New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-05

JUDGE IRVING G. NANN.
He was appointed a member Of the Second Diyi-
sion of the Court or Appeals in 1856 and served
continuously while that court was in existence
,i,,sh me H.; ne e,n, s tbo Sf,te lie has ex
celleut judgment ana his decisions in the supreme
Cour have usually been upheld HIS appointment
lawyers. The experience which he and the other
new Judge Of The Court Of Appeals, Judge Ccora
serve them we'll IN their new Offices Another new
judge in the higher court. who VIII take MS place
tomorrow for the frs Tine IS William Rumsey,
Division of the New-York Department Judge
Rumsey * one OF the best known members Of the
Supreme Court He was the Republican candidate
FOR judgeship in The Court OF Appeals several years
ago. ana MS name was prominently mentioned
last summer
The opening OF the January Term tomorrow will
bring more important changes than almost any
other period I'm the history Of tho courts Of New
York. The success Of the experiment OF forming
a stronger intermediate court than the General
Term Of the Supreme Court has been must be de-
cided by experience but tho disposition OF the bar
is to receive cordially the attempt to limit the
work OF the Court OF Appeals by making the APP
pelate Division the court OF last resort for a
large proportion OF cases which have heretofore
gone 10 the highest courts 81 the STATE The diy-
mon Law bran-hes has received icss unamiin.,y Of
favor on the part OF tie mcmbcrs OF ;he bar. but
The new courts except he Appellate Division. ali
start OUT Win heavy calendars. Their work Will
ne de laNcd FOR The present ntn. and perhaps for
months 10 come by The slowness with which The
changes In ne rooms ~ the County Court House
are mt1" some ri ton VII. ~ course. appear IN
changing tho machinery ~ the courts. hui as most
81 the Oh officials remain u Office. The difficulties
viii quickly disAppeaf
The meeting Of tho Bar ia honor Of Tho Court Of
Common Pleas was one Of the most interesting o.
the many GATHERINGS of lawyers which have been
held on public occasions In the courtroorns Of the
city. Some meetings held in the last Generation at
the death OF retirement OF famous leaders of tho
bar were marked boy the fcr,id oloquoncc and depth
Of feeling az tho speakers. Thor, has, however
usually been less variety than in tho PROCEEDINGS
OF last Monday and me speeches have often been
Ir'scme from their length. The appearance ~ tho
bar Of the Court Of the leading Judges OF other
courts, VINO mad ai"r'ss'@ recalling the useful
history ol IN" tribunal, was "a unique i'afur" Ih"
Court Of Common Pleas was brought lv association
IN INC CITY mas ever h''n III iiA varied iufi-lic-
tiOn J. Wa- closely concerned VIA ail kinds ~ CONE
Grim nal law Two og The ,o marin, "" ana
dresses the Historical f..le, hv ,tn,f Il IeD
honor. and the admirable address of Chicf judge
Joseph =. Dtly. who spoke ni-h warmth - f..l-
ing and oloIucncc ~ expression which made lis
few remarks model ~ forensic style
While tho other courts merged INTO tho s,nrcmo
Court have passed ont Of c2istence with lcss core
mony than the Court ~ Common Pleas Yet In All
or them there WIS some aDt o. mark ;h- close Of
tribunals which have long been a part OF The New
York judicial system. Tho wcll-known sensitive
ness TO publicity Of Chof Judge John scdgwick pre-
vented any formal recognition by The bar of the
close OF the history OF the superior Court He was
opposed TO any display. ana the other Judges nc-
quiesced IN his desires The fact that Chiof Judge
SeugWlc" mas not had hl' Photograph taken within
tho memory OF any Of his friends ana that he
shrinks from anything Ike display IN his judicial
in which the other Judges OF the Superior Court
expressed their feelings toward Judge Scdgwick
Will probably please him more than any public ccre-
mOny could have done. The court OF oyer and Ter
miner ended its existence quietly although its his
tory II almost as long IA that OF the Court Com
mon Pleas
The changes IN the Federal Building VIII not
only give additional to the courts but will
provide needed space for the Law Institute ID
brdry. which is constantly Increasing in size and
which has been kept in crowded quarters since a
was formed ont Of apartments on the
north side Of the fourth Hoor u the Postoce Build
ing. Judge Laconlhc. who has oc1 upicd the court
loom adjoining the library, is TO have room else
where In the building. and the Law Institute Ii
brary will again have the room formerly occupied by
1t. in addition 10 the rooms the nfih floor which
were assigned - Il when others were taken for
court purpOs The Librarian has found II nccos-
sary TO place many of the books the hfth foor.
where they can be reached only by climbing two
winding staircase. but The additional room to be
books which are frequently consulted within ready
reach OF ne lawyer. The courtrooms themselves
4 oo rn ara ndtorai room dt
Of the Federal court rooms ana it is expected that
an Improvement in the acoustic qualities Of the
rooms viii be noticed soon as the purposci
changes are carried into effect
Reports for the year 1898 have been made by sew
oral Of the county clerks. In some cases com
p1rative statements are made and these show that
the courts have been even more busiy occupied
than in preceding years. The report of the Surro-
gates office is OF special interest showing the inn
mense Importance OF the issues there considered.
The amount Of taxes certified to the Controller AZ
assessed and hX'd Is over $ivHwl over Eighteen
hundred wills were offered for probate. only TWEEN
ty-siX were rejected ont of the large number sub
mttcd to the court. over three thousand letters
or administration were Gidnitl, ana -5D annual &C
counts Of general guardians were filed The large
laws makes the Slrog1te's Ohire more busy than
over before tn" Increase OF clerks does not keep
pace with the Increase OF business
Ncg-Yorl lawyers are not especially fortunate in
the matter OF law books. The statutes passed at
each session are priatcd In costly and expensive vol
umes and the price Of law reports and other
sary books is in many cases larger than in other
States. new edition Of the revised statutes OF the
State Of Illinois has just been issued. 1t Is edited
by Harvey D. Hurd. who has had unusual experience
revisons. and it includes the revised statutes Of
1874 and the amendments and general acts within
the last twenty years. 1t Is all contained In one
volum- and sold at ST. The Illinois Session Laws
Ihs1 ' those of NS%yoS and in oher sae
similarly low price Is charged The New-York State
umes over which they have control and greater
ought to make the unofficial volumes
less expensive
The lot Of a railroad company defendant In
the courts Is generally not a happy one Of the
latest sufferers for Indirect wrong was the
Peter sburg Railroad Company. judgment agains.
which was recently affirmed by the Supreme Court
of North Carolina. The plaintiff was the admins
traitor Of the estate OF man who had been n +
passenger of the Petersburg Railroad Company.
The passenger called at the baggage station to
obt ain two trunks which had been carried for him.
There had been some delay IN sending for the
trunks and after ne had received one he was in
formed Of a storage charge f1r the other. lie be
came angry and while the agent WIS writing ont
Tho recent he made abusive remarks against the
agent When he obtained his rec lpt and change
be started out OF the office ana AZ the door
when the agent picked up a gun ami shot him in
the back of the neck. causing his immediate death
The administrator sued the railroad company for
uI.I Nm l--.lL-i Suurerua