The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-09-14
JUDGE INQUIRE REI|RES.
NO LONGER WILL HE PRESIDS
OVER DAWSON CITY COURT.
Says He Could Make More Money as
Common Lahorer In the Greas
City Of Gold Than by Serving


Hon. Thomas Fl. Mcclure Is 10 longer
fudge o. the Yukoa territory. His place
VIII be taken by Judge Dugas. who Is new
said 10 be on his way from Montreal 20
the Pacific coas: TO start fer Dawson
Judge Mcclure arrived ii Seattle yesse--
day from Dawson. ard after spending a
few days IN the city VIII proceed to Cana
Ga He was accompanied as Ear as VIC
:or!a by +. c. Wade. the crown prosecutor.
CT whom so much has been said since the
klondike was discovered. Judge Mcguire
declined 10 spend another year IN The kIon-
dixie principally on account OF the small
salary attached 70 the office. Judge Du-
gas Is an oder man than Judge Mcclure
and his appointment was made with q view
Of securing the wide experience he mas had
IT. new countries. Judge Mcclure believes
that the selection Of Judge Dugas was u
wise one. When seen at the Hotel Butler
yesterday Judge Mcclure talked IN an err
tertaiuing manner about the Yukon coun-
Try He also spoke OF The office he held
and the official duties performed BY him
He said.
"You can say for me in the Post-Inteiii-
gencer that / do not intend u return 20
Dawson. | would not othciate as justice
again on account VI the low sa.ary at
tached 20 the office The salary is $3.50
per year. but there ara no perqulsites al
tached 10 a judgeship, and that Is not
enough money for a judge in Alaska.
went 10 Alaska from Vancouver on Oc-
toher l with forty dogs and Il ton OF mali.
Our party was frozen IN on the Salmon
river on November Il. We did Dot reach
Dawson until February. | started from
Dawson 10 Seattle August l6. ard dii
not arrive until yesterday. so that is can
be readily seen that l made slow trip.
Il believe that judge in Dawson should
be placed on higher level than Il common
iaborev, as far salary Is concerned.
There isn't d workingnan in Dawson who
does not earn more than 5000 per year,
and that makes a judge look like very
small potato. / would be able to earn
more than the salary l received weighing
god In the Dominion saloon, or hosting u
bucket at a claim on Eldorad0. When /
received the appointment it VAS with the
understanding that / could step down ana
ouf az the end Of the first year. If / 50 de-
sired. and return to Prince Albert, Cana
da. where l ofiiciated. riior IL going 10
Alaska as justice OF the Saskatchewan
district. | Will take my old place on the
bench there.
In my opinion Dawson Is an excellent
place for lawyer. / know OF an attor-
ney who told me that he would not eX-
change places with me unless would give
him $1,000 10 boot. Lawyers are able 10
make between s2o.0"o and s3oeo. just ad-
vising their cheats American lawyers.
you know. are not permitted 20 practice
In Dominion courts. 1t IS at once seen
that i would have been able TO earn more
money following my profession.
1T has been reported that Il number of
highway rohberies Were committed recent
ly a; Dawson. This report is entirely I'M
true and ] believe that law and order will
prevail during the entire winter. as there
viii be 2oV mounted police at Fort SelkCk,
and they can be called upon 1T any time.
In order TO preserve order II was necessary
10 make an example OF number OF the
prisoners who appeared before me. The
charges were mostly theft, and theft in
Dawson is considered just 1t Is in Mon
tana-a sin not 10 ba forgiven. 1t Is ex-
pec;ed that the first hanging at Dawson
will take place November l. when HendcT
son. who shot man named Peterson. is
condemned to swing. Henderson was con-
vcted by Jury. sentenced by me. and the
papers are now on the way 10 Ottawa 20
be approved by the governor general. OF
course. il is not the intention Of the Cana
dian government 10 make a Sunday school
out OF mining camp. ard gambling is per
mtteG. One young man vas recently sent
10 prison for three months for using false
dice. II Is necessary that a man must
cheat fair or not. cheat at al
Il have nothing 10 say about the charges
OF official corruption which have been made
against the Canadian officials. / know thar
/ have not Yet been accused. and If I was
corrupt a, pa | managed 10 cover up
my tracks very successfully. l suppose
though. Il will be said that / brought out
a half million.
II have no doubt that the government
VIII reduce the royalty soon. as | am OF the
opinion that Il IS not IN favor Of imposing
any burden upon the people or making any
money ont OF the country. All tina; is de-
sired IS that the revenues meet all ex
penses, and 7 believe tina: matters viii be
regulated In that way
Il do not believe that he seasons OUT
pat vii be over 100000 Tina, Is a very
conservative estimate. There Is 4 large
quantity OK gold In Alaska. ami IL can
support and keep large population busy.
I venture 10 say, however ttfat out Of ne
$3.50 people now In Dawson. IS,07o - whom
arrived this spring. only $3.50 Of them ought
20 have gone. Many Of these people viii
not realize the difficulty in getting out o.:
the country until II is too late. The com
ing winter may be much more severe than
the cue last year. and Il Is probable tina,
many vii freeze 10 death coming Oh, over
the ice"