Los Angeles herald., 1906-01-28
JUSTICE IS RENDERED BY
COURT OVER TELEPHONE
SITTING IN KINGSTON, GIVES A
DECISION IN ALBANY
New York Supreme Court Makes Use
of Sound Transmitter to Hear At
torneys Argue Case and Gives
His Decision In Same Way
Special to The Herald.

Special to The Herald
ALBANY, Jan. 27.-- Supreme Court
Justice Belts, sitting In Kingston, held
court here over the telephone today.
When Justice Belts left Albany fol-
his home in Kingston last night he had
q case in court here and had just de-
lfvered his charge to the Jury. Justice
George III. Fits, who has just been APP
pointed to the bench, was in court get
ting used to the atmosphere. Justice
Belts asked Justice Fits if he would
be around for while.
Justice Fits said he expected to be-
and Justice Belts said that he might
just as well go on home, and the jury
could report to Justice Fits when 1,
got through celebrating. Justice Fits
agreed, and Justice Belts SO Informed
the jury and went on his way.
The jury stayed out twenty hours
Justice Fits was on hand, wearing his
judicial robes, when the weary jurors
filed into the courtroom to report to-
.day.s'e,The lawyers in the case u1ere
summoned, and Justice Fits supposed
that he would have nothing more to dc
than to hear the foreman deliver the
verdict. He was mistaken.
II have to report, your Honor" said
the foreman. that this. jury. has been
unable to reach a decision"
There was a moments silence, and
every one looked at the new Justice
with an air Of expectancy. Before
Justice Fits could say anything, J. A.
Rowe of Potters Hollow, one of the
jurors, jumped up and said:
81 have an invalid wife who needs
attention. / have already been Obliged
to neglect her for a week, and If start
for home now / wouldn't get there till
Sunday night. I would like to start
right off,"
Samuel Finkelstein, another juror,
then hoped up and remarked:
81 want to go home, too
ST will have to confer with Justice
Belts over the telephone" sand the
court, after a moments thought.
The telephone conversation involved
the overhauling of the entire case,
which was a damage suit for $4,000 fol-
personal injuries, brought by James F,
OGorman against Armour & Co.
There was some sort of muddle con-
corning the ownership OF the property
on which O'Gorman was injured, and
his attorneys, O'Neill & Delany, took
turns with Justice Fits in talking tc
Justice Belts over the wire.
Move to strike out" etc., Justice
Belts heard in Kingston.
This was communicated to the de-
PENDANTS attorney, who then took the
wire and shouted at Justice Belts
81 object to the striking out of any
part of the testimony"
Then the lawyers had it hammer and
tongs over the telephone and in be-
tween Justice Fits took a whack at it,
to get Justice Belts ruling ON motions,
objections and exceptions.
The controversy lasted half an hour
when the court sitting In Kingston
| denied the motion to strike out q por-
ton of the testimony, and duly noted
| the customary exception.
! This closed the argument, and as the
controversy had all been taken down
by the court stenographer, Justice
Fits reassembled the jury and had
Justice Belts revised charge read to
the jurors
mr.. Foreman" said Justice Fits
do you now think you will be able to
agree OH a verdict in a reasonable
| timer"
IT am afraid, your Honor" was the
response that we will never be able
| to agree
The Jury was then DISCHARGED.