Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-05-09
JUSTICE VIVID AND wooLLY,
Senator Pettigrew Tells of Some Funny Ell
perieMces in Dakota Courts.

JUSTICE WILD AND wOOLLY.
Senator Pettigrew Tells of Some Funny Ex-
periences in Dakota Courts.
"The administration of justice in
Dakota when l first went out there to
grow up with the country was exceed
ingly primitive" said Senator Petit
grew to a Star reporter. Judges for
the territorial courts were sent out from
the East-nearly all Of them men whose
Incidence or.bad character had rendered
them desirable persons to get rid of.
There was one instance, I remember,
where the Supreme Court was convened
with only two of the three Justices on
the bench, the odd one not turning up.
This was disastrous, inasmuch as the
absent Judge was the only one Of the
three who knew any law. However,
one of the two Justices present volun-
teered to look up the absentee and
started out for that purpose. He had
reason to believe that he would find the
delinquent in some saloon, and so he
took a look into every gin mill that he
came to. The result was that by the
time he found the object of his search
he himself was in a condition of utter
Indifference as to whether school kept
or not, and forgot all about the Court
and errand.
when the Court had waited vainlv
for an hour the United States Marshal
was sent to hunt up the two Justices.
He pursued the same tactics, visiting
the saloons in turn, and was in a bliss
full condition OF inebriation by the time
he came up with the c~onvivial pair.
After another hour of delay the remain
ing Judge sent out the United States
Attorney to make search for the miss
ing ones; but he, too, pursued a like
course-mind you, all this is strictly as
it occurred-and did not appear again.
So, as a last resort. the leading lawyer
of the Territory was dispatched to
gather in the wanderers, and the result
this time was successful. At about 8
p. m.-the Court had been convened at
lO:30-the two judges, the marshal,
and the attorney were seen to emerge
from a whisky shop and to pursue a
dignified. though s%erpentine course,
arm in arm, up the street toward the
Court House. To get through the
door Of the courtroom they were
obliged to %relinquish each others sup
port, and, in trying to make their way
to the bar, fell owe tables, smashed
chairs, and created general confusion.
"~'Gentlemen,' said the sober Judge
from the bench in a loud voice, this
court stands adjourned until 1890 to.
morrow morning.
"Soon after I took up my residence in
the Territory" continued Senator Petit.
grew, Il had occasion to defend a mar
before the Chief Justice in a case of al.
legged horse stealing. The prosecution
had absolutely no proof to offer, and
the case against my client was so alb
surd that / said the defense would not
take the trouble to offer any evidence.
Well,' said the Chief Justice, you'd
better offer some dn quick; a cuss
that hasn't any evidence to offer in this
court against a charge of boss stealing
goes to Jail, you bet
Mot long after this same Chief Jus
tice had occasion to try one of his OWL
associate Justices for perjury. The in
dictment was brought by the associate
Justices own grand jury, and the &C
cused called in the Chief Justice to try
the case in his own, the associate Jus
tees court. Defendants attorney be
gan proceedings by demurring to til.
Indictment. This puzzled the Chic
Justice, who turned to the accused ant
asked whether in such q case a demurrer
should be sustained or not. The de
PENDANT said it must be sustained, anc
the Justice so ruled. Now, what fol
lows? he inquired, and was told tina
such action necessarily dismissed the
case. The case is dismissed, then sale
the Chief Justice, and the associate
Justice was indicated.
another time, in trying a rea!
estate case, l took exception to severa
of the Judges rulings ., and he go1
angry.
S'You can tell all the exceptions yor
have a mind to- he yelled; but II
have you to know that this Court is {
gentleman!
II note another exception to thai
proposition 1 replied, and I am will
ing to carry it to the Supreme Court
-Washingt0n Star.
ga Translator
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