The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1894-09-14
THE UNITED STATES COURTS,

ia'Po't commencing september 3rd.
The Judges of this court are Hon.
Geo. Shiras Jr., Associate Justice of
the United States Supreme Court
Hon. M. W. Acheson, Judge of the
United States Circuit Court, and Hon.
Joseph Burlington, Judge of the Uni.
ted States District Court. The other
officers OF the court are Harry Alvin
Hall, District Attorney; John w. Wal
ker, Marshal William r. Lindsey.
Clerk of District Court Max l.. Nit.
chell, Clerk of the Circuit Court.
Judge Burlington is a college friend Of
the writer, and his wife is a sister Of
Mrs. DIR. James b. Neal He has
visited in Bloomsburg, and has many
trends mere. Though young man,
still under tOrty, and though but few
years upon the bench, having been
appointed by President Harrison, he
has already made high reputation as
an able and impartial jurist.
1t was the luck of the editor of this
paper to be drawn as Juror in this
court, and in obedience to the notice
he started for Williamsport on the
1855 train on the p. & R. road, on the
morning of September ,rd, in com.
pany with !. w. Hartman, who was
also summoned as juror. Owing to
pressing business at home Mr.. Hart.
man was excused the same day, and
missed the pleasure OF sitting in judg-
ment on other peoples affairs.
The Jurors were a very pleasant set
of gentlemen, and among them were
James Archibald, of Scranton, chief
engineer Of the d. L. & w. Railroad; ;
John Ewing, of Pittsburg Geo. R.
Graham, publisher, OF New Castle,
Lawrence county Myron Kasson, ex-
prothonotary of Lackawanna county
Robert d. King, deputy sheriff of
Allegheny county; J. G. Lesher, edi-
tor, of Selinsgrove; H. c. Provost,
register and recorder, of Wyoming
county; John M, Rahm, road master
of the Lehigh Valley railroad; C. F.
Shafer, deputy prothonotary of Union
county, and others.
The U. S. Courts are held in the
new government building. Two courts
were in session all the week, Judge
Burlington trying criminal cases in
the District court, and Judge Acheson
presiding in the circuit court in the
trial of civil cases. In the District
court are tried all cases which are
offenses against the laws Of the United
States, as defined by the acts of Con-
gress. This includes pension frauds,
counterfeiting, selling liquor without a
government license, sending obscene
matter through the mails, national
bank and internal revenue cases, rob-
bing the mails, &c. In the circuit
court civil suits are tried wherein resi-
dents of other states bring action
against residents Of this State. The
course of procedure is very similar to
the practice in our county court.
Among the most interesting cases
tried were those of De La Green and
John M. Bowman, for defrauding the
Muncy bank. Both were convicted.
Williamsport is a beautiful city, and
one would scarcely believe that less
than three months ago almost the en-
tire business portion of the place was
under seven feet of water. In many
places the marks of the water on the
walls of the houses show the point
reached by the flood.
Trolley cars traverse every part OF
the city, and there are several charm
ing rides that may be taken on them.
One morning with two others l rode
over the entire system, a distance OF
about twelve miles, at cost OF ten
cents piece. There are a number
of good hotels in Williamsport, but
none better than the little Central
Hotel, near the Government building,
kept by Mr.. Porter. Everything is as
clean as pin, with good food and
excellent beds.
We made a hurried visit to the
building of Grit in company with
Elmer E. Person, city editor OF that
paper, and a graduate of the CoLUM
BIAN Office. The magnitude of this
plant surprised us. A large number
OF hands are employed, and fourteen
editions are printed weekly, on fast
press from stereotyped plates. The
Lamade brothers are at the head oi
this prosperous establishment.
But the time was SO much occupied
in court that we had but little oppor-
tunity to get about the city. With
the exception OF a few hours on Thurs
day, when | came home for few
hours, l was on jury the entire week,
and it was only on account OF legal
engagement on Monday that l sue
ceeded in escaping service for couple
of days this week. Though 1t was
somewhat tedious, the experience OF
sitting in jury box was valuable;
II world he well If every LAWYER could