The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1906-12-25

Court.
Y In letter received BY County Clerl
Watson T. Sooy from Supreme Cour
Justice Charles E. Hendrickson, the lat
ter gave orders to the effect that Cour
4 Crier Harry Hawkins, Sr., must open the
:, December term of court tomorrow, al
though it will be Christmas day, in the
S manner prescribed by law, after which, in
d the absence of Judge Hendrickson, Clerk
Sooy is to declare an adjournment until
Wednesday, when the grand jury will
s meet, and the petit jury will assemble on
e Thursday. To tits effect these two bodies
will be notified by Sheriff Norcross. In
this decision Judge Gaskill concurred.
On Saturday Mary A Needham, an in
mate of the State Masonic Home. near
Burlington, was formally committed to
the County Insane Asylum.
Because of his inability to get bail in
, the sum of $1,000, Edward Boyer is still
confined in jail.
Howard Dempster was brought into
court. but owing to the absence of his
wife, whom he assaulted, the case was
not moved.
In rendering a decision in the appeal
case of Stewart VS.. Hope Lodge, No 10,
Knights of Pythias, of Burlington, for
the recovery of sick benefits amounting to
nearly 5000, Judge Gaskill said 81 find
as matter of fact that Stewart was a
member in good standing at the time Of
his sickness. There was a certain schedule
Of benefits to be paid those who were sick
This section of the bylaws was amended
after Stewart had been stricken and while
he was receiving benefits, thus changing
the situation which existed at the time of
his joining, when he was in good stand
ing and in good health. Such a contract
cannot be changed without unanimous
consent Judgment is given in favor of
Stewart for the full amount of his claim
for disability. l am satisfied there was
contract in this case, and it is not in the
power of one party to amend it.
The following letter is self explanatory:
MOUNT HOLLY, N. j., Dec. IS, 1906
| Hon. e. C. Stokes, Governor of the StdteE Of
NeeO Jersey. Trenton, ~. J.
| DEAR SIR:-Herewith hand you my resig
nation as Judge of the Burlington County
Courts, to take effect at noon on Saturday,
December p, or as soon thereafter as my sue
cessor is appointed.
On the 22d l shall hold the last session of
the court for the present term, and will at
that time dispose of all unfinished business
in my hands and as the new term opens
the following week. hope that my successor
snail take up the work of the term at the be-
With assurances of my personal esteem
and thanks for your many favors, am,
| Yours very truly,
j. H. GASKILL.
In his reply Governor Stokes said in
part:
"The reasons of your resignation are SO
manifest that l, of course, accept the same
do so, however, with full knowledge that
the Burlington County Courts lose an excel
lent and most upright Judge who admins
tered the law with an even hand of justice, l
am sure you will carry with you the best
wishes of the bar and the people OF your
efficient service"
Apropos of the above, the business of
the court having been disposed of, Judge
Gaskill said Gentlemen, as it is we'll
known, | have sent my resignation to
Governor Stokes and | had supposed he
would have appointed some one by this
time so that he could be sworn in today
Because of this fact l may sit with you
again. feel very grateful to the mem
bers of the bar for the support which you |
have given me during the past thirteen
years, and my success is due to this con-
sideration will step down to the bar |
and hope there we will meet in friendly |
relations"
In response to this announcement by |
the court, Capt. Walter A. Barrows, one
of the Oldest members of the bar, and |
who got out of sick bed to be present,
made reference to the fact that there was
only three months difference between
Judge Gaskill and himself regarding their
admission to the bar. Mr. Barrows said
the retiring Judge had discharged his
duties in manner that has met the APP
probation of the bar and the best citizens
of the county. The speaker has had con-
business before the court, and he
always found the Judge not partial to
any one, but sought truth in every case
to the approval of his own conscience
Continuing Mr. Barrows said: Il think
you can go out of this office with full ap-
proval of your fellow members of the bar.
Aud | say, when speak for my brothers
and citizens, that you have well performed
the duties of the court ="
Prosecutor Samuel A. Atkinson did not
care TO underrate the beautiful American
custom of sending flowers after eyes were
dimmed and hands cold, but he thought
in some instances these garlands should
be sent during life when the recipient {
could enjoy them. During the seven
years in my present position | have tried
more cases than any other member of the
bar, and l haYe found the court fair, i'm
partial, and rather more ready to assist
than oppose counsel. / will say that this
court, in my Judgment, gives as good SER
vice as any court in the state You have
presided with signal ability. Your sue
cessor has hard way to follow. / wish
to extend to you Christmas greetings and
a Happy New Year, and trust your future
will be successful, (
Although one of the younger members of
the bar, William A. Slaughter said it had
been a source of pride to him to note the
celebrity and effective manner in which the
business of the court had been conducted,
which also applied to the younger mem
bers in their assignments to defend
prisoners. Il hope the future to you will
be all that you can heartily wish for, "
said the speaker
V. Claude Palmer said Gas a Junior
member of the bar, perhaps l am out of
place to express my views, on account of
my limited experience | have observed
the way in which business has been con-
Quoted, both here and in other courts, but
don't think the manner can be improved
upon in celebrity. We sometimes differ in
our opinions when in the heat of battle,
but calm consideration has shown that
perhaps we were wrong. If in our youth
and inexperience we have carried our
feelings too far, we hope that the charge
against us has not been one to our dis
credit. have received fair and courteous
treatment and we wish you prosperity"
Eckard P. Budd, who was not present
when the speaking began, declared that
nothing had been said by the other mem
5ers which he could not heartily and fully
endorse. Il would rather pay tribute
to you as the presiding Judge of this
court. said Mr.. Budd. than would to
you as leader of the same. The mem
bers of this bar need not be afraid to
stand before any other bar as we have as
good Judge as any county in the state,
one who is patient in hearing and earnest
in research. When you spoke, the law
was always pronounced certainly think
that the people of the county at large
have reason to feel proud of the manner
in which you have discharged your du-
ties as Judge, which has clearly hewn
the path for your successor We are all
very sorry that to-day is your last, and
also that when we say, Your Honor,
please we will not find you sitting on the
bench.
Judge Gaskill finally broke the silence
by remarking: II am inexpressaby sur
prised and affected at this public ex-
preston of your confidence concerning
my conduct of this Office. This open ex-
preston, however, makes me feel that per-
haps | am retiring at the proper time
when may have the well wishes of all |
members of the bar, and wish you all a |
Merry Christmas and a Happy New
Year am now down with you"
Rich cut glass. Buy it at Boyces.