The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1894-12-13
CHANCERY COURT.
Judge Smith Takes n Hand in Clear
ing the Docket.


ing the Docket.
lhe regular fall term of the Johnson
City chancery court convened on the
first Monday in December, and has
been in continuous session ever since.
This is the first court at this place
since the August election, at which
time Chancellor ]. P. Smith was very
properly complimented with re-elec-
ton by an appreciative constituency,
Partly for the reason that there are a
few more Republican voters than
Democrats in this Chancery division,
but largely on account OF Judge
Smiths personal popularity with both
parties, the Democrats did not nomi-
nate an opposing candidate, and being
unwilling to allow the election to go
by default great many OF them voted
for him. Judge Smith may we'll feel
proud of his record as chancellor and
of the esteem of his fellowmen. 1t
seldom falls TO the lot OF man in this
day OF office seeking to be allowed to
retain even a judicial ermine by prac-
tical acclamatlon. Such an honor,
no Vever, has been conferred upon
Judge Smith, and we undertake to
say it will be repeated as often as
"Barkis is wlllin'." No man has ever
sat IL his court, be he lawyer, litigant
or lounger, who has failed to be deeply
impressed with his extraordinary
ability and peculiar fitness for the
bench. Forsooth the ermine sits
gracefully upon, and honors itself in
honoring him. 1t has been our priv.
lege and pleasure to hear many com.
plmentary comments upon his deci-
sions and jury charges, all of which
are given with an ease and flow of
language that follow only from com
pIete knowledge of the law and the
cause at issue. The fact that his
opinions are so seldom reversed in the
supreme court is the very best evil
dence that he is a capable and pains,
taking chancellor.
His manner OF reviewing case in
deciding it, thereby giving his reasons
for his decision, shows so clearly that
he has studied it closely and mastered
Its every detail, that the sting is taken
out OF it for the loser OF the suit and
1t is aplessure (if such thing is pos.
siele) for him to know why hs has to
pay the costs, ETC." We know this
is true, because, like the man who de
serted the burning blacksmith shop,
"we've "been thar"
There are more than four hundred
cases on this docket, which, in view OF
certain numerous bills recently filed by
Tax Attorneys Lee and Jennings, leads
US to remark that this court, like the
people, is overtaxed. Judge Smith,
howeveris equal to the emergency, and
ne sailed into it with manifest deter
mination to clear it Of all those cases,
At least, that were awaiting payment
ot~~scosts," etc, that would have
done credit 10 a New Year reso
luton, He announced early in the
'erm that he would try to find sol
vent man in he case to tax with the
costs if the proper party could not
pay, and he has kept his word. When
canses were called that had been on
the docket for two or three years, il
the attorneys were not ready with an
order In the case, he prepared one
himself. In this way he has made
this term unprecedented for the fina
disposition of causes. A larger mum
Der OF important cases also have been
heard at this term than at any pre-
vious term for some time. This il
due in no small degree to Judg,
Smiths expressed determination al
former terms to put stop to all I'm
necessary delay, whether it be thu
FAULT of the lawyer or the litigant
This is right. 1t is entirely prope
that justice be given the litigants a
{ the earliest possible moment.
We had expected to be able to Civ,
resume of cases heard and decided
up to this time but owing to the valu
placed upon the columns of TIL
. COMET by appreciative merchants W