Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1903-11-21
THIS COURT ON WHEELS
Justice is Now Administered
while You Wait"
WHOLE CAMPING OUTFIT

United States Marshal Finds il Easier
TO Take Judge to Prisoners Than
The Opposite---TraveIed Like
Observation-Disclosures the Princi-
pal Prey.
The travelling court" has returned
from its three weeks trip over the
western juG. cial district of Indian Ter
ritory and has fifty-nine arrests and
thirteen commitments TO jail TO It's
credit.
The trip Of the travelling court" Is
an innovation in the administration OF
Justice. ON account of the inaccessible
ity of the removed districts and the
trouble in getting prisoners before q
Commissioners court it was decided
by Leo Il. Bennett. United States mar
shall. to take court with him and adj
minister Justice as he went along. an
Impromptu arrangement Of Justice
while you walt"
The camping outfit which was car
ried by the travelling court" consisted
of three wagons. three buggies. one
hack. five tents and twenty-three
horses.
Including the officials of the court,
the Transfers, cook and camp follow
ers. twenty men made up the caravan.
When the court was in transit from
one locality to another the natives,
who were unacquainted with its mis-
sion. might well have mistaken the
court for wagon minstrel show or a
wandering one ring circus.
The camping outfit was in charge OF
Marshal Bennett, and at his command
he had five deputies and four posse
men. who arrested the culprits Of the
"wild woods" and brought them within
jurisdiction.
The court proper was made up Of III.
A. Leekley. United States Commission
err; o. A. Wise, his stenographer, and
United States District Attorney Mel
lette.
During the trip of hundred and
ninety miles justice was dealt out with
terrible effect and In many cases with
no little dispatch. Horse and cattle
thieves were indicted and bound over
to the Grand Jury and the illegal sell
ers of liquor were dealt with sum-
marily.
"Bootleggers'' and druggists were
the principal prey of the travelling
court" and it was against them princi-
pally that the United States marshal
made his campaign.
The officers had not been out long
until their reputation was quick to
travel. and when the advance guard
OF the travelling court made its APP
pearance in email town far removed
there was an instantaneous hurrying
and scurrying for cover on the part OF
the illegal sellers of liquor.
AS soon as the caravan reached an
objective point camp was pitched inn
mediately. There was tent for the
officials Of the court a tent court room
and quarters for the camp followers.
AS soon as the court arrived the dep
uties would begin to scout for prison.
ers, and in a remarkably short time
the warrants would be served and the
victims would begin to file before the
impromptu bar Of justice.
Marshal Bennett tells of a novel
scheme for getting liquor that was
found in Holdenville. When the ''trav-
cling court arrived unexpectedly at
this little Indian territory town PRO
gress club" was found in the glory OF
its ascendency. The members Of the
club had hall and each member was
supplied with key.
All the member had to do was to
unlock the door. walk in, deposit twen-
ty-five cents with the grand keeper"
and a bottle was forthcoming. Among
fits membership was a Sunday school
superintendent and other prominent
citizens of the town.
The constitution and bylaws of the
organization was particularly serious
in its announcement Of the liquor traf-
fic and absolutely forbade the use or
sale of intoxicating liquors. Since the
advent of the travelling court sever
al of the officers and prominent mem
bers are under bond Of $1,000 and the
Progress Club has postponed its re-