The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1894-06-12
Court.

Judge Joseph I'll. Gasklll took his seat al
Presiding Judge of the Court of Common
Pleas on Wednesday, and delive red the
following address:
For many years thSse has been a demand or
the part of those having business in our county
courts, for the appointment of Law Judge. Al
its last session, the Legislature passed an act
authorizing the appointment of such an officer,
and | have been honored by the Governor and
Senate with the first appointment. l highly ap-
precate the distinction conferred, and will to the
best of my ability discharge the duties devolvine
upon me-
am glad in being called to preside over this
court, that find on the bench my associates,
two gentlemen with whom my personal relations
have always been of the most friendly nature,
and in whose Judgment and discretion the CON-
munity have the utmost confidence. We will,
am sure, be of mutual assistance each to the
other.
The reasons advanced for this change in our
! judicial proceedings were economy, more speedy
disposition of business before the courts, and a
more satisfactory settlement of legal questions.
In order that there may be economy, we must
avoid calling court unnecessarily and especially
of bringing back the Jury. Members of the bar
are too apt to consider only their own personal
convenience. The bench must have regard to the
interests of the public, and 30 manage the sit
tings of the court that while afford every oppor-
tunity for the transaction OF business, it shall be
done in such manner as to avoid, as much as
possible, public expense. Our rules will give all
opportunity to be heard speedily, and we will re-
main in session long enough to finish the bust
ness demanding our attention. Public affairs
shall have our first consideration.
The following rules have been adopted having
4 in view the purposes Indicated
l. In addition to the regular terms in January
| May and October, the court will meet on the
| first Wednesday Of every month, and remain in
session from day to day until all business is dis
posed Of No case will be set down for any other
| time IN the month unless for special reasons en-
tirely satisfactory to the court.
/ g All sessions of the courts will be from 8. As
A. NJ. to II 80, and from l 80 P NJ. to 400, or
later as business may require. The bell will be
ruDg ten minutes before each sitting Of the court
and not as heretofore. Business will be COM
menced promptly on the hour.
| 3. ALI applications for license. both wholesale
and retail, must be filed on the first day of areg-
ular term. "Reminiscences must be filed on or
before Friday of the fret week. All applications
for license, both contested and urcontested, will
be disposed Of, if possible, on the first Saturday
of the term.
f. The trial Of indictments will commence on
Monday OF the second week of the regular terms
The trials of appeals, by jury will be taken up
the next Monday thereafter. Appeals to be tried
without jury will be heard during the third
week. at the close of the jury trials.
5. At the monthly sessions of the court the
business will be taken up follows: first, unliti-
gated matters; second, arguments; third, liti-
gated matters requiring the taking of testimony
fourth, trials before the special sessions
The attention of the bar is directed to the pro-
visions of the first rule. 1t Is intended to cure
what has been q long standing fault, and the sub
iect OF much adverse criticism, viz the length OF
time that has been required to dispose OF such
matters as contests over wills, etc. Heretofore
| the court and counsel have endeavored to fix q
day convenient to all parties, necessarily some
distant day in the future. After doing day &
work, then some other day would likewise be
agreed upon and so on until months would elapse
/ before the case would be finally disposed OF.
| Hereafter these cases will be taken up at the
monthly sessions and continued from day to day
until finished. II the case requires many days III
| taking testimony, the court will grant time to
prepare the argument. This will enable counsel
TO present the matter to the court IN better shape
and aid the court in disposing of the matter more
satisfactorily. II counsel disappointed in the
attendance Of witnesses whom they have made all
necessary efforts to secure, an application for an
adjourned day will be considered by the court.
With reference to tho second rule, we call at
ention to the fact that the bell will be fung but
once and in ample time for counsel to leave their
offices and be present in court when the hour for
| opening arrives. Counsel STe expected to be
| prompt, as business will commence at the hours
| indicated. Heretofore in our old fashioned way,
the court house bell has been rung quarter OF
an hour before court, and then again at the time
court met. This will be discontinued as stated.
