The Savannah morning news., 1903-04-05
NEARLY 200 SUITS
FINALLY DISPOSED OF IN THE sU-
PERIOR COURT.
MARCH TERM A BUSY ONE.
RECORD of CASES TRIED ECLIP-
SEES ALL PREVIOUS RECORDS.

Nearly 200 Cases Disposed of In
Four Weeks-Of This Number
Judge Barrow Heard 179-The
Others Came Up Before Judge Sea-
brOOk-Seventy-thre Divorce and
AIimOny Cases Have Come Before
the COurt-Appearance and Ger
tiOrari DOckets viii BE Called
Next Week.
The present term of the Superior
Court is one of the busiest in it's his
tory. More cases have been disposed
of than ever before in an equal length
of time. The docket has been cleared
so rapidly that it looks as if lightning
had struck it. 1t has been Judge Bar
rows policy to clear up the docket as
he went along, leaving nothing for the
morrow which could be disposed of to-
day.
Though the term has progressed but
one month, already 179 cases have been
disposed of, exclusive of the cases
heard by Judge Seabrook. But twenty
four cases have been passed or contin-
ued. This is a remarkable record, and
one which can hardly be eclipsed in
the annals of the court. An average
of eight cases a day has engaged the
attention of the court daily. OF this
number 124 have been tried and final
ly disposed of, 81 dismissed and "a con-
tinued.
Many Divorces Granted.
The most remarkable thing connected
with the term is the large number of
divorce cases. Seventy-three divorce
and alimony cases have been consid-
cred by the court within the past four
weeks. OF these thirty-seven have
been heard, twenty-six dismissed and
seven passed for the term. OF the
thirty-seven cases which engaged the
attention of the court, twenty-six were
white, the number of persons obtain
ing relief from the baneful bans of I'M
happy wedlock, outnumbering those
who thought to enter into the felicitous
fields of marital life, as evidenced by
the number of licenses issued by the
Ordinary.
Twenty-Five more divorce and ALI
mony suits have been assigned for
nearly 100 such suits within a period
of five weeks. In addition to these
matters, there are other civil causes
assigned, and not less than a score of
matters in chambers. Judge Barrow
has adopted a rule of calling the docket
every Monday morning, and assigning
cases for the following week. The
good results attained from the observ-
ance of this rule are apparent.
Will Call DOckets.
The appearance and certiorari
dOckets will be called for the term on
Monday, April 10. At that time as
signments will be made for all cases
filed to the present term of the court.
Some of these, especially several of
the divorce suits are particularly in
teresting. There is still great deal
of business to be transacted by the
court, and if the present pace is con-
tinued, as it probably will be, the ter
mination of the term on June rs will
mark the close of the busiest term
ever held in the Superior Court
In addition to the large number of
eases disposed of by Judge Barrow, a
great many have been tried before
Judge Seabrook of the Atlantic Cir
cult sitting in the main court room.
These were nearly all matters in
which Judge Barrow was disqualified
by" reason of his former connection
with the case as counsel or party, or
because of relationship to parties or
attorneys. The number of cases dis
posed of by Judge Seabrook, when
taken conjunctively with those passed
upon by Judge Barrow, bring the num-
Der up well above 200.
Grand Jury's Work.
The grand jury of the court has also
been unusually active, holding more
than the usual number of meetings.
Quite a large number of indictments
have been returned, making, in many
instances, new criminal business to be
disposed of at this term of the court
The investigation which is now in pro-
gress will probably be terminated at
the next meeting of the body on Wed
nesday. The County Commissioners
budget and the reports of the various
committees of the body to be incor-
porated in the general presentments
will occupy a great part of their time
after the conclusion of the investigation
now before the body.
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