The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-09
PIERCE COUNTY DEBT.
Supreme Court Petitioned to Prevent
Further Increase.

Tacoma, Jan Especial state SUI
preme court at Olympia was asked late
this afternoon 10 issue an alternative writ
OF prohibition and injunction. directed 70
Judge Emmet y. Parker. Clerk w. A. Fair
weather. Auditor Gloyd and Sheriff Parker.
restraining them from calling Jury for the
ensuing criminal term Of the court. The
application was made by Claypool. Cush-
man and Cushman, attorneys for Miles l..
Clifford. Of this city. who is plaintiff in a
new action commenced today against Judge
Parker and the county officials. The atfi-
davlt and petition set forth that the Coun-
" IS over the legal limit Of indebtedness.
and that the incurring of the expense Of
jury trial is unlawful.
The fling OF the petition Is the latest move
I'm a strong effort that is being made TO
prevent a jury term from being held in the
superior court here. A similar suit was
brought Monday in which r. r. Laff0on
was plaintiff in which all three judges
We're asked not to call juries for the ensu-
ing term OF court. A conference OF the
Judges. commissioners and clerks was held
Monday al which II was decided In view %
the county's financial condition. 70 dispense
with all but the jary in the criminal de-
partment over which Judge Parker pre-
sides. The commissioners thereupon COM
pIeted the list Of 30 iurymen. az provided
by law, as rapidly as possible, and Judge
Parker announced his intention OF holding
court aFsusuai. Matters progressed so rap
ialv that late this afternoon the list WIS
completed hy the board, and under the Or
binary course Of business the clerk would
have drawn the jury the first thing to-
morrow morning A member of the firm
~ Clavpcol. Cushman & Cushman went ~
Olympia this afternoon 10 secure the writ
of prohibition.
II fs very generally believed that this
action IS male in the interest of County
Treasurer Hedges and ex-Citv Treasurer
J W MrCauley, who are charged with re-
ceivirg interest on public funds. and whosa
cases are set for trial al this term. Clay
mol Crshmar q Cushnan. attorneys for
the petitioner CLIFFORD. are also attorneys
f,r Nfr Hedges. There Is a very general
onlnfon that the attorneys for Messrs. Nc
caulay and Hedges would not - averse %
an Indefinite postponernent ~ the cases IN
which their clients are defendants. consld-
srs-y ARE present state Of public feeling
sf~ r1fNord's suit differs from that
t--5uen. Monday ~ r +. LaSoon IN one
irnporrant particular. Mr.. clifford alleges
"a. ths lawful ~ per cent. Indebtedness
under The last assessment ts t$sI, ,4sll IS, tnar
,ha county 6wes in outstanding warrants
and bonds S7s2. .5si All this Is contained n
Nj IaFfoons complaint. nut Mr. thnoF1
g-eAs a ztau farther and alleges that ne
4rurtv owes A large amount OF money 70
fla various school districts I'm the county.
bv virtue of a recent decision OF the su-
rrarna court. under which county tr~asIr-
as r,4gst spportion the penalty ard interest,"
o- setinoueut taxes 10 the several funds
40 the county IN this county the amount
fhat must - paid INTO the seaVoi iu10S =
arp~c xirrAtely So, esls
T'be complaint further alleges that the
sa1 200 ,1r Outstanding warrants tnat nave
bmsr validated are now due and payable
81, or the general fund: that me county
L-z "a - cg delinquent taxes, bat that II
,garc we're Immediately paid. together with
tse eash en hand. there would not oe sus-
e~fa-+ money IN the treasury 70 pay the
courty's debts
IRE COMPLAINT further shows that 70
e,s-+lov- ~ the voters 20 va4.1ate the ex-
-sss ~ legal debt has been called. and that
,ra fhreateued action u Judge Parker, the
.lsr. and sheriff IN calling jury Nill add
a. rao AZ least 10 the unlawful debt Where
fora nlaintIn prays that a temporary writ
y, injunction ard prohibition ue Issued AMI
- Attendants directed % desist from
ssnuonlng a Jury until the further order
OF the court