The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1900-03-22
IN TIE UNITED STATES COURT.
Two Men Accused Of counterfeiiing, Tried
at Scranton.

, The sessions of the United State
Circuit and District Courts opened a
Scranton last week Tuesday, Judg
Burlington presiding. Judge Ache
son usually presides in the Circui
court, but was sitting with the Cour
of Appeals in Philadelphia last week
and IN his absence the District cour
Judge presides in both. All crimina
cases arising from the violation of III,
laws of the United States are tried il
the District court. These include
robbing post, Offices; sending obscene
matter through the mails; using the
mails for fraudulent purposes; making
or passing counterfeit money; viola
ton of the revenue laws; illicit dlstil
ling, &c. In the circuit court are
tried all civil suits, and these are cases
Of litigation between residents oi
different states.
Grand jurors and petit jurors fol
these courts are drawn from ali over
the state, and here there is room for
reform that would save the govern.
ment much money. There does not
seem to be any good reason for draw
ing jurors from Columbia County TO
attend court at Erie or Pittsburg, nor
for bringing jurors from the western
end of the state to Williamsport or
Scranton. The state should be pro.
perly districted, and jurors drawn from
nearby counties, thus saving hund-
reds of dollars in mileage at each ses-
sion of court. Last week three cases
were tried. and it was estimated that
the expense to the government was
$27oo. Some jurors drew nearly forty
dollars for mileage.
The Judges of the United States
courts are appointed by the President,
and they hold Office practically for
life. The appointments are necessarily
of partisan character, but, in this
state excellent selections have been
made and the Judiciary is above re-
proach.
Cases tried in district and circuit
courts can be carried to the Court Of
Appeals which consists of all the Cir
cult judges Of several specified states.
From the Court of Appeals they can
be carried up to the Supreme Court
Of the United States. The methods
Of legal procedure in all these courts
is much the same as in our county
and state courts.
OFFICERS OF THE COURT.
District Attorney Daniel B. Heiner
is assisted in his work by Assistant
District Attorneys d. M. Willer, ].
N. Laugham and John B. Myers.
The other officers of the court are {:
Fred G. Leonard, marshal; Clark
Lowry, Joe H. Irons and J. w. Sny-
der, deputies; William T. Lindsey,
clerk; A. J. Colborn, jr., deputy.
MUNCY VALLEY COUNTERFEITING CASE.
The case of the United States VS..
Wellington Lavelle and John R.
Gansel was put on trial Tuesday after
noon. They were charged with having
IN their possession moulds for making
coin, and with making coin. The
story of the case runs this way:
Lavelle, whose home is in Honesdale,
is photographer, and in the summer
he travels around from place to place
with tent. Last August he reached
Muncy Valley, pretty little hamlet
in Sullivan County nestled down
among the hills. and pitched his tent,
and seemed to be following the bust
ness of taking pictures. He soon
formed the acquaintance of John r.
Gansel, stone-mason and sort of q
village loafer and of somewhat disso-
lutte habits. They became very thick,
so much SO that one day IN October
Constable Hess said to Gansel {:
"John, what's going on down at that
tent? You and Lavelle must be
doing some crooked work." where
upon Gansel told him they were get
ting ready to make counterfeit money,
and wanted the constable to arrest
them both at once, as he wanted to
get out of it. The constable said he
couldn't arrest them without evidence,
and this Gansel promised to procure.
Acting under the constable's advice
he arranged with Lavelle who had the
moulds, to 60 up on the mountain
side and make some coin. This was
done, and Gansel returned to Hess
with the moulds and coin, and then
Hess notified the District Attorney at
Laporte, and he notified tine govern
ment, and an Inspector was sent on
by the Treasury department, who
arrested Lavelle. A few days later
Gansel was arrested on Lavelle's
statement, which was as follows;
That he never saw the moulds; that
Gansel come to his tent because they
could both play the violin; that when
they went up on the mountain side
they went for cider and apples, and