With reference to the third rule, there are
some changes to which your attention Is directed,
First, wholesale applications will be consider
ed at any time than at the regular term; these
applications must be filed on he fret day of the
term 80 as give all persons interested an oppor-
tunity to examine the dies before the applications
are acted upon. On the first Saturday OF the
term the court will take mp first the applications
against which no remonstTances are hled. Alter
they are disposed of, we will take up the contes-
ted cases and dispose of them in summary
manner, il possible. Upon sufficient reasons
shown, on the part OF either applicant or remon-
st ans a special day within short time will be
! assigned for hearing the contest. The applicant
Will be entitled to the opening and closing argu-
ment, but in addition to presenting the appca-
ton he may be required by the Court to be ex-
amined or produce witnesses before the remon-
strants are called upon, or where the place ap-
piled for has heretofore been licensed, the court
in its discretion, may call upon the remonstrants
| to present their case FIRST Neither party need
be prepared on the first day with more than TWO
| or three witnesses. II any more extended exam
ination should be deemed advisable by the conrt,
| a further day will be given to both parties. Al
though under the law anyone may make an Oh
lection at the time the application is taken mp,
without filing remonstraDce, yet the court ex-
presses preference that remonstTances Be hled
in contested cases. in order that we may compare
TIE names on the application with those on the
remonstrance. II objection, however Is to be
made on legal or technical grounds only, the re-
monstrance will not be necessary
With reference TO the fourth rule, the court calls
F.
of indictments can ordinarily be disposed OF dn-
ring the second week Of the term. This ID very
desirable from the standpoint OF economy. Every
day tina: the court sits when the jury is present,
tine county is put to an extra expense or $50.
We shall endeavor to dispose Of all jury cases in
the Quarter Sessions and Common Pleas courts
during the time the jury is being used In the
Supreme and Circuit courts.
In all appeal cases where the Jury is required,
notice must be given to the clerk before the list
tha
head of the appeal list, and so mark them. These
Jury cases in the Common Pleas will be disposed
OF, the first thing during the third week OF the
term. Counsel will be expected to be present to
try indictments and appeals on the days indicat-
ed unless actually engaged in the trial OF cause
in one of the other courts As soon as the jury
appeals have been disposed OF, the other appeals
will be taken up and heard.
We are aware that these rules will cause some
inconvenience to the members OF the bar in re-
auiring them to be ready with parties and wit
nesses to be heard perhaps in more than one
court. This cannot be prevented without putting
the county to useless aud unnecessary expense
Parties must bear share OF the expense incident
to the settlement of their controversies
With reference to the hfth rule, special elrcum-
stances arising from me to time. may require tc
change the order of busn so far as to bring on
rials before the Special Sessions, before Irrigated
mat requiring the taking of tes imony are takeI
, up and disposed Of especially where the latter viii
consume considerable time The trivial crimina
matt rs that to be tried in Special session.
cases that should be speedily disposed of both In th
nterts of the accused and that of the public The
Court would call the attention of the Justices of th'
Peace throughout the county to this feature OF tbs
new Court of Special Sessions, which enables us t,
try with the consent of the accused, many of th'
cases that ordinarily go before the grand jury.
] will the county considerable expense in sum
monng witnesses before the grand jury as well as thu
, expense of jury trial.
10 the Sheriff the court would like to say that tn
I oonstables summoned eryice at each term, mus
remain within the court during the time cour
is in session. unless excused for the purose OF serVnl
process The maintenance of good order IN ans
around the court house depends upon the Sheriff ant
- constables. Hereafter two constables will be re-
to attend regular monthly sessions Of the oour
to preserve order.
S Gentlemen of the Bar bespeak your kind assist
ance. In large my success or failure Is de
= pendent upon you promise you full hearing an'
careful consideration OF all matters presented.
shall conscientously endeavor TO perform the dute
E devolvlng upon me- and trust shall meet your ap
: pioya and that Of the community. l shall not es
cape criticism shall not be able TO please all par
i ties but shall do my duty fearlessly. l am unde
n pledge or promise TO man. 1 shall know no man
no interests and party but shall mpartially
all alike to the best of my skill and understanding
i and with the interests Of tho whole community eve
r in mind.
' The fall term of court will not begin un
: til October. Liquor licenses granted las
Q September Will expire before the fall tern
: conyenes, hence several liquor dealer
d will have to desist from selling until tn
+ licenses are renewed.
/, Mrs. Lacy, eolored, OF Palmyra, arreste
it for assault and battery. was released OF
h habeas corpus.
Q William Bryan, charged with assaultin
o an officer; Joseph Lock, charged with al
d sault and battery; John Hill. charge
is with operating the shell game; and Fran