The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1907-07-09

handled by the court since 1t was
established. The number of quasi
criminal cases disposed of is 21,000
criminal cases 6,6S1, and cases trans
ferred to 1t from the Criminal court
and tried on indictment number 34S.
OF the 848 criminal caes 159 were
tried by jury, "A were tried by the
judges without jury, and 115 were
pleas of guilty.
During this same period part of the
time two Municipal court judges sat
in the Criminal court to help the
four regular judges OF that court. The
Criminal court in this period tried 528
cases, OF which 155 were jury trials,
116 trials by the court, and 257 were
pleas of guilty.
Besides the cases taken from the
Criminal court, the Municipal court
had brought to II 6,6s1 criminal cases
--misdemeanor cases. This means
that If the municipal court did not ex.
list all these cases would have to go
TO the Criminal court for disposition.
In addition to the criminal work the
Municipal court judges have sat as ex-
aiming magistrates in a large number
OF criminal cases.
COURTS WORK STOPS CRIME.
In It's quasi criminal work the court
has been equally active. The courts
work In the direction OF reducing
crime is shown by comparison OF
the number Of cases tried in the four
principal police courts during six
months Of, the "old regime" and the
first six months OF the Municipal
court. Here are the figures:
State City
misde- ordi-
Felonies. meanors. nsnces. Totals.
Police court period .............,....
1888 1873 1900 25,179
Municipal c'rt p'd..
.. 1900 1907 1t,07l 16,03S
This is a decrease in the number OF
trials in the four heaviest police sta
tions Of 63.66 per cent. The. stations
are the Harrison street, Maxwell St.,
Desplaines st., and West Chicago st.
One remarkable feature Of the new
court is that It ls the only court in
the United States which can enter
orders making Its own rules Of pro-
cedure and practice. This practically
places legislative powers in the hands
Of those who daily deal with actual
conditions Of life.
POLICE FORCE is BENEFITED.
AS result of the tremendous
amount OF work disposed OF by the
Municipal court, the work Of the Cir
cult court has been decreased 81 per
cent, the Superior court 81 per cent,
and that Of the county court rs per
cent. The court also has exercised
q marked influence for good upon the
police force Of Chicago.
A policeman making an arrest for
a violation OF the law knows that
he will be given square deal" by
every Municipal court Judge, and that
no influence by politicians will in the
slightest