The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-10-13

appointment to election, their term
of office was fixed at ten years and 1t
was provided that their salaries
should be at least $4,000 annually. The
court was authorized to sit at the
capitol and not more than two other
places.
After organization under this
change the court was composed OF
Geo. P. Moore, chief justice, and
Richard Coke, S. 2. Donley, A. FL.
Willie and Geo. w. Smith. The court
continued as thus constituted until
the fall of 1867 when Brevet Major
General Griffin, acting under the re-
construction act of congress, appoint
! ed Amos Morrill, chief justice, with
Livingstone Lindsey, A. HI. Latimer,
Colbert Caldwell and A. j. Hamilton,
associates.
In 1869 Texas complied with the de-
mands of the general government
adopted constitution ratifying the
amendments engrafted upon the fed
eral constitution as natural out
growth of the war, and again assumed
control of the affairs of state.
Under this constitution the supreme
court was composed of three judges
who should be appointed by the gov
ernor for term of nine years.
During the years of 1870 and 1871
the court consisted of LemueJ d.
Evans, chief justice, Moses b. Walker
and Wesley Ogden, associates.
In 1873 by joint resolution of the leg
islature, ratified by vote of the peo-
pie, the constitution was 80 amended
as to change the number of judges
from three to five.
The court in conformity to the
change consisted of D. M. Roberts,
chief justice, r. A. Reeves, Thomas J.
Devine, Geo. p. Moore and w. p. Bal
linger. The last named was soon
succeeded by Peter w. Gray, who in
turn yielded to r. S. Gould. In 1875
John Ireland took Devine's place.
The present constitution of the state
was adopted in 1876 and in it the SUI
preme court was remodeled. The
number of judges was changed back
to three; they were made elective for
term of six years and their salaries
fixed at not more than $500 annually.
The sessions of the court were to be held
at Austin and at not more than three
other places.
The most important change made at
this time was in the establishment of
the court of appeals, similar, in all re-
spects, to the supreme court. The
Jurisdiction of the supreme court was
limited to civil cases, while that of
the court of appeals, though in the
main criminal, was, to certain de-
gree, civil.
The supreme court under this
change consisted of o. M. Roberts,
chief justice; George f. Moore and
Robert S. Gould. In 1878 George f.
Moore became chief justice and Mi
cajah H. Bonner was elected to fill
Roberts place. In 1881 John w.
Stayton succeeded Moore, II. s.
Gould having become chief justice.
The following year the court was COM
poses of A. HI. Willie, chief justice, J.
w. Stayton and G. s. West. Sawnie
Robertson succeeded West in 1885 and
the next year was in turn succeeded
by r. r. Gaines. Chief Justice Will
lie resigned in 1855. John w. Stay
ton became chief justice and A. \.
Walker was appointed to fill the va
cancy. John w. Stayton, r.. r.
Gaines and j. l.. Henry, the members
of the present court, were elected in
the fall of 1888.
The first members of the court of
appeals were NJ. ID. Ector, who was
chosen presiding judge; G. NJ. Wink
Ter and j. p. White. Nj. ID. Ector died
in 1879, and was succeeded by George
Clark. In 1880 George Clark resigned
and was succeeded by j. Nj. Hurt.
Sam A. Wilson took the place of
Winkler in 1882, and the court con-
tiuued as thus constituted until last
year when Judge Wilson resigned and
was succeeded by w. l.. Davidson.
Judge White, who had been con-
nected with the court from its Or
ganization, resigned in the early part
of the present year to resume the prac-
tice of his profession, and was sue
ceeded by +. j. Simkins.
BY an act of the legislature Febru-
airy 8, 1881, commission of appeals
subsidiary and subordinate to the SUI
preme court, was established and its
decisions when concurred in by the
supreme court were to become it's de.
cisions.
The first commission of appeals was
composed of Richard S. Walker, pre-
siding judge, Geo. Quinan and A. t.
Watts.
In 1891 the commission of appeals
was divided into two sections. Sec
ton A, was made up of E. M. Hobby,
presiding Judge, w. s. Collard and d.
P. Mari; section B, of G. G. Garrett,
presiding judge, B. d. Tarlton and H.
G. Fisher.
The last change in the supreme
court was made by the Twenty.
second legislature at its special ses'