Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1896-05-23
JUSTICE WILD AND WooLLy.
senator Pettigrew Tells o. Some rum,
Experiences In Dakota Courts.

1.-The administration of justice In
Dakota when | first went ont there TO
grow up with the country was exceed
ingly primitive" said Senator Petit
grew TO a star reporter. Judges Tor
.he territorial courts were sent out
from the East-nearly all of them men
whose Incidence or bad character had
rendered them desirable persons to get
rid of. There was one instance. j re-
member. where the Supreme Court was
convened with only two OF the fhreG
Justices on the bench. the odd one uOs
turning up. This was disastrous, in
asmuch as the absent Judge was the
only one of the three who knew any
law. However. one of the two JussIca'
present volunteered to look up the abb
sentee and started out for that purpose
He had reason TO believe that he wouss
find the delinquent in some saloon, ane,
so he took n look into every GIN MIR
that he came TO. Tho result was that
by the time he found the object OF hls
search he himself was in a condltion OF
utter indifference rs to wbeAher schoo'
kept or rot, and forgot all about the
court and his errand.
when the court had waitIN valnly,
for an hour the United States .Marshai
was sent to hunt up the two JiStiees'
He pursued the same tactics. vi. NtihS
the saloons in turn, and was in a bNss-
full condition of inebriation by the ii, VIC
he came up with the convfyial pain :.
After another hour OF delay the re-
naming Judge sent out the United
States Attorney 10 make search for the
missing ones; but he, too, pursued a
like course-mind you, all this is strict
ly as il occurred-and did not appear
again. So, ms a last resort, the leading
lawyer of the Territory wa despatched
10 gather In the wanderers, and h re-
suit this time was successful. AT about
3 p. M.-the court had been convened
at t0:30-the two Judges. the Marshal.
and the attorney were seen TO emerge
from n whiskey shop and TO pursue a
dignified, though serpentine course,
arm in arm, mp the street toward tho
court house. TO gef through the door
of Tire court room they were obliged TO
relinquish each others support. and. in
trying TO makc their way to h bar,
fell over tables, smashed chairs, and
created general confusion.
Gentlemen sand the sober Judge
from the bench in a loud voice, this
court stands adjo1fped until lO:3O to-
morrow morning"
Soon after | took up my residence
in the Territory" continued Senator
Pettigrew. IL had occasion 10 defend
n man before the Chief Justice in a cSse
of alleged horse stealing. The prox-
cution had absolutely no proef to offer,
and the ease against my client was SO
absurd that | said the defence would
not take the trouble 10 offer any evil
dence. Well said the Chief Justice,
you'd better offer some d---n quick;
Il cuss that hasn't any evidence TO offer
in this court against II charge Of boss
stealing goes to Jail, you bet
Not long after this same Chief jus
tice had occasion TO try one Of his own
associate Justices for perjury. The in
dictment was brought by the associate
Justices own grand jury, and the ac-
cused called in the Chief Justice 10 try
the case in his own, the associate JUS
tees court. Defendants attorney De-
gan proceedings by demurring 10 the
indictment. This puzzled the Chief
Justice, who turned 10 the accused and
asked whether in such Il case a demur-
cr should he sustained or not. The de-
PENDANT said it must be sustained, and
the Justice so ruled. Now, what fol-
lows?' he inquired, and was told that
such action necessarily dismissed the
case. The case is dismissed, then said
the Chief Justice, and the associate
Justice WAS indicated.
Another time, in trying n real estate
case took exception to several of the
have 1 Mind sTo, re- sseaiGcd?: ..6ssaasY q have
You to know that this Court is a gentle
man..
~ note another exception to that
proposition ! replied. and | am willing
10 carry III In tho Sunrnmn Couit -