The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-05-14
ABOUT wrcHTTA's COURTS.


Everybody knows that there are many
courts in Wichita and that they are
grinding away all the time, but unless
people get into one, and very small per
cent do get in. they do not realize the
difference between the numerous temples
Of justice.
The court with the least jurisdiction in
town IS the police court. II holds forth in
the city building. and has TO do with pass
ing on mLsdeamenors against city ordi-
nances. It is supposed that the big po-
lice harvest for the threshing of this court
comes at night. That may be true OF 9TH
er cities but it is not true of Wichita
for as many arrests are made here in the
day time as at night. But say man is
arrested for being drunk and disorderly
at nine o'clock at night. He is picked up
by a policeman, placed in the patrol va
gon. carried 10 the police station, any old
name is put down on the docket and he
is placed in a lookup. If q man has
friends and they realize his predicament,
they rush down To the city building and
bail him out by putting up a small sum
of money which is forfeited ehe next
morning by the non-appearance in court
Of the culprit If he has no c0nsiderate
friends he is taken before the court next
morning about nine O'Clock and asked
shortly: Guilty or not guilry?" He
usually says guilty and is fined He
has no attorney and makes no defense.
IF man is arrested for a hold-up or ike
crime by the police he is put in the city
lookup over night and the next morning
turned over tn the sheriff on state war
rant. His preliminary then comes before
the City court. The City court is in the
basement of the county building. Here
O. u. Kirk Is judge and Henry Schad mar
shat and Mr.. Ebey clerk. The furniture
OF this court is poor and Il is hoped only
temporary. The audience Is usually in
terested in the case in hand and IS small
Here the man accused mas an attorney
and the prosecuting attorney goes after
I him. He may have q jury OF SIX. Il he
loses the case there he can appeal To the
District court. the third court OF Wichita
/ The District court room u Wichita IS ire
! finest in the state. Any case can De
brought IN this court. and cases can De
appealed TO il from the City court
Al this STAGE Of the judicial ladder dig
nifty begins In play prominent part.
/ The jury consists NJ twelve men and Is Sc
/ 'ected slowly and carefully. The d6or s
/ finely carpeted and the oak desks burn
/ ishe5 10 the last dsSree .. brightness.
/ Absolute silence on the part q ,he spec
ta,ors and lawyers rot engaged in the
/ trial Is demanded and usually maintained.
! The place for the audience is large and
! very rarely filed n lis capacity. Unlike
the preceding COURTS trial is not smne-
! date in the district cour-. The case IS
sled and doeketed, that IS lis title 5 re-
/ corded /, Is then PUT 81 a printed trial
ard bar docket. a lc-Ie book. Tor trial.
/ The court then takes Cp the cases In the
/ order in wh.ch they are numbered and
/ disposes az them Many NJ the cases are
never tried. People settle their dispute
out os court and the attorneys come IN
( ana dismiss che case. However. in srirn.-
/ nal cases there : a july and q trial and
/ usually an audience. In Jhe case az a c:e-
! i suit the Jury hears she evidence and
/ brings IN q verdict. II the verde, is IN
/ satisfactory and the case involves a sum
over 800 and under S2o0o the plslntiT or
/ defendant may appeal % tae Court OF