The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-19
NOT A COMIC OPERA JUDGE.
Magistrate of south Park Precinct
ants Have Won Cases Tried BE-
fore Him-Has No Regular City
OMce-Thinks Taxpayers Have
No just Cause for Complaint.

magistrates mentioned by the P0st-lntel-
ligencer, Justice Hill says that he for one
has never been guilty Of the c3llusion be-
tween court and attorney spoken of as
often existing in the outside precincts.
He admits that he has tried cases in
Seattle, but says that he has no regular
Office and sees nothing wrong in the prac-
tice- He mentions lawyers of high stand
ing who have pTacticed before him, and
says that he has never come in contact
with the ''unscrupulous" attorneys men
toned by the Post-Intelhgencer. The fact
that he has not always collected his fees
from the plaintiff in advance Justice Hill
says Is a purely personal affair Of his own
and did not tend 10 bias his Judgment
The following is the letter:
Only short time ago my eyes fell
upon an article IN the Post-Intelligence
OF December 4. entitled Startling Abuses
in Justice Court II is not my habit or
desire 10 become conspicuous in news
paper columns, but since my name was
mentioned il that article. and an injus-
sice done me, ! hope you will accord me
the same publicity in correcting errors
therein made that was given in their pub
tcauon; therefore, ask that you publish
this writing IN the language I write it,
/ viii be as brief as / can and do justice
TO what l touch upon, and shall not al
tempt TO touch anything that does not
touch me.
Il am d country justice. As to the pur-
poses Of the law governing justice court
practice, I presume ii was made for the
purpose OF allowing all persons IN this
state, whether rich or poor, an opportG-
nifty to iitigate small differences in a con-
venient and speedy way, without annoy
ing superior courts with such matters at
great expense for small demands. JUS
tees in the city are paid salaries from
taxes collected OF the whole people. and il
reasons well to my mind that those who
have controversies, and who have con-
tributed their tax to support all the coun-
ty officers. should be allowed to choose
their own court in thei- county before
whom 10 ltiSdte, inasmuch as they are
expected. from their own funds. to bear
the expenses for each suit they bring.
The county surely does not expect to
set up court for the purpose of specula
tion out OF its citizens; If so, IL would seem
better to advertise for bids for trial
judges who Will closely tax fees to aug
ment the treasury. and take low prices
the county ii margin on the difficulties of
its citizens.
No interruptions Attorneys.
Your article speaks of 'unscrupuous
attorneys making arrangements with the
justices to litgate their matters, the Off
Ger not to get fees except at Il termina-
ton of the trial successful for plaintiff
Answering for myself only. | assure you
] have never met those 'unscrupuious at
torneys.' / cannot think, as You say, that
reputable attorneys have fallen into the
same habit because they are compelled
thus to act or go out of business.
Regarding collection of fees before
services rendered. / admit that have not
held that as an iron rule in any business l
have ever followed and that simply es-
tablishcS the fact that ! am iujudiciouS AS
a business man or mercful with poor peo-
pie who are unable to pay they go.
L prevent argument in both those in
stances by admitting its truth. but / go
no farther. On the contrary, solicit no
business. as a court, from either attorney
or iitigaut; but am always willing TO hear
and determine matters in controversy for
a Ia no HsstT
arbiter. and / promise them-what? \
favorable Judgment? No. | promise them
a fair trial.
Referring 10 your supposition that
plaintiffs in country justice courts are
practically their own judge and jury, and
that trials In such courts are worthy of a
comic opera, and the further statement
that there ar. traditions to the effect that
plaintiffs. under those circumstances,
have lost cases, but they Lack veritication
I beg to answer thus: | reiterate that
both plaintiff and attorney. in trials be-
fore me. are only granted or promised a
fair trial. and-barring mistakes. which
may occur in any court-get a just judC-
ment regardless OF where the burden may
fan, and whether get fees or not.
As TO Comic Opera"
Touching the comic opera business
] beg to state that there has been before
me In justices court those of The Seattle
bar whose names. using the steTeotyped
expression. are too numerous to men,
tom; who were above reproach, a. hon
orable attorneys Of respectable firms who
did not. by any means always attend by
their clerks Only. / viii mention only 40
whom / single cat 10y reason % the!r
prominence before The people and bar, and
their refspectahilliy. Ellis DsBEnler Your
honorable city attorney. and Mr.. El1de.
OF the firm of Pratt Il Riddle II / am
engaged in the comic opera business, e3cA
OF those gentlemen mas been one u my
performers.
Mr. peBruer. who : IS near my heart
as Il bound lay the ties ot consanSuinity.
has. as one OF my Performers on h.h3lf Of
plaintiff, failed Of Succes~-aud why Ills
client could not prove his case 20 my
satisfaction. when coutroVeytel by Gtftn-
daists testimony, Mr Kitale. for whom
have The highest regard. both a gentle
man OF culture and a learned lawyer. AS
one II my peTfGr fnerS succeeded n oh
tanning 4 judgment: FOR a defendant who
WAS ahundautly responsible ana In ! NJ
csfah.Irhed business in Seattle, against q
p@nniieSs plaintiff from whom / never
collected any Zee. And mus you have the
vcrihcation Of the traditional Joss Of plain
III
Has No city omce.
These are 80, ali y such cases. bat
deem they are sufficient No8 state that
country justices hald court ia Seattle "na
cite my name as one VINO hss Tried cases
IN the city. and that 30 50 In an office
in Safety Deposit building. Let me X
plain fully: from the first of MAY. ISIS.
Until November i&s. VAS the trSg ttma
In l. Years that I have net hai an office
ia Se-aytie, On tAs doors - when we-e 3 Sc
played a. sign. -. \. h}u. Lawyer ma
being my prof ssion During my present
incumhency Of office from Mas uu;0 No
Vemher q ms wear ! bad 70 office in
Seattle and yet Ma a country justice.
I heard one -ase last winter IN an ~
hcn In Safety Deposit uaildluE and one
o0N. Mt 4 Is true ta4t I have beard
many cases tn the ci,y of Seattle a. Iari-
ouS iawye-S' cfnces. when reque~ tei 50 10
do ~ stipulation az both plaintiff ana de-
PENDANT. for the Convenience Of the parties
who could get witnesses better. wno wer~
often AZ work IN Seag1le. or CoHid come All
attend % other hu~8ness IT. the ctty on Ghe
same SAY ana t1ts save tt3nc- huf al such
cases Eere W1rn uart}es aSd been c.sed ~
sDuTar * my nftes ~ the country and
Mere tried IN Seattle a. an aCCoTm 7aatioS
upon The -eautst - Al parties after the
court proceedings we're ia operation N
NV offCe "a ne country.
= never cons terfe x morally 0r legal
y SronE. nor ID the attorneys. many =
" ieOm were 81 biEh reputation al the TAR
as lawyers. ans also "a ;ne community as
horrors A3s gentle yren. ] could fajak ~
well 81 Seattle. CoGid examine a law rs3inr
a. cofcsSesy, ard give As JUS; A Judgment
after hearing evidence in Seattle a. though
* bad been asard ~ S7Gth Park.