New-York tribune., 1895-10-13
FROM BENCH AND BAR.
GATHERED AMONG LAWYERS AND IN
THE COURTS.

THE COURTS.
The meetings OF the Justices OF the Appellate
Division in the various departments OF the State
must under the Jaw passed by the last Legis-
lature be held on Tuesday OF next week AT Albany.
The designation OF the Justices by the poVerhor
was necessary before that tine. ana the ANNOUNCE
mont made last week vas not unexpected The
1ustices assigned 10 the First Department were
named last spring. and they have already made
some arrangements for holding court after jan
uary J. The Justices assigned to the other de-
partments are mainly those who have served IN
the General Term Of the Supreme court under 'he
Old system. Some of them nave Deen members oi
the Second Division OF the Court OF Appeals ana
they are all Justices OF experience: The meeting
70 be held next week has foi ts OBJECT me revision
of the rules known as General Rules OF Practice.
4 meeting must by law take place every Two yer, ;,
hut changes viii not always be noteworthy. Inc
changes In procedure necessary by the estaDllSh-
rnent of the appellate division ana otner lei,
the work OF the Justices this year particularly III
portant.
All Of the courts opened last week in the State
and Federal Jurisdictions. The opening oil 'ne
Court Of Appeals was marked by the rendering ol
an unusually large number Of decisions. some OF
which were important, but few except Ihe aIil'iH-
ing Of the conviction for murder Of Bat shea
the Troy murderer. excited public comment Most
of the decisions were as usual afiirmances OF the
judgments OF the lower courts. one OF the re-
versals was that OF the General Term judgment IN
the case Of John b. Seaman. involving the con
structon Of the inheritance tax law. 10y VIII IN
1876 property was gwen 10 an htr Io' r, ~ an a.
his dea IN 10 be divided among others. Inc mdAet
OF the Will died In 1876 bur the HE tenant dId not
law of iS9g Controller Fitch endeavored 10 col
ect the the estate which passed 10 me heirs
after the death OF the life tenant. justice o.oN.T
beid that the estate was not taxable but the General
Term reversed the decision. ho.dIng that a cor cor
tingent remainder. which vests ATT Ihe rtssnE,s
Of The inheritance tax law, is taxable although
created by VIA whcn o9K eneS, esysed 'nS Se
General Term decision. and affirmed that OK Jus
tice Siover. Another reversa. was In one branch
of litigation extending over seVeri! years, when
arose over notes given by Phyfe * Campbell TO the
Nassau Bank
The various branches OF the Supreme. Superior
and Common Pleas Courts were opened on Monday.
but several OF the Trial Terms have adjourned Ihe
General Term this month consists OF Presiding Jus
.ice Van Brunt and Justices OBrien and Parker
Justices Russell and Parker are the oui-of-town
Just,ces who assist tie New-York Supreme Court
r,e,,ces The work Of the General Term proceeds
rapidly no less than fourteen cases being argued o,
submitted on Ws. Jns a'' Noticeable desire dispose
quickly OF the many cases on the caiendars. JUS JUS
isvvers IL one OF the most Industrious of the
irdges Justices Barrett Patterson ana lngTaham
are sitting for almost their last term In the trial
courts.
The three volumes containing the Session Laws
for 1895 have at last been printed. and some OF
them have been distributed TO members Of the pro-
fesson The delay the part Of the State Printer
OF nearly four months before the last OF the vol
,ues was issued seems unaccountable except on
the ground OF indifference or Incidence. A large
part Of the laws had been printed in official form
before the Legislature adjourned in May. and 9th
ers were printed from time 10 time before the last
N the "thirty day bills had been acted upon by
the Governor The State Printer rad little 10 do
except 10 that these were prepared tor pubi
alton and then 20 act promptly in printing and
the latest laws signed by the Governor
The session Laws Of this year unusually
vounnous three volumes being required instead OF
the two which the most prolific OF the previous
legislatures had produced The extra space
nired affords little excuse. however .Or the delay
rhe first OF the three volumes contains general laws
ana The other two volumes local laws enacted by
The Legislature.
The Green Bag" for October has some good
ogal anecdotes. collected under the title. Bench
and Bar Witty Encounters" Some OF them tell Of
occurrences In New-York courts. Judge Anthony :
who was well known as a witty speaker;
William o. Bartlett Chauncey VI. Depcw and other
\ew-YOrk lawyers the authors OF some ayings
picture u Henry clay preccdcs a sketch 81 The
treat COmmoner" and an illustrated article on the
supreme Court OF Maine is begun. Irving Browne
las iu bis department. OF THE Green Bag" biz OF