Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-12-22
Two Judicial Dis tricts.

1t appears from the Washington dis
patches that the bill 10 divide this State
into two Federal Judicial Districts viii
likely become a law this winter The
bill, introduced by Congressman Dayton,
has been passed by the House OF Repre-
sentatives.
the bill was amended TO conform to
the wishes OF the committee on jaiiciary,
but It's provisions are substantially the
same as those OF the original bill following
the precedent of similar legislation in the
case Of other States where the existing
federal officials have been retained in the
districts shere they reside.
BY the terms OF the bill passed Mon
day the present district Judge and clerk
are assigned TO the northern district, aad
the present marshal and district attorney
to the southern district The new otfi-
GERS TO be appointed will he Judge and
clerk for the southern GiSrict and dis
trict attorney and marshal for the north
ern. The boundaries OF the districts re-
main as in the original bill
The amended bill provides that the
regular terms of the circuit aud district
courts in the northern district shall begin
at Wheeling on the first Tuesday OF April
and the third Tuesday OF September; at
Clarksburg on the third Tuesday OF April
and first Tuesday OF October; at Martins
burg on the third Tuesday of October,
and the circuit court shall be held at
Parkersburg, beginning on the second
Tuesday OF June of each year. In the
southern district, at Charleston on the
first Tuesday OF May and second Tuesday
of November; at Huntington, on the first
Tuesday of April and third Tuesday OF
September; at Bluefield on the first Tues :
day of June and the first Tuesday OF De-
cember. The bill goes into effect July 4,
1901.
The committees report. referring to ju-
dicial business in West Virginia says !;
THE criminal arrears have run to over
1900 number somewhat reduced, but
it is asserted largely by nolle prosequ and
discontinuance. The civil docket includes
many complicated land title cares. each
requiring weeks for trial. for which they
are awaiting, while titles are meanwhile
unsettled. The outside capitalist now
investing within the State will naturally
take his case to the Federal courts and
increase arrears. The fifty-hve counties
are separated by mountain chains that
make railroad communications long and
difficult. Courts are now held biennially
in five places but the growth of the south
ern counties demand additional places for
holding courts. which no one Judge for
the whole State can give"
The counties of Hancock, Brooke. Ohio,
Marshall, Tyler. Peasants, Wood, Writ,
Richie, Doddridge, Wetzel, Monongalia,
Marion. Harrison, Lewis, Gilmer, Cali
houn. Upshur, Barbour. Taylor, Preston,
Tucker, Randolph, Pendleton. Hardy.
Grant, Mineral, Hampshire, Morgan, Ber-
kelley and Jefferson, shall constitute dis
trict to be known as the northern dristrict
of West Virginia.
The remaining counties of the State
Jackson, Mason, Cabell, Wayne, Lincoln,
Putnam, Roane, Kanawha, Boone. Logan,
Mcdowell, Wyoming, Mercer, Monroe,
Summers, Raleigh, Fayette, Nicholas,
Clay Braxton, Webster, Pocahontas,
GreenbrIer and Mingo, shall constitute
the Southern district OF West Virginia