Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1896-02-01
OPPOSED TO 4 CITY COURT.

There appears to be general opposi.
ton To the adoption of AID. Greenacre's
ordinance for the establishment Of u
city court. The present excellent corps
of police magistrates gives general sat
isfaciion. aud a city court would only
complicatc matters. besides causing u
needless amount of extra expense.
Hon. william II. Ta;gc. the city
Prosecuting Attorney. said that lic did
not think such u court would alter the
methods of handling ordinary police
eases. lie continued:
81 believe such q court. with sufficient
branches. would AFFORD relief to civil
business. hut we could not do the police
business IN II. II Il u court NJ record
III limited Jurisdiction. the Judgments
Of which n.y he made just us effective
rs judgments of the Circuit Court by
filing transcript Of the Judgment.
The consequences Of the establishment
III a city court would be that owing to
the crowded condition Of the courts Of
record all who could possibly do 80
would bring their civil suits In the city
court. and civil business would crowd
ont the criminal.
- think II would entail a great eX-
pensc on the city 10 establish this court
with practically little relief. II any. for
police business. The proceedings In u
city court. being u court Of record.
would be exceedingly laborious. ana
though ! would like to see some plan
adopted which would improveand digni-
fy police courts and abolish the fee sys-
TEN. ] do not believe II can b~ done by
means Of city cOurt-unless the I.egis-
lature shall first act and make the ma.
chinery of such court less complicated
and shall simplify the proceedings In
small cases. as rhe DRINKS AID disOr-
sierl.s.'
''lt Is not true the establishment Of
u city court would abolish the offices
Of Justices Of the police and police mag
isrrates. These are established by the
Constitution. with Jurisdiction estab-
lished by the Legislature"
Assistant Prosecutor David j. ThOmp-
son, who represents the city at the Har.
rlson Street Police Station, said:
"The new city court would be, In fact.
"a circuit court localized within the lin
It's of the city of Chicago. 1t would CAR
~ all the expenses incident TO the serv-
Ices Of clerks. the Sheriff and States
Attorney. grand and petit juries. which
would have To BE- paid out Of the city
treasury.
II believe n city court would he u
good thing II further legislation could
DE had so Chicago could have a limited
number-say five courts--to he appel
late from justices Of the peace and pO-
lice magistrates, and where no written
pleadngs would he required.
II don't know anything In law that
would do more good to common people
than these courts. The justice courts.
rs they are now conducted. are all right.
bnt the delays in the prosecution of APP
peals are with the courts above. and the
new courts would help that situation
In civil business.
''Onr present police courts are con
Quoted without written pleadings. ana
eases are disposed Of summarlly. As
many .is a hundred cases often are han
died In five hours. many Of which are
plain DRINKS and disorderlies. entirely
unworthy to be tried in IA court of rec.
ord. Under the proposed act prosecu-
tions must he by indictment. which
would nccessitafc policemen wasting
many hours In attendance on grand
juries and trials, whereas under the
present system the policeman can bring
his prisoner into court and have his
case disposed OF In a few moments"
Ex-Jndge Moran said he thought a
city court would still further complicate
the present court system. while prom
islng only slight good.
The change would multiply courts
and EXPENSES" said he, ''and II would
not correct the evils Of the justice court