Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1890-05-24
usTTCR WILD AND WOOELY.



Senator PettiRrew Tells Of SOms Rsnny Ex-
Perlences In Dakota Courts.
%The administration Of justice In
Dakota when / first went out there to
grow ND with the country YVES exceed
ingly primitive. said Senator Petit
grew to Star reporter. Judges for
the territorial courts we're 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 o 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 condition of utter
indifference as to whether school kept
or not, and forgot all about the Court
and errand.
when the Court had waited vainly
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 q bliss
full condition of inebriation by the time
he came up with the convivial 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 q like
course-mind you, all this is strictly as
it occurred-and 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 successful. At about 3
o. m.-the Court had been convened at
10:30-the two judges, the marshal,
and the attorney were seen to emerge
from whisky shop and to pursue a
dignifed, though serpentine 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 over tables, smashed
chairs, and created general confusion.
Gentlemen said the sober Judge
from the bench in 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 man
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 ab-
surd that / said the defense would not
take the trouble to offer any evidence.
Well,' said the Chief Justice, you'd
better offer some d-n quick; cuss
that hasn't any evidence to offer in this
court against a charge of boss stealing
goes to Jail, you bet
Not long after this same Chief JUS
tice had occasion to try one of his own
associate Justices for perjury. The in
dictment was brought by the associate
Justices own grand jury, and the ac-
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 the
Indictment. This puzzled the Chief
Justice, who turned to the accused and
asked whether in such a case demurrer
should be sustained or not. The de-
PENDANT said it must be sustained, and
the Justice so ruled. Now, what fol-
lowsY 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 a real
estate case, 1 took exception to several
of the Judges rulings, and he got
angry.
You can tell all the exceptions you
have a mind to- he yelled; but I'd
have you to know that this Court is a
gentleman
note another exception to that
proposition replied, and am will
ing to carry it to the Supreme Court.
Washington Star.