The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1889-11-09
CHAOS RULES IN COURT
Notation and Hamilton Present Their
Credentials to Judge DeWolfe.
Thimx. lacked Rather shaky Fer - Time.
Bsat s;ss,ss sense FINALLY Prevailed and
The C~resi~nstai~ Were Withdraw"
The " Hand - s sss 1'rssceesttngs.

Butte that Montana had become q state,a
strange and unprecedented scene was he
ing enacted in the district court room.
Al tho morning sss-ion. on motion OF
Judge Mcconnell. the hour of 7 o'clock in
the afternoon had been set for argument
ON the question IF compelling the board
Of canvass' ~ to count the vote of precinct
"a For all candidates. But i'm the interval
bctwcen the Adjournment of court and
the hour of I o'clock, il brca,nc generally
known that Montana had been admitted.
What further complication of affairs this
would produce was the subject Of much
speculation.
Al :I5 O'clock. Judge DcNulfc entered
the court room. As he took his seat.
Thompson Campbell said;
There has arisen a complication since
your honor set the motion for hearing and
under the constitution OF the new state of
Montana Wa believe tho complication to
b. such, as that y, ur honor cauiot sit and
hear this motion. Your honor's duties
cease as soon as yoiir sticccssor il quail
fled. There are two gentlemen here who
claim To he yotir stIccessor. But w" claim
that your honor il out of jurissliction.'
Judge j. J. Mediation, democratic can
and presented tn the court his oath of office.
under the state constitution aud asked
that he he permitted to- sit on the bench.
Levi j. Hamilton, republican candidate
for the same office. presented his oath of
office and certificate from the state can
wasting board. Judge MsHn,,on said
W N's 'oth sh"th 49,
has arisen. am very sorry that two
parties are here To contend for the office:
si,.sii speak Of wha, | deem the rights and
obligations of the ease. ! will say first
that il is The duty of the court To make
way for his successor In Office. While this
other gentleman presents ~ certificate
from the territorial board, ] believe there.
is no provision for issuing that certificate
and the court il ia possession at the cir
cuinsianccs under which that certificate
was issued. The co,rt knows that the
vote of tins district has been counted for
me and shows ] have been elected. l take
il the court will look more. to its own
Judgment than to- the clerical proceeding
of a canvassing board. My personal and
individual rights are nothing compared
with the rights of the public. and as "a rep
r.srntative Of ia" public stand here and
claim my rights and their rights in this
matter. In the interests of Justice and
good feeling ! am willing her" and now
regarding this office. SO that we may have
a court here to try aud determine causes.
] will sacrifice" anything of personal rights
for the good of the public. But IL nothing
of thi. kind can lc arrived al, I must d"-
maud my Office"
HAS Mr.. Hamilton anything 4" say?
MIR. Hamilton asked Thompson Camp
bell to speak for him. MIR. Campbell
says that all territorial. judicial and coun-
~ officers shall continue and remain in
office after the state * admitted until
their s,cccssors are. elected and qualified.
Judge DrWolfe said: ~ am undoubted-
~ superseded here. l do not see that il il
my province To pass on this matter. The
returns, votes and canvassing of votes Is
something the court can have nothing Ia
do with. am a territorial officer which
provides that ] shall hold oi,i.s. unit, my
GUSTS me and IL il not for m" tn decide
who is entitled To tins office. We have
reached II juncturc here i'm public aifairs
that calls for the exercise of the graves,
temperance and Judgment. During these
exciting political movements ! have eth
a. .r l-f AvN. nh., ..n.
rounding excitement aud shall endcavor
to Ito 50 in the future. Here il "a ~junCtiIrs
produced directly by body of men all
ing tn perform thcir duty as required b.
law. Had they performed their duties u,
such crisis as this would have arisen. "
! conceive I have no reason To sit here and
decide this affair. or in vacating this chair
determine my successor. There il ns
question that somebody IL elected in m.
place. IL is not for mo tn say who.
know there haas been IL Judgment of thi'
court directing the counting of votes fpi
Jn,is' M.Ha''"ni IT, has pr,.s.n,.d lar
certificate from the state board. One al
these two gentlemen il certainly my sue
cessor. My jurisdiction and right to- lie
terminc questions terminate with III,
presentation Of the certificate and oath al
otiic" of my successor
Meantime tire Coirt was filliug NJ
rapidly with excited citizens and il WA
with difficulty that order was maintained
Jmdg" MEDIATION was seated al ,l" RICH
of tho judges bench and Judge Hamilton
at III" left, facing .,acl, other. Judge Nc
uatton was picking his teeth, Judg
Hamilton was twirling his hat in hi
fingers. Judge swung himscl
around in his chair. while Judge Knows.
had n qIizzi.al expression on his face n
he Whitfield a stick. once of his most values
accomplishments.
Tn" silence for "a few minutes was 81
pressivc. while the spectators crowdr,
close To- the legal arena tn catch ever
word. There was "a trernor i'm .Judg
Kirk patrick's voice as he arose and said
"This Is "a question of great doubt an
difficulty, and one i'm which the public ia
ters'>t and peace il deeply very deeply
concerned. The question il. are we I
have an orderly administration here or
state of chaos and anarchy. If the latter
every public and private interest i'm Ill
country will feel the Disgrace"
\ question of that, Mr.. Kirk patrick.
: said the court.
'lf il is "A possible thing" continue
Mr.. Kirkpatrick. las men living i'm thi
country and Interested i'm its prospcri,
I and public peace. we ought to Il
. and do something To avoid the col
sequences which are impending over "a
III we are patriotic men. we should a
something to- avert this calamity. III "
are men of sufficient intelligence. "
should do something to- compass I'll
emergency and avert our Gown couu,
, from the disaster into which il seems
he drifting. W., should arise To the lev
J. of the OCCASION"
"Permit me to interrupt you,'' said Il
court. "Therc * only one way tn ave