The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1890-09-17
THE HUNrERDoN COURT.
A CORRESPONDENT TALKS OF cRIER KITCHEN, THE
COURT, AND ABOUT MATTERS AND THINGS"
IN COURT DoINGs.

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A CORRESPONDENT TALKS OF cRTER KITCHEN, TIL
COURT, AND ABOUT MATTERS AND THINGS"
IN COURT DoIHes.
After hearing so much about the speech
that Court Crer Kitchen makes every
time the Hunterdon Court is opened, we
were little surprised that he did it SO
poorly, after having rehearsed it for thir-
teen years. "Oh yes | oh yes | Oh yesi'
was spoken very plainly, but the remain
der of the piece was s'rotten," unless 1t
might have been made in Latin; then, of
course, unintelligible, except to the learn
ed counsel who occupy the comfortable
and convenient portion of the court room.
kCputt Crier Kitchen is not the presiding
officer, by any means, although he has
mach to ssy and do during the hours of
court. A distinguished gentleman by the
name Of Scudder, (Judge Scudder be is
known by there), seems to take charge af-
ter he settles down In bis new easy chair
which the Chosen Freeholders kindly fur
nlshed. Once seated, business commences.
and he becomes an earnest listener and an
observant Of all that transpires. Impair
tial Is the proper word to use 10 connec-
ton with his mode of dealing with qucs
tons that arise from time to time between
opposing council.
Judge Scudder is well liked by those
whose business calls them to associate
with him in the halls of justice How 1t
| will be with those who meet him at the
bar OF justice remains to be seen. The
Associate Judges are at disadvantage
when the presiding judge is on the bench,
but this does not mean that they are not
OF any use, by any means, for besides be-
ing ornamental, there are many questions
upon which they are called to give an
opinion, especially those of licenses for
inns and taverns throughout the county
The presiding judge leaves 1t all to them,
not because they are drinking men, or are
frequenters of such places, but from the
simple fact, they are way up on licenses
made it special study and are thereby
prepared to act wisely and well. With
all the Importance that the law clothes
these gentlemen with, they remain gentle
men and are as polite and courteous to
the many friends they meet from all parts
OF the county as IL no honor had been be-
slowed.
It's queer place, that Hunterdon Coun-
ty Court, aud proves conclusively that
''none but the wealthy enjoy this life,
viz. The presiding judge, the associate
judges, the prosecutor of the pleas, the
clerk, the learned counsel. the court crier
and the court officers, are the only ones
permitted to meet beyond the railing and
enjoy the comfortable chairs provided
there. Outside there is nothing but un-
comfortableness on those old-fashloned
wooden benches, erected, no doubt, with
the Court House, In 1928, for the use of
all other persons having business there,
and from which many have gone to an
early grave through spine disc Sc.
But there are many little incidents that
occur during court that are pleasant and
thus relieve the otherwise monotonous
proceedings. 1t is peculiar how families
will get mixed up 10 law suit and it is
queer how families will get mixed up on
both sides when they are employed to try
case. Three prominent aud leading at
torneys were employed on one side of an
important case last week, and two others
of the same brand were employed on the
other side. They fought each other long
and bitterly and when the smoke of the
contest had vanished, these five gentle
men, all related by marriage, were as
kind, courteous and loving as ever in the
past The clients don't meet on friendly
grounds, they are at outs, out OF sorts,
out Of humor, out 10 the soup and out Of
pocket.
The unjustness OF attending court, is what
we want to get at. The judge and asso-
ciates get good pay, the prosecutor, the
clerk, the court crier, the court officers,
CHE twelve constables), who are there on
exhibition, get good money; the distin-
gushed counsellors make a living out Of
II, but the jurors and witnesses are the
ones who suffer pecuniary loss. A little
piece of paper with John 7. Cox, Sheriff,
signed TO 1t will often cause two or three
weeks lost time from business, away from
home, railroad fare and hotel expenses,
for which there is only 80 cents or 81 per
day, as the case may be. Why men, citi-
zens OF Hunterdon, should be compelled
to leave home, business pursuits, subject
ed to expense, and ''the laws delay" and
not receive suitable compensation for
such duty Is beyond reasoning. 1t is said
by some, that II men were paid expenses
and lost time to be jurors or witnesses,
there would be fewer law suits and the
hosts of those who earn their living by
the sweat OF their brow, browbeating
others, would, like Othello, ''f1nd their
occupation gone" The jurors and wit
nesses could stand il, anyway.
With all the unpleasant things connect
ed with court, there are other places that
are still more npleasant-inside the low
or walls, for instance, Notwithstanding the
fact that the genial Sheriff Cox does all in
his power to make sojourn with him
agreeable. In Tort.
\ - r. -fa -----s
Patriotic Sons of America.
n The State camp of the Soma OF America