The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-02
Territorial.

Territorial.
Chief Justices
Aaron Goodrich-1849-1851.
Jerome FulIer-1S51-1852.
Henry z. Hayner-1S52-1S53
William H. Welch-1S53-185S.
Associate Justices
David COoper-1S49.
Bradley B. Meeker-1S49-1S53
Andrew G. Chatheld-l853-1857
Moses Sherburne-1S53-1857
r. r. NelSOn-l657-lS5S
&. E. F4andrau-1S57-1S58
State.
Chief Justices
Lafayette Emmett-1S5S-1S65
Thomas WilSon-1865-1S69
James Gilillan-1869- 1870.
Christopher G. Ripley-lS70-1874.
S. j. r. McMillan-1S74-1875.
James GiIinan-1S75-1894.
Charles M. Start-1S95-1907.
Associate Justices
Charles E. Flandrau-1S5S-1S64
Isaac AtWajer-1S58-1S64.
S. ]. r. McMillan-1864-1S74
Thomas Wilson-1S64-1S65
John NJ. Berry-1S65-18S7
George B. YOung-1S74-1875
f. r. E. Cornell-1875-1881
d. A. DickinSon-16S1-1894.
Greenleaf Clark-18S1-18S2.
William Mitchell-18S1-1900
G. e. Observation-Disclosures
Leron w. Collins-1887-19
Thomas Canty-1S94-1900.
Daniel Buck-1S94-1900.
John A. Lovely-19OO-19O6.
G. l.. BroWn-1900-1906
G. L. LeWis-1900-1907.
The First Court.
In 1S49 upon the organization of the
territory of Minnesota, President Taylor
appointed Aaron Goodrich, of Tennessee,
chief justice of the supreme court Da-
vid Cooper, of Pennsylvania, and Brad
ley B. Meeker, of Kentucky, associate
justices. The first territorial court was
held in 1S49 in the court house at Still
water. Many Of the first lawyers Of
Minnesota were admitted to the bar at
that term Of court The first one to take
the oath was Hon. Morton S. Wilkinson,
then practicing at Saltwater, and after
wards famous in the senate and house
Of the United States congress. Others
Were Henry L. Moss Edmund Rice AL
exander Wilkin Lorenzo A Babcock,
David and Henry Lambert, James Wake
field, Alexander Mitchell, E. G. Whital,
B. W. Lott, and John S. Goodrich Henry
L. Moss, first attorney general of the
state, and still living, speaks aus follows
of the early territorial court:
In a subsequent proclamation issued
after coming here Gov. Ramsey assigned
the judges to different portions of the
territory for the performance of their
duties. The proclamation assigned Chief
Justice Goodrich to administer Justice
over the civilized portion of the terri
tory, which embraced the entire country
lying west of the ST. Croix river and east
of the Mississippi, extending 20 the Brit
ish possessions. 1t banished Judge
Cooper to the uncivilized and Indian
country west of the Mississippi and south
of the ST. Peter river, with Headquarters
at Mendoza 1t sent Judge Meeker into
exile In the wilderness, that terra incog-
nita lying west of the Mississippi and
north of the St. Peter river, a land where
lay the beautiful Lake Minnetonka, with
its charming and picturesque shores, yet
undiscovered. His headquarters We're In
an old dilapidated mill on the west bank
of the river at st. Anthony falls.
The second term of the court held in
the territory was by Judge Cooper in
Saltwater in the month of February. 1850
This term is noted for having the first
criminal trial for murder under Mime
sofa laws. 1t was a case Of a boy about
thirteen years of age, by the name Of
Snow, Killed by companion of about the
same age, on Third street, near the cor
ner OF Franklin street. The prosecution
was conducted by Morton S. Wilkinson
and Putnam Bishop; the defense by
Michael E. Anles any myself. The fir
ing was from the southerly side Of the
street, with an ordinary shotgun direct
~ across the street where stood the Snow
boy, both looking at each other A sin
5i0 SAIdIi ptlu SIloI penetrated the eye and
brain of the Snow boy. The jury con-
Vlcted the boy of manslaughter, holding
that. even in the absence of malicious
intent, the firing OF gun across public
highway where people were passing was
an unlawful act. Judge Cooper, in pro-
nounctng sentence there being no peni
tertiary in the territory, committed him
to the guard house at Fort Smelling for
ninety days, during the first two OF
which, and the last one, he was to be
kept in close confinement and fed on
bread and-water. James NJ. Goodhue. of
of Judge Cooper, said it was a specimen
of dispensing justice in homeopathic
doses.
Judge Goodrich Opposed.
There are gentlemen still living who
We're of self-constHuted committee who
in the early spring of 1851 went to Wash
ington and called on Daniel Webster. sec
rotary of state, to secure the removal of
Chief Justice Goodrich, and at the same
time called on James Collamar, postmas-
ter general, to secure the removal of
Franklin Steele, the postmaster at Fort
Smelling. This committee met with no
success. The secretary of state, after
hearing their complaints decidedly and
positively declined to give the matter any
consideration. Gen. Collamer turned their
application over to Henry Fitz Warren.
the first assistant postmaster general
who, unfortunately for their purpose, was
personally well acquainted with Mr..
Steele; and their application for his re-
moval was not entertained
THE opponents of Judge Goodrich did
not cease in their efforts to secure his
removal There We're not wanting other
causes Of complaint against him during
the year 1851, and early in January, 1859:
and a letter to President Fillmore was
formulated, containing specifications of
1ncompetency and unfitneSs as a Judge