The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-04

held court principally =. his city oface.
room IS Hzii9 block
Justice George A. Hill, Of Fulton pre-
cinct, about five miles south of the city,
also has considerable court TO hold In the
cEy. He does Il at an ONCE In the SAFE
DEPOSIT building.
Justice C. n. Cooper. OF West Seattle
precinct. holds court in Seattle occasionally.
and his constable. L. w. Nelson, does al
his work. practically IN this city. The LAT
ter has an Office IN the Seattle National
Bank block next door TO Justice Ingersoil's
court, and when Justice Cooper tries cases
in Seattle he generally does go a, Con-
stable Nelson's Office
Justice w. n. Clifford. Of Dunlap pre-
c!nct, three miles south Of Columbia, has
held court In Seattle. /, IS said. He has DO
regular city Office. but lawyers who claim
20 know say THAI he can be found at an
Office in the Seattle National Bank block
az times.
Now the law In plain that = tus-
tfce Of the peace cannot hold
court outside of his own precinct.
But 1t Is weary journey by street car
70 the outside precincts, and 10 avoid this
journey city people WHO are sued and
ordered 10 appear for trial at a place from
two To five miles out IN the country are
willing TO waive the law and consent 20
the Justice coming to them. Legally they
cannot DO this for Il Is d legal maxim that
one cannot stipulate for jurisdiction.
Hut the country justice IL a man
of fertile resource. and little
thing like this does not hinder
him I'm ministerinE to the con-
venfence of iffigants. He simply
allows the latter to stipuiate that
the testimony shall be heard In
Seattle. This Il done and after
wards tho Judgment In rendered
I'm the Justices proper precinct,
aud all In well.
The desired end has been attained and
stil ell Is regular. for most lawyers seem
to think that such a stipulation is not IL
legal.
The fee charges made by the outside
justices vary somewhat, according to the
testimony Of justice court practitioners. but
one thing the latter agree Ia true. and
that Is that the fees are never paid In
advance.
Some say that certain lawyers
and certain justices understand
that the Justices fees are to come
out Of the defendant not Mt
all, and that the defendant IL
only wasting time by attempting
to prevent u Judgment against
himself. no matter how meritor-
iOus his case may be.
or course he has an appeal to the su-
perior court. but such an appeal is expen-
Sve and as q rule small judgments are
never appealed from, the Judgment debtor
preferring to settle.
But. assuming that the justice IS ION the
square" the practice seems to be that the
attorney shall upon beginning a suit pay
to the constable 81. provided there are not
more than four or FIVE defendants IN the
case. BY law the constable is entitled 10
60 cents and mileage at the rate Of 10
cents a mile Tor each summons or notice
served. Upon this fiat" payment the con-
stable goes ahead, serves the papers, files
them with the designated justice and has
the case set for trial.
In course of time Judgment is rendered
either after trial or by default and then.
and only then. II is said. the justice receives
his fees AS before mentioned. some law
yers say the Justice does not receive his
fees unless they are recovered from the