Evening journal., 1896-01-17


and Criminal business.
There has been quiet but effective
revolution, brought sbont by the Judges
who are now on the bench, In the conduct
OF criminal and c'ed business In the
courts Of Delaware Classification and
system have taken tLe place Of aggrega
tion and confusion aud tue cost OF msin
taining the courts has been reduced more
than fity PER cent
This new system adopted by the courts
has not only resulted IN q great reduction
Of costs. but also in the raving Of much
vslusble time.
Under the old system, In 1892. the
costs OF tho Superior Court. Court Of
Oyer and Tsrmlnsr aud Court Of General
Sessions OF the Peace snd Jail Delivery
for this county we're $33 227. 70. They
were made mp Of court expenses
generally. S18, 10i 50; jarY fees, Superior
Court, a3. 34i 90; jury fees Courts Of
Oyer ann Terminer and General Sessions,
$5 929 04 witness fees for the same =,
IS SOB 60; grand iury fens. 81 $40 80 /;
grand jury witness fees, $93l 36
Undsr the new system the COS Is
In 1898 amounted TO $i5 500 10 Itemized
they we're as folloWH: Witness fees
Courts Of Oyer and Tsrninsr aud Gen
srAl Ssasisns. 81 372 80; Jury fees
FOR same. 81 Ss4 6S jury fees, Superior
Court, 80 920 IL; witnsfs fees, grand
jury. 81 2l6 "a; grand Jury fees, 81, f.
l77 -; general couru expenses, "a, e
17424
The costs for 1894 were $40 s9s 80
consisting OF general court sxpansss
50 447 22i jury fees, Court sf Oyer and
fsrmiusr and General SESSIONS
81 66S &c; witness fees, Court Of Orr
and Tsrminer aud General Sessions
81, 284 60; grand jury fees, 81 1866 "a /;
witness fees. grAna jury 81 4s5 O2 jury
fses Superior Court, 81 863 06
The expenses for 1895 are about the
same, showing a reduction Of fully one
half on the average, and In some in
stances. oven more
Under the old system the criminal and
civil business were run Into each other
aud the Jurors and witnesses In both
we're In attendance uPsn the Court,
often times during the entire session.
as an illustrator Of the costly effect OF
such an intsrminEling Of the several
classes Of Court work, In the case OF a
prisoner, indicted for stealing a chicken.
Che value Of which was ten cents, the
Witnesses we're kept In attendance from
day to day, waiting for trial, until the
costs amounted 70 $500 Applying the
old system to the Superior Court. there
Is case on record whore the subiset OF
controversy was a calf worth $t5. The
witnesses we're ia attendance from DAY
to day until the costs aggregated more
than $500
Under the new system Of procedure.
the criminal business is all taken up and
disposed OF before the civil business is
entered upon. The grand jurors aud the
witnesses for the state cares are taen
discharged and the expenses are stoppsd.
In the civil causes all clGes to bo tried
before the general jury are next disposed
Of and the general jursrS and witnesses
discharged.
Then the special jury causes are taken
up in their order aud disposed Of, hu. the
special juriss do net cost the county
anything. Bsfsrs the party applying for
special panel can get 1t ho must deposit
With the prothonotary Eufnelent money
to dsfrAy the expense.
=-Undor the cid system tho civil canses
wsro all held for trial at one tins. 20
that necessarily witnesses for all the
causes had TO be In attendauos until
their respective Causes we're disposed Of
The causes are cElsndsrsd under the
present system. and a particular date
set fer each cLss 90 that the witnesses
need not be ia attendancs except upon
that day, instead Of being in attendance
during the entlrs term, as sometimes
occurred under this old systom, whils
waiting for the case 10 DO callsd By
thiI new nethod the costs NJ litlRants
a 4 l..
/ Illustration the costa for the calf case
the enormous figures Of which were
because Of toe attendance Of the Jurors
system tho jurors would get one day q
attendance, and the case would be
disposed Of The saving Of costs 10
individual litlgants Is even greater than
the saving Of costs to the county, as
sessions OF the Superior Court for civil
business hold from two TO four times 40
long as the criminal courts
Thls calendar system not only reduces
the costs Of the litlgsnts, but It also en-
ables each lawyer to know perfectly
when his case comes up, and, msanwhils
be can be In his office, with contsnted
mind, attending TO other business on the
other days Of the session, with no likoi
hood OF the case being called In his
absence SO also with tha htigauts and
witnsssss, who do not have to lose any
time
The new system has also resulted In a
saving OF friction between the courts
and the lawyers, and between the lawyers
themselves, as to precedence as to the
right OF trial. With the day
6xsd, lawyers know that the case
hss got to be tried or settled
continuance snly bsing granted on
grounds rseognlz I'd by law, aud not at
the oonvenisnes Of the attorneys As q
result Of this the civil trial list has
been pruned sf all dead wood The
abnormal number OF some 800 cases
under the cid system has been reduced TO
the normal number Of $50 under the new
mode Of procedure Cafes are now
pleaded to issue aud tried at once without
delay
It is easier all around. There is DO
friction. The court. lawyers, litigants
and witnesses know when a case will be
tried, aud the confusion and exnense
attending the indlscrlninats piling up Of
causes are obvisted
Couanfoted work an thu Farnvvooa