Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-08-02
LUzERNE'S ORPHANS COURT.
Work Accomplished by 1t in the Twenty
Years of Its Existence.


Our orphans court was organized by
Judge Rhone in January, 1875, by the
adoption of system of rules, which, we
learn, has since been generally approved
by all lawyers He likewise has written
several books on orphans court practice,
which are cited as authority in all the
courts of the state. He has been very
kind and obliging to the younger MEM
bers of the bar and to sutors Of all
classes.
The Importance of this court to the
people at large will be best understood
by stating the amount and character of
the business done there as reported by
the clerks. Since 1875 there have been
l l,240 sales and partitions of real estate,
and no title passed by Judge Rhone has
contested. During the same period
1867 estates have been settled. The
amount thus distributed during the last
ten years is SIS, ,505, 400, and probably a
! like sum the ten years previous; in all,
Judge Rhone has, during his term,
supervised the distribution of $37 600, 900
to and among widows heirs and creditors
of decedents.
In the distribution of this vast amount
of money there have been not less than
1000 contested cases, represented by the
best talent at the bar. In these contests
Judge Rhone has acted as sole judge and
jury, and yet but forty-nine cases have
appealed to the supreme court and of
the number thus appealed all have been
affirmed except eleven cases.
In contested cases the parties have a
right to demand jury trial, and yet in
no case, out of the more than 1000 con-
tested, have the parties requested trial
by jury, so fair and lust have been his
| decisions.
During his term over 5000 guardians
have been appointed and settled with.
He has disposed of some forty appeals
from the registers office, involving con-
tests over the grant of letters and the
probate of wills. There have been
orders, rules, motions and arguments
without number.
In 1884 the bar of this county ad-
dressed the following letter to him:
In view of the approaching expiration of
| your present term of Office as judge of the
orphans court of Luzcrne county, the under
signed, members of the bar of that county,
take this opportunity of expressing their
sincere wish that you will consent to serve
| another term. We unite in this request
irrespective of our individual political aililia-
| tions and having regard only for the best
interests OF the community in which live.
| We desire to give public expression to our
| recognition of the faithfulness impartiality
and ability with which you have discharged
the important duties of your high office. With
| out disparagement to your predecessors, or to
other courts of similar jurisdiction through
| out the state, we can yet point with just pride
| to the administration of the your court, to the
! economical distribution of estates without the
| intervention of auditors, to the efficient preser-
vation and arrangement of the rec rds of title
and the systemiZation of the details of the
registers Office, and to the careful yet prompt
dispatch of business. Believing as we do that
the judicial office should not be the subject of
nd I,tts, ..Tt .
| Office OF judge of the orphans court of LuZerne
county could not be entrusted to ADLER or purer
| hands than yours, we have thus united in the
| request thht you Will permit your name to be
| used as Il candidate for that Office ut the next
election.
AT the following election the returns
show ID. l.. Rhone had 25,636 votes,
which was the unanimous vote of the
county at that time.
In further recognition of his services
the following letter was sent to Judge
Rhone in March, 1894, by eighty-one of
the most prominent members of the bar,
comprising lawyers of all political
beliefs:
The undersigned, members of the bar of
LuZerne county, hereby respectfully urge you
to consent to be II candidate for reelection to
the office of president judge of the orphans
court OF this district. We do this in view of the
very satisfactory, able and impartial manner
in which you have discharged your official
duties hitherto We shall be glad to take nil
proper steps to secure your election.
To that letter he made the following
reply:
Gentlemen.-Your very complimentary letter
requesting me to consent to be a candidate for
reelection as judge of the orphans court is at
hand. II has been my sole purpose in the past
to assist the bar and the people at large in
settling the estates of dccendents and minors
as chcaply and expeditiOusly us possible, under
the rules and forms of law without fear on
favoritsm, and it gives me great pleasure to
learn that you are satisfied with my course.
would not undertake a canvass alone, but you
prOflcred assistance induces me to yield to youI
request. 1t cannot be expected that / should
enter in a political warfare for this place, for
consider the matter one of business rather than
politics, as doubtless you do. BY pen and voice
have al along thrown broadcast my views
upon all matters affecting the public welfare;
have cared for the interests of the thousands OF
widows, orphans and Others who have come
before me as well MS knew how; | have nc
reforms to suggest or patronage to bestow, Sc
| cannot see that personal canvass, on my
part, for nomination or for votes can be OF
any service. With this understanding you MAY
say to the people that will serve them another
term as heretofore, if it be their will and that
! shall feel no less grateful for past favors il
they shall, by their votes, prefer some one else
In view of the above record it may be
asked in all candor why not "leaye well
enough alone" and why not "leave the
tools with him who knows best how to
Il
ted by men of all parties, and we believe
that Judge Rhone is more likely to be
elected than any other candidate that can
be put up for the office.
1t cannot be to the best interests of the
men of property and their families to
have this office put up to political auction
to be followed by the same proceeding in
after years with our other Judges. To
keep the judiciary clean it must be non
partisan.
No judge in the state can show bet
ter record than that of Judge Rhone.
The business of his court runs so quietly
and smoothly that the inexperienced
think it is easy, but the fact is the
facility and dispatch with which business
is done there is because master hand
has hold of it. His word is taken as law
and instead of turning him down to give
place for some political schemer, the bar
and people of the country should reward
him with another term.
He has served longer than any other
Judge of the county, and his overwhelm-