The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-16
HAPPENINGS IN SPOKANE.
ANOTHER JUDGE NEEDED TO HAN
DIE COURT BUSINESS.
Election Contest for ONCE OF Coun-
~ Treasurer Now Being Heard
Loss of Taxes ON LIE Roi Mining
Standardization of Primary Law.

need of an additional superior judge for
Spokane county more apparent 'han a.
the present time Judges Richardson ana
Prather the former of whom is obliged
to devote about half of his time to Ste
vens county are utterly unable to Keep
UP with the constantly increasing busi-
ness of the courts. Night sessions OF the
courts are common occurrence, ana the
appointment of judge pro TEN is
matter of frequent necessity, IN order 10
dispose of emergency matter as well as
some of the many divorce cases that are
constantly pending.
In both the equity and civil departments
the trial calendars are about year be-
hind causing much loss of time and con-
siderable expense to iitigants An exam
nation of the records of the clerks Of
flee shows that about 1900 cases are He'd
annually. From this 1t readily VIII De
seen that the present judicial force allott-
ed to this county is wholly Inadequate TO
dispose of the business that Is to be tried
out A judgeship in Spokane county is,
therefore, no sinecure 1t is probable the
local bar will shortly petition for the APP
pointment of an additional judge.
A movement Is on foot to reorganize
the Republican party OF Spokane county
on what its sponsors say will be nonfac-
tional lines. According to reports, 1t is
said that about twenty Republicans held
a secret meeting on last Tuesday night,
when a temporary organization was per-
fected and a committee appointed to cir
culate among the Republicans, discuss the
matter and invite them to attend gen.
eral meeting to be held some night next
week.
The new organization Is to be known as
the Republican Club of Spokane County,
and Is to be permanent and Is intended
to suppiant the Mckinley Club. The
names of those who participated in the
-
understood that none of them are leaders
of prominence in any of the party fac
tons.
The contest between A. l.. Smith and
George Mudgett for the office of county
treasurer Is now fairly on, and 1t promises
to be battle royal. The case is being
heard before George W. Belt. superior
judge-elect. An array of the best legal
talent in the city represents the contest
ants. -Four days have been spent in a BIT
ter fight over preliminary motions, In
which Smith, the Republican incumbent.
has won out most of the points. Over 100
witnesses have been subpoenAed, includ-
ing the inspectors from every election
precinct In the county who served In the
late election.
A certificate OF election has been issued
to Mudgett. who. on the face of the re-
turns. beat Smith cut by sixteen votes.
1t is expected that the arguments over
the question OF permitting recount of
the ballots will occupy over a week. and
II the motion is granted 1t win take fully
two weeks to make the recount. The con-
test is attracting "A crowded court room
daily.
Neither Of the contestants In the recent
ten-round contest that took place before
ley Gor and Jim Burns. and which was
declared a draw, Is satisfied with the re-
suit. and negotiations are now under way
for a finish fight between them In the
Willingness to fight for a good-sixed
side bet. to be put up by the contestants.
porters. who will back their Judgment
with their money when the mill takes
place As the police would probably put
ban on holding finish fight In Spokane,
1t is likely the event will be pulled on
either at Davenport or Northport.
Dan Weaver. one of the directors OF the
Spokane Athletic Club. leaves for Cali
fornia the first of the week where he
goes to try and arrange with the colleges
of that state for a series of baseball
games to be played here with the Athletic
Club TEN next summer. Assurances have
been received by the club that such Sc
ries can be arranged, and In anticipation
of II the directors are already making
preparations for putting even a stronger
team in the field than that of the season
just passed. With league team now In
the Athletic Club team. II Is the opinion
OF local fans that neither club will make
financial success Of 1t next year.
George D. Murray, a passenger con.
ductor on the Northern Pacific, died at
his home In this city OF typhoid fever this
week He has long been connected in
the service OF the road. He leaves .
family.
BY the recent decision of the supreme
court. denying authority TO the county
treasurer to collect taxes assessed against
the owners OF lie Roi stock in 1885. Spo-
kane county will lose about 3d. 900 paid In
to the state treasury as its proportion of
the total assessment levied against the
lie Roi stock at that time. An examina-
ton OF the tax roll of 1888 reveals that,
had the decision been in favor OF the
county. u would have been richer by
about $4,000. which amount Is the total
assessment, with interest UP to date
The fact remains. however. that the
county is out the 5000 paid. TO the state
county treasurer could collect the total
assessment against the owners OF Jhe
stock senator Turner, who Is large
holder of the stock. Is ahead just 8. $40 by
the decision of the supreme court
Four eavalrymen OF Fort Wright have
recently deserted the services Of the Uni
ted States and are now being sought after
by Lieut.. a c. Nissen. OF Troop r. their
commander. and the commandant OF the
fort He offers a reward OF so each for
their arrest and return 10 Spokane. The
names % the deserters are Roger j. Cash
man. Napoleon Gonyea. Charles ID, Hend-
ricks and Henry j. Weaver. All are young
men.
Edward Hanson. alias II I.arkec, for a
long time employed by the Great North
ern as a bridge Waterman al the long
bridge Just west OF the city. has been ar
rested and bound over 10 the federal court
on a charge Of counterfeiting In his
shack near the bridge the officers found
complete outfit FOR counterfeiting silver
and gold coins. Two confederates In the
coming process have also been arrested
This makes six alleged eounterfeiters ar
rested In this city within the past month.
The news 81 the breaking out Of a NAL
ignant form OF smallpox among the In
dams c2mpad near this city brought In
dian Agent r. NJ. Anderson to spokane
this week. Tie hastily rounded up all the
stray siwashes roaming around the city
and sent them back TO the reservation 10
be put In quarantine. most % them
have been exposed 10 the disease The city
authorities have also taken vigorous steps
10 prevent spread Of the disease. Mai