The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-11-22
BANQUET AT ATWOOD.
Rawlins County Bar Honors De-
parting Judge Geiger.

adjourned here yesterday This was the
| last term of Judge A. c. t. Geiger here
unless the biennial election law should
be held unconstitutional. so far it
applies to the appointment of judges
| In honor of Judge Geiger the bar gave
| a sumptuous banquet and reception at
the close of court at the fremont house
| The dining room was draped and deck
ed in pink and white, the tables hand
SOmely decorated with a quantity or
| flowers. None were present except the
members of the bar, sheriff, clerk,
| stenographer and other court officers
Judge Geiger has served two terms in
! this district, and has made record
/ as a fair. honest and impartial judge,
| and commands the respect of even the
bitterest of his political opponents In
| the supreme court he has had but Il
very small per cent of the cases ap-
pealed reversed. He has been held in
| high esteem by the people and bar here,
| and the banquet was designed to con-
| vey to the retiring judge the good will
| toward him.
Appropriate toasts were responded
to. The list of toasts and speakers fol-
lows:
The First Judge of the 18th District
ex-Judge G. Webb Bertram.
The Second Judge of the 18th Dis
trict," M. A. Wilson.
1.-The Third Judge of the 18th Dis
trict," ]: c. Wilson. of Oberlin.
The Fourth Judge of the 18th Dis
trict," Albert Hemming.
THE Present Judge of the 18th Dis
trict.' County Attorney Fred Robert
son.
1.-THE Judge Appointive of the 18th
District" Tully Scott, of Cripple Creek
formerly of Oberlin.)
THE District Judges of Kansas"
John E. Hessin, of Manhattan
The Atwood Bar" Judge A. c. T.
Geiger-
Examination for Admission to the
Bar" w. K Loofbourrow.
THE Court of Stenographer," Joseph
H. Young, of Oberlin.
''Rawlins County" D. o. Bye.
THE First County Attorney of Raw
line County," Patrick Fleming.
The remarks of ex-Judge G. Webb
Bertram We're reminiscent of the first
judge of the district, D. G. Nellis. who
was appointed by Governor St; John
cases by coroner's inquest and acquitted
the man that way, or by habeas corpus
before the probate judge, or upon the
preliminary before justice or the
peace. There were no Kansas reports
west of Norton, and our library while
Judge Nellis presided consisted of
copy of Spaulding which we had for use
before the justice of the peace Judge
Nellis fair, and with his limited
experience made a good record"
M. A. Wilson, who is an old resident
of the second judge, W. H. Pratt, now
of Phillipsburg, and how he and Wilson
both ran for shelter when troop of
cowboys dashed up and down the
streets of Atwood, shooting, yelling,
swearing and running their ponies dan
gerously near those who happened to
cross their path After they had gone,
said Mr. Wilson. "and were probably
five miles from town, Judge Pratt
crawled out of the basement of the
hotel, said he thought he'd go home.
We found him good natured, pleasant
little fat man, and 1t was not to his
discredit that he sought shelter when
the cowboys made their demonstration.
There were plenty Of others who were
Inc q
]. c. Wilson, of Oberlin, who has
lived in Kansas a very long time, said:
Judge Louis K Pratt, the third judge
of this district, was cranky judge,
nervous, irritable, but withal thor
ough judge of law. He was an excellent
trial lawyer. He and 1 did not exactly
agree, but I think I was as much of a
friend to him as he to me-" Mr.. Wilson
related some anecdotes OF his practice
before Judge Pratt
Judge Bertram, who sits with US to-
night" said Albert Hemming, also an
old settler of the county, was the
fourth judge of this district, and Is the
only man ever elected to that position
who did not carry county in the dis
trict. 1t was owing to a three cornered
fight, which gave him a plurality of
the total vote in the district He has
been prominent in western Kansas for
years, coming to the state when young,
and took a prominent part in the rescu-
ing OF, the settlers during the Indian
raid of 1878"
Attorney Fred Robertson told of his
first meeting with Judge Geiger during
the first campaign the judge made.
He won friends" said Mr.. Robertson,
'by his affable. winning ways, and
even when speaking to an audience
which was not in sympathy with his
principles, he won them over to the be-
lief that he was just and fair. He
has since proven that they did not mis-
take him. His record is one to be proud
of, for his reputation throughout this
district for fairness, honesty of purpose,
integrity and ability as a jurist is the |
very best We are better lawyers for |
practicing before him.
Tully Scott, well known a Demo-
cratic politician, responded by saying |
that his toast, THE Judge Appointive," |
was a difficult one, owing to the fact |
that he might not be confirmed and ac- |
tually wear the judicial ermine. HE |
is certainly a good citizen, and has |
served well his party and the people of |
his county, and this appointment comes |
to him when he is treading the forests
that deck life's western slope. I be- |
lieve John R. Hamilton. judge appoint |
i've, will be a good judge, fair but ex-
acting. He is man to whom 1 never |
said goodbye but what 1 appreciated |
him more than did the last time I met |
him"
John E Hessin, of Manhattan, said |
it was his pleasure to know practically |
all of the judges of the state, and that |
he had found them all to be honorable |
men, learned, and a credit to the COM |
monwealth of Kansas; that they were |
temperate, progressive, and fully COM !
petent to maintain the high standard /
of the judiciary the country over. /
Your present judge of this district" |
said he, lis an able man, well fitted to |
discharge the duties, and has shown |
special qualifications. He has been re- |
moved and separated from his present |
position by substitution, but should he /
ever again adorn the bench he will /
meet with a warm welcome from the |
bar, and I will take pleasure in extend |
ing to him the most cordial greeting"
Judge Geiger himself said of 1.-THE |
Atwood Bar: II appreciate the kind |