The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-11-13
District Court

Inc lail term OF district court for the
subdivision of the third judicial district
containing Pembina and Cavalier coun.
ties, was opened at the court house OH
Wednesday morning, Judge Mcconnell
presiding. Sheriff Dick called out "hear
yc, hear ye," &C., and the work of the
session commenced. The court room was
nearly filled with jurors, witnesses, lawyers
litigants and spectators. The grand jury
was called to their seats by Clerk of the
Court Tuohy. There being number OF
abscntees, the sheriff was ordered to
summon sufficient number to complete
the panel. The following are the names
of the grand jurors; Z. Armstrong, fore
man, VIM. Mitchell, Ole Thompson, Jas.
1nnis, August Krinke, P. w. Graves,
Christian Christensen, John Mugford,
James Fee, Jas. Halloran. ]. T. Lands
borough, W. o. Snodgrass, Martin Nc
Gilvery, A. L. Mcintosh, Hugh Mclean,
Chas. Bauer, L. Ashley, Geo. West, II. L.
Mcintosh, Geo. Hodson, Peter Mckay,
B. H. Webster and Jos. Daniels. After
the administration of the oath by the
clerk the judge proceeded to charge
the grand jury, as to their duties and re-
sponsibilities. The judges address was
a clear, concise exposition of the law
directly relating to the duties of a grand
jury and was listened to with the closest
attention. His aim seemed to he to so
instruct and fortify them that they
would stand unfinchingly by their obi
cation to condemn the wrong and pro-
tect the right. His honor, in referring
to the Olga lynching affair, strongly EN-
phasized the principle that every indi-
vidual accused of crime should have a
fair trial by twelve of his fellow men.
He spoke of an instance coming under
his own. observation, where, but for the
determined action of the officers of law,
two men, innocent of tie crime charged,
would have been lvnched by an excited
mob.
Bailiff Jas. Dick was then sworn in
and ordered to bring the prisoners into
court from the Jail.
After the retirement of the grand jury
to enter upon the work before them, the
civil calendar was taken up and one case
after another called, none ofany impor.
lance, however, being ready for trial.
On Thursday forenoon the grand jury
reported thirteen cases before them, sub.
hitting eight indictments, with five dis.
missals.
The case of Walter F. Casson, charged
with larceny, and who has become
somewhat noted for jail-breaking and
various other oifenses, was called and a
jury impanelled. By advice of his
counsel, Mr.. Megquier, he pleaded guilty.
Before being sentenced the prisoner
addressed his Honor and the jury. He
said that it was Il well established prin-
cipal that long terms of punishment were
not reformatory i'll their tendencies.
Having sincerely repented of his mis-
deeds, lie wanted to do better; said his
father had recently died and it had been
a sore grief to the prisoner not to have
the opportunity to ask his forgiveness.
His aged mother was left without any
one to care for her, and had to support
herself by manual labor, the thought of
which seemed to very much Cypress the
prisoner. Casson's address, which evinced
considerable talent, was listened to with
the deepest attention. In view of his
reputation as an accomplished outbreak
er, &C., many in the court room were dis
posed to discount the sincerity of his re-
pentance. Judge Mcconnell, however,
sentenced him to ten months in the
penitentiary, which, in addition to the
time he has passed in Jail, would be over
q year and q half.