The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-04-05
Justice Wild and woolly.

The administration of justice in Dakota when
first went out there TO grow up with the coun-
try was exceedingly primitive said Senator
Pettigrew 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. re-
member, whore the supreme court was convened
with only two Of the three Justices on the bench
the odd one not turning up. This was disas-
trous, inasmuch as the absent judge was the
only one of the three who knew any law. How
ever, one OF the two justices present volunteered
to look up the absentee and started out for tnat
purpose. He had reason to believe that he
would fad the delinquent in some saloon and
so he took 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
condi ton of utter Indifference as to whether
school kept or not, and forgot all about the
court and his errand.
when the court had waited vainly for an
hour. the United STA es marshal was sent to
hunt up the two justices. lie pursued the same
tactics. visiting the saloons in turn, and in
a bisstul condition OF MEDITATION by the time
he came up with the convivial pair. After
another hour of delay the remaining judge sent
out the United States attorney to make search
for the missing ones; but he, too, pur-
sued like course-mind you. ali this is
strictly as it occurre1-aud did not appear
again So, as last resort, the leading lawyer
OF the territory was dispatched TO gather in the
wanderers. and the result this time was success
, tut. Az ABOUT y. m.-tnc court nuu Deeu con
Vened at lO:30-the two judges, the marshal,
and the attorney were seen to emerge from u
whisky shop and to pursue digniiied, though
serpentine course, arm-n-arm, up the street
toward the court house. To get through the
door of the court room they were obliged to re-
llnquiSh each others support, and, in trying to
make their way to the bar fell over tables,
smashed chairs and created general confusion.
"'Gentemen. said the sober judge from the
bench in a loud voice, this court stands ad-
iourned until 1890 O'Clock tomorrow morning >
Soon after took up my residence in the ter
ritory," continued Senator Pettigrew. Il had
occasion to defend a man before the lief JUS
tice in case of alleged horse stealing The
prosecution had absolutely no proof TO offer
and the case against my client was so absurd
that | said the defense would not take the
trouble to offer any evidence. We'll said the
chief justice. you'd better offer some -
quick: a cuss that hasn't any evidence to offer
in this court against charge of boss stealing
goes TO jail. you bet.
Not long after this same chief justice had
occasion to try one of his own associate justices
for perjury The indictment was brought by
the associate Justices own grand jury AMI the
accused called in the chief justice to try the
case in his own, the associate Justices court.
Defendants attorney began proceedings by de-
murring to the indictment. This puzzled the
chief justice. who turned to the accused and
asked whether in such case demurrer should
be sustained or not The defendant said it
must be sustained and the justice ruled
Now, what followss he inquired, and was told
that such action necessarily dismissed the case
The case is dismissed then said the chief
justice and the associate justice was indicated
Another time in trying real estate case |
took exception to several OF the Judges rulings
and he got angry.
You can take all the exceptions you have
mind to- he yelled, but I'd have you TO know
That this court is a gentleman
80 note another exception TO that PROPOSE
ton, replied, and am willing to carry it to
| the supreme court. "