The Minneapolis journal., 1901-04-04
JUSTICE SHOPS END
Petty Courts Die Next Saturday
The Consequences.
WORK FOR MUNICIPAL CoUR
Abolition of Justice Courts Will
Work Both Good and Evil,
Says Judge Pond.

Hereafter ne1ghborhood quarrels, which
| have been aired in the back rooms Of Of
flee buildings, far from the ubiquitous re-
porter, will be unraveled in that central
depot for the settlement of disturbances
-the municipal court.
The law abolishing the Office of justice
of the peace goes into effect Saturday, and
after that date the three officials in Min
neapolis will cease laying down the law.
Justice c. E. Bond, of the down town
district, said this morning that his col
leagues and himself were not disposed to
contest the legality of the law, depriving
them of part of their livelihood. Instead,
they were prepared to submit gracefully,
and would turn all of their business over
to the municipal court after Saturday.
Heavy Docket.
Justice Bond will make the fur fly be-
tween now and the expiration of his Off
cial capacity. With the seventy cases re-
turnable to him between now and Sat
urday he expects to make a pyr0technic
finish.
He predicts all kinds of trouble for the
municipal court when evicted tenants
seek redress. He says that important
cases pressing for settlement will wait
While some washerwOman tells her sad
story Of eviction from the ''two pair back,
second floor" which her hare hearted
landlord will no longer allow her to oc-
cupy because of arrears in rent.
A case showing the kind of petty cases
which have heretofore gone to the justice
courts came up while the reporter was
interviewing Justice Bond. servant girl
came in to collect 81 from former en-
ployer, who refused to pay because of a
claim that dish valued at $1.1O had by
her carelessness been broken.
I'm very sorry said the justice, "but
we cannot look after cases like that here
after. You will have to go to the munic-
ipal court
The girl could not afford to employ a
lawyer and realizing that the only avenue
OF redress open to her was closed she left
the Office, sobbing bitterly.
THAT'S the kind of people the new law
will be hardship on said the justice.
Records Turned Over.
Mr.. Bond has on his shelves an inter-
esting collection Of dockets running back
over thirty years. These ana all other rec
ords of the three justices will be turned
over to the municipal court Saturday The
clerk of the municipal court will here
after issue the transcripts of evidence in
the justice cases demanding his attention.
Justice Hobbies has looked after the
east district and S. ]. Beardsley the south
justice.
1t is said in defense Of the law abolish
ing justice courts that it will eliminate a
small army Of worthless constables, who
have used justice court authority to fur
ther their own selfish ends, and have
abused the powers vested in them Poor
people who have been forced to submit to
the tyranny of these petty court officers
will hail their passing with glad thanks
giving.
Some time ago there was some ques-
tion as to the validity of the act abolish
ing the Minneapolis justice courts, it
being contended that the legislature Of
1899 had no authority to pass an act
which became effective during the session
of the present legislature. The idea was
that 1t should have gone into effect before
the present legislature met