The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-05-08
DISPOSED OF
MANY CASES
DISTRICT COURT ADJoURNs FOR
THE TERM.
MOFFETT SCORES AvICT0RY
Billings Telephone Company ls Nom
Suited and Must Also
Pay All Costs.

Last night Judge Loud adjourned the
March term of the district court. The
next term is set to begin August 81
although it is considered extremely
improbable that his honor will be
able to be here on that date. Heavy
dockets are awaiting him in the three
other counties of the district and
he may find it necessary to order a
postponement of the opening of the
term in this county. More and more
is the necessity of a cutting down
OF this district felt, as the work is
proving too much for one Judge. To
make matters worse it is constantly
increasing and to keep up with it is
an impossibility.
Moffett Company Wins.
Wednesday morning the case of the
Billings Telephone company VS.. l..
l.. Moffett and others, came up for
hearing. Both parties waived a jury
and the matter was tried to the court.
The suit had been pending for some
time and was brought by plaintiff to
enjOin defendant from interfering
with the plaintiff company's wire, it
being alleged that in constructing a
telephone system about the city the
defendants were damaging the sys-
tenn of the plaintiff by allowing their
wires to come in contact with those
owned and operated by the plaintif
for like purpose. An Injunction was
demanded at the same time and a
conditional writ was issued.
The proceedings opened with the ex-
animation of several witnesses in be-
half of the plaintiff, who testified as
to the conditions existing at the time
OF the institution of the action and
as they now exist.
When all the testimony offered had
been heard defendants attorney NOV
ed for a dismissal of the action and
to tax the costs to the plaintiff. The
motion was granted, to which ruling
the plaintiff took exceptions and 80
days were granted in which to prepare
and file bill of exceptions.
Probate Matters Disposed Of.
Considerable probate business was
disposed of by the court during the
days that have intervened since last
report.
In the matter of the estate of Will
liam j. Reifenrath the petition of the
administratrx for an order of final
distribution and discharge was grant.
ed. Receipts were shown from all the
heirs showing that they had received
their shares of the estate, while all
bills against the estate were proved
to have been paid.
An order was made discharging
Ingoborg J. Quarnburg, Administrative
of the estate of John Hagen, deceased.
Final discharge was granted the ad-
of the estate of Clayton
e. Warner, deceased, late chief of
police of Billings.
An order for final distribution and
of the Administrative of the
estate of Florence II. Stebbins was
In the matter of the same
estate the court granted the petition
of Harriet G. Whitney, guardian OF
Mabel B. Stebbins, a minor heir, to
invest the sum of $500, portion OF
the minor heirs share of the estate,
in some form of security returning
a fair rate of interest
The final report of the administra-
tor of the estate of Herbert L. Will
liams was allowed and order of dis
entered.
Was His Own Lawyer.
During a lull in the proceedings
Wednesday afternoon Judge Loud |
took up matter of contempt The |
defendant was Robert B. Brooks, |
who was hailed into court on an or
der to show cause why he should not |
be fined for failing to comply with |
4 previous order, made in a case where |
he was the defendant, an action for
divorce instituted by his wife, Edith |
NJ. Brooks. Failure to support was |
the ground alleged and the court |
granted plaintiffs petition, at the
same time ordering the defendant to
pay alimony of $25 a month for the