The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-11-23

"HE inner workings OF Justice Harry
Carson's court In puwamtsh pre-
= cinct, were given an exposition be-
fore Judge Cam yesterday in the
trial OF the case In which Judge Carson
had W. Il. Weston. an ex.desendant in his
court. arrested for using language calcu-
lated to provoke an assault. The case was
ultimately dismissed On motion of Deputy
Prosecuting Attorney Hart. bur not before
the attorneys for the defense went into
Judge C&rson's manner OF dispensing JUS
tice 10 a considerable extent.
AT the opening the defendant demanded
Jury trial. and SIX well Known business
men were summoned by Judge Cam to
try the case. The Jury consisted OF J. NJ.
f.. Atkinson r. IL. Calligan. John Haley.
z, c. Miles. J. w. Mcleod. and ]. w.
Hughes
Mr.. Hart after the jury had been duly
sworn. Judge Carson took the oath ne
has been accustomed to administering TO
other people and swore TO tell the truth,
the whole truth and nothing bat the truth"
and called on heaven TO witness his vows
State the facts" said Mr.. Hart.
81 met this man on the street began
Judge Carson. when he was in custody OF
TO know what I had issued the commit
ment for. and i told him because he had
not paid his fine. Then he said: You're
a farce OF judge = you, ! have
Then l had him arrested"
"You had fined him had your asked Mr.
Hart
yes, SIR"
"what for?"
well" began Judge Carson with Just a
faint degree of hesitation. ne killed cat
belonging TO a Mr.. Walsh living at Du-
vanish precinct. He was arrested on a
warrant out Of my court. found guilty and
fined"
Was the prosecuting attorneys office
notified Of that arrest" demanded Mr..
Hart
81 don't know" was the reply.
Don't you know as matter. OF fact
that we never heard OF the case?" insisted
the prosecutor.
II guess you didn't" admitted the Judge
That's ALL" said Mr.. Hart. and At
torney W. A. Gilmore. for the defense
took Judge Carson in hand.
Judge under what section OF law was
this man prosecuted for killing that eat."
he demanded.
81 don't know just now" replied his
honor. I'D have to see the papers first"
"If you'd see the code couldn't you tell?'
queried the attorney.
81 might"
Mr.. Gilmore passed up the code. and
Judge Carson examined 1t. He mopped
his brow three times. and searched dill
gently for the section under which he had
fined Weston, but couldn't find it. Finally.
however. he said Weston was tried for
killing a domestic animal.
Judge Cam, in the meantime had been
looking through his own copy of the code.
and he startled the assembled throng by
remarking to his brother justice Of the
peace:
Judge Carson. don't you know that
you had no jurisdiction to fine the de-
PENDANT under the section which provides
penalty for killing a domestic animal.
All you could do was to bind him over to
the superior court
Judge Carson looked somewhat discom-
fitted. and his compcsure was not at all re-
stored when Deputy Prosecuting Attorney
Hart chimed In with:
Yes. and that section doesn't say II is
a crime to kin a cat. In fact, there Is no
law against killing a cat In this state. or
any other state that I ever heard OF"
Judge Carson" continued Mr. Gilmore
'if the prosecuting attorney did not ap-
pear In that case, who prosecuted it?'
Mr.. Frank u. Wrestling was the re-
ply.
And by the way continued the attor-
ney, who was with you when Weston'
used this language TO your"
Mr.. Wrestling and Mr.. Walsh, the pros
ecutiny Witness" answered the Judge, i'd
getting in his chair
kind OF strange wasn't IT, that you
should all meet there? Was there any
ccilusion about it?'