Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-10-11
PROBATE WORK BY WILLIAMS


that transpired during the Williams admin
istration that cause most embarrassing sit
uations. Only week before last the ex-judge
was forced to spend practically two whole
days In getting the tangles Strengthened
out In one estate, being forced by the in
sistent demands of heirs and the firm at
titude Of the present Judge.
But the worst is not yet. AS the years
elapse and the present witnesses them
selves participants in these proceedings
themselves die, or become scattered, or have
| their memories dulled by the lapse of time,
the conditions Will become vastly more
serious. Though the lax methods employed
In the many cases already readjusted this
year have been attended, fortunately, with
opportunities for satisfactory settlements,
no one can foresee the future That negli-
gence and Incompetence pervaded every
| branch of the county Judges Office for four
years is shown on the face of the records;
the future alone can measure their depth.
AS TO how II came about that such a
| man was entrusted by the voters of Pierce
county with a position where IL was pos
sible to do so much mischief, this explana-
ton was made by a leading member Of the
Pierce county bar:
Williams came to Pierce county about
seven years ago and began the practice OF
law at Plainview. He tried IL few months,
and could not make a go of the law, so he
went 70 teaching school for year or so.
Then he tried TO practice again. and about
six months later landed the republican,
nomination for county Judge.
The incumbent at that time was Judge
Mcdonald, an old man who had held the
position practically all of the time for
good record but there were a lot OF peo-
pie who thought there ought to be a
enough. The democrats had renominatcd
MIN, but on account of this feeling VII
liams was elected by a majority of six
talked big and put up big blum about
! his ability and honesty.
No more had he begun his duties as
county judge than the lawyers who prac-
ticed before him found that he was egotis-
teal, impulsive and hot tempered three
qualities that absolutely untitled him for
a judicial position. But while the bar be-
came thoroughly convinced with these con-
ditions, coupled with his inattention to the
duties of his office the people throughout
the county mad not yet been convinced OF
these facts, so Williams was renominated.
Judge Mcdonald insisted upon renon,ina-
ton and the democrats lacked the nerve
to turn him down. So the same condi-
tions as before confronted the democrats,
while Williams had the advantage of wider
acquaintance than before, and II must be
said a favorable acquaintance with large
But by the time he had gotten into his
second term the people throughout the
found that they were not receiving proper
attention. Little things came up here and
vo 6fa Mas %ss @
III I'm the office, though no one not even
the members Of the bar rsalized the de-
plorable condition of his office until after
he had left 1t.
His Unhtness Known.
He got the denomination for third term
however, and then the bar, regardless of
party, proceeded TO go after him right.
| The democrats nominated Judge Kelley of
| Plalnvlew, who was known by lawyers and
! his own friends as a lawyer of exceptional
| ability and of judicial temperament, but
/ who had suffered from Ill health for sew
/ eral years, and who had for this reason
active practice. and from active association
! In political affairs So he was not then the
! that his fitness for the position has been
| tried and found to be frst-class In every
| particular -
! liams was defeated on his own unpopu-
! larity. The fact that he had represented
| estates as attorney before himself with all
| course; the fact that he had resented any
| Inspection of the records of his office,
! the fact that many of his records were
! found To be wanting; the tact that ne
/ Real Boy and His Sister, which he ran
| around and delivered wherever he could
make any money at IL while he neglected
/ the affairs OF his office; the fact that he
| advertised himself in the Lyceumite OF
| Chicago as a lecturer, soliciting engage
ments, offering himself for any and all
! the voters by the distribution throughout
| the county Of Loo copies of the publication
| containing this advertisement-these and
! other facts that satisfied the voters that he
was not the man they wanted to serve them
! longer killed him.
! We all supposed when he was so thor
! oughly defeated for county Judge last year
that he was down and out In this county.
/ We never dreamed that he would have the
| nerve to again project himself into the po-
/ litical limelght. The people of Pierce were
| never so astonlshed before as when word
| came from Lincoln that the republican state
| convention had nominated him for railroad
| commissioner. Williams came back and
/ tried TO make us believe that he was sur
! prlsed. too, but when We found out how he
| had broken his pledge at the convention,
! violated the confidence OF the county con-
| vention here, spent the day before the state
| convention at West Point trying TO work
! up a trade in the interests of his candi-
l dacy with the Cunning county delegat ton
| we'll we knew Williams.
! And II the people of the whole state knew
| him well as we do here In Pierce county
I there would be no doubt hut that after the
| November election he could go back 20 his
! old job OF lecturing on, THE Real Boy and
| His Sister good advice 10 young about
| being noble and true and never to lie or
| cheat and always attend strictly to bus-
-ess and play the square DEAF in poll