The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-14
AN OLD COURT RECORD
MINUTES or FIRST COURT EVER
 HELD IN LAWRENCE.
At Milton's Bluff, June 15, 1s1s, the Justices Met, Granted Liquor Licenses and Trans
 acted Other Business

Courtland. Jan. 13,--(SpeciaD-In mov- ing the records of Lawrence County at Moulton from the court house to the vault recently erected, the minute book of prob ably the first court ever held in the coun- ty, was uncarthed. This book shows that the first county site of this county was at Milton's Bluff, a place at which not a house now stands. But few citizens knew that the court house was ever at that place and none of them knew that courts were held there, while Alabama was yet a Territory. The followin gis an exact copy oh the 4nin lte entry as shown by the old book:
 At an intermediate county court, be- gun and held at Melton's Bluff, in and for the county of Lawrence, on the 18th day of June, l@S, prsSent
 "William Pettus, Benjamin Thomas and Humphrey Warren.
 "Gentlemen Justices of the Quorum.
 Daniel Wright produced commission from the Governor appointing him clerk of said court. The Chief Justice then ad- ministered the oaths of offices according to the statute in such cases made and provided.
 Peter Martin then produced a license from the Governor of said Territory. au- thorizing him to practicee as counsellor and attorney at law. The paths of office were then administered and the said Pe- ter Martin is hereby authorized and en- powered to act accordingly.
 ''It Is ordered by the court that the fol- lowing be the tavern rates for the year ISIS: 1-2 pint of whiskey. 12.1-2 cents; l-2 pint rum. 50 cents; 1-2 pint wine. 30 cents; 1-2 pint French brandy, 50 cents; l-2 pint cherry bounce, 37 1-2 cents; break fast, s7 1-2 cents; dinner. 50 cents; supper. S7 1-2 cents; lodging, l21-2 centsi horse feed, 9 cents.
 Thomas WooldrIdge then applied to the court for license to retail spirituous liqnors and keep a house of entertainment in the county aforesaid, and he having complied with the acquisitions of the stat utes in such cases made and provided. 1t is ordered that he be therefore authorized so to do.
 By order of the court William Pettus. Esq. (Chief Justice). then received H. cense to retail spirituous liquors and keep a tavern or house of entertainment in the county aforesaid. and having com piled with the statutes in sueh cases made and provide1, he is therefore authorized so to do.
 Tt was then ordered by the court that Clinton Norvill, Esq, James Mcoiaughey Esq, and Skelton Stand!fer, Esq. be ap pointed as managers of the election to bt hold for the election of Representative tC the Territorial Legislature. The cour then ordered that the taxes for Lawrene' County for the year 1918 shal be one 1 fifth of the Territorial tax.
 "Gayy Tho1nas then applied to the cour | for license 10 sell spirttuous liquors am keep house of entertainment in th county aforesaid. and as having complies l with the acquisitions of law In such case mado and provided, he is therefore au l theFizsd and empowered SO to do.
 ''CouPt then adjourned for one hour.
 'sCctift naef according to adjournment.
 Present William Pe%tus, Bsr1smii l fhaasaS ard HuanpArey Warren,