The evening world., 1894-01-26
Civil Justice Lynn Points Out a
Defect in the Law.
He Thinks the Courts Jurisdiction
Should Be Increased.
The Glass OF Litigants In tho First
Judicial District.

| city.
| II was Originally created in 1853. and
| 'Dr many years WAS the only court OF
tie Kind In existence, Many eminent
men, Including subsequent Senators, Con
Crcssmen Mayors and recorders. were
Judges In the early days OF the court.
The cour, is now he'd IN the upper
part OF the old Superior Court Building.
| at the southwest corne- OF Chambers ana
Centre streets, in city Hall Parh. Tn"
lower portion of the cd building being
ussd by the Fire department, an odor OF
| the stables now perTadcS the court room
| The Judge IN this court Is Wauhopo
| Lynn, who commenced his second term
on Jan. !, and will hold Once for the
| next six years at a salary CT Sb.Wp per
annum He has ALREADY been Judge for
two years having fliei the uneNpir"d
term Of Peter Mitchell rhis gives Judge
| Lynn a total salary of. $4,000 for the
eight years ne servts as Judge
| There Is an air of cleanliness about
the First District Court. the white walls
and o,d-fashioned apartments remindlng
one. Of the hospital or poorhouse m"
court officiais EXCEPTING V ' Corner room ,
which Ia occupied az sleeping apartment
by Fire chief Croker, a nephew OF Rich
ard Croker.
Louis c. Bruins. Clerk of the Court
receives salary OF 5000 per year, and
there are three marshals and other at
| taches, who are paid for their services
| by fees collected from clients.
| There are few complaints made as to
the conduct OF this court, and only about
one hunHrcd suits and cases are now
pending before Judge Lynn. There are
days. when court convenes at 1879
o'clock a. NJ, and continues, until 2.30
when an Evening World" reporter
| "a "a +
| tention was paid to the question whether
the poorer people in the district were
receiving proper attention at the hands
OF the court. and whether any improve
nents could be made for the benefit Of
the poor people whose legal differences
are adjusted In this court.
office, sitting under the SHADOW of
large framed photograph of Richard
Croker. AS TO the conduct of his court,
the Judge said
between the ordinary actions brought
by business men and the wage cases of
the poorer people. We insist that these
cases be- tried within day or two, and
If defendant asks for an adjournment.
! make 1t rule to impose a fee Of 81
Tor It is unfair to bring man into
court for three or four different occa-
sions on an IS or 50 case
The landlord and tenant cases In this
court differ from those in any other
New York court for the reason that the
|
property holders like those on the East
side. Our landlords are wealthy men
and corporations, and they are very in
IN owns ymsSe fuy
and a great deal in the Fifth Ward,
Then there Is the Aston estate, and both
OF these parties are very, indulgent with
their tenants. As a rule they do not
move against a tenant until he is four
or five months behind In his rent.
,l, l.,I,t al. In 1tNr Dc
in New York is Ward McAllister. While
the newspapers have paraded him as one
OF the Four Hundred. nothing has ever
been said OF his charities. He owns prop
erty In Greene and other streets In this
district. and never commences suit
against a tenant until he is four or five
months In arrears and then McAll!ster
usually gives the tenant more time.
II have no other office and no other
private business. and devote all my time
10 the work Of this. court am here
trial days ere Tuesdays ana Fridays
and when my calendar gets crowded
hold court an additional day In the week
As rule, our cases never last Longer
than two or three weeks.
1--WE now have about one hundred cases
| pending Tomorrow Is court day, anG
We never run behind as they do in som,
other courts, and lawyer never wen
away from here without getting hear
ing; ,.,o M .s,vs,sr, ,awyors .,
/
hangers-on in this court, and in this
again we differ from other courts. Some
of the leading lawyers of New lorl
come here as the representatives, of large
firms and corporations.
Now. ! want to call your attention
TO something which Is of material beneti
to the great mass of citizens. In 1853
when this court was established, thu
jurisdiction as to amount involved, wa
IS. This amount was then increased I,
80, and in lI1G was fixed at SO. In 1904
l,l, - atltN do n
$3.50. with the power of removal to tn
Court Of Common Pleas In all cases III
volving over 500.
corrected. corporation having u cas-
In this court involving over 500 can re
move the case to the Common Pleas
which Is high court OF records iS in IN
, is then tied up for years, which Is reallI
a defeat OF Justice, and practical end
. ing OF the case.
court in tears, because their cases hav
been removed to the Court of Common
3 Pleas, there to he dragged along 70
{ years. and to be abandoned or nonsuited
with us, however, we are naturally com
PEELED TO take a personal interest in tn
case. and hold 9. speedy trial, =,
"If the jurisdiction of civil courts 4
, the matter OF amount was increased /
$500, without the power OF removal;
would greatly relieve the Court OF Rec
rds speedy relief 1,,r Is What Sn3 is no de
= the coming state Constitutional Con
e ventlon Will take some action In thi
I matter"
: The First District Court is the onl
court In the United states which
really out OF its jurisdiction. The Firs
District extends from Canal street I
the Battery and from Broadway TO IN
North River. while the court Is actual
located In the Second District at tn
corner Of Chambers and Centre streets
II a citizen resided in the court buildin
he could not bring an action in the Fra
| District Court.
i The First District Court. under the az
q which created it, must necessarily /
located in city Hall Park, and when III
= Old building at Centre and Chamber
g street is demolished, MS is proposed tn
: court wa either be compelled 10 r.
move ~ the Supreme Court building {
u else hold its sessions out OF doors Q
r the green sward of the park.
o st. Joseph's Lyceum Entcrtatnmen
The eighteenth annual entertainment and n
Z ception OF ST Joseph's Lyceum will be held th
y evening at Central opcrSHo Sixty seven