness for the position. We found the
| general opinion to be, that he magnifed
| his position to such an extent as to make
| himself appear ridiculous. We give two
| ways in which it is told; one says that
| he evidently mistook the court room for a
| line of battle ship with himself as com
| mander." Another says"he stormed around
| like country Clidesdale in a barn yard,
that court and jury, clerk and members of
| the bar, were busy lodging around to keep
from getting stepped on" OF course all
this made him appear like a big man, but
| when it came to his actual duties, it is GER
tain that he did not knew how to make a
simple return on-a common summons, as
the record shows. Take for instance, the
| case of Chas M. Smith for use V. the Rock
Island Paper Co., and the record tells its
own story. We therefore copy it:
''Vol 8, common law record, page 149.
Law record, 9th day, January term
Saturday, January 8th, 1881.
Charles M. Smith, for use
The Rock Isrd Paper Co. sit
And now on this day comes the plaintiff,
by W. H Gest, his attorney, and the de-
PENDANT by Sweeney, Jackson and Walker,
and Osborn and Curtis, its attorneys, and
now on motion of plaintiff, leave is granted
to the coroner acting as sheriff to make his
return on the writ herein, from which it
would appear that Morris had not made
any return on the writ, and probably did
not know that it was necessary to make
any, most remarkable state of ignorance,
but his trouble came after he was allowed
to make his return. for motion was made
to quash the writ and return, and excep-
tons made to his return as follows:
THAT said return is not made by any Off
Ger known to the law" seThat said return
is void of none effect" The effect is shown
by the next record in the case, which we
copy.
Vol 9, page 152. law record, sth day.
January term, Tuesday, January H. 1881. |
Charles Nj. Smith, for use
' Rock Island Paper Co. %
And now on this day again come the |
parties heretofore by their respective |
attorneys, and now defendant enters lis |
motion to quash the writ herein and the |
return thereon, and said motion being now
heard by the court Is allowed. 1t issthere- |
fore ordered by the court that said writ |
be and the same is herebyquashed. Now |
as this record virtually killed the plaintiffs |
case, it seems that an emergency existed |
osAAA el&C HGAbACGSAAaAA tile Case SnOWs Tic |
tactics resorted to, to get out, but the |
scheme did not succeed, we copy the next |
record
"Vol 9. Page 100, Law Record 18th
day January Term, Friday, January IA,
1881.
Chas. NJ Smith, for use
5556 VS. assump |
the Rock Island Paper Co sit.
And now on this day again come the
parties hereto by their respective attorneys, |
and now said plaintiff enters his motion
herein to set aside the order of the court
quashing the writ herein, and for tbs. leave |
TO amend said writ which said motion
being now heard and considered by the |
court is overruled, making it evident that
the court considered the matter as being
SO botched and bungled as to be incapable /
of being cured by amendment There
seemed now to be but one step left to be
taken, and the next record in the case shows
what that was. We give a copy.
Vol. o, page e53, law record LIST day of
September term, Monday September s,
1881:
Chas. NJ. Smith, for use
The Rock Island Paper Co.
And new ON this day comes the plaintiff
by his attorney and on his motion it is or
dered by the Court that this suit be strick-
en- from the docket
What beautiful state of affairs; if this
county were to have a sheriff that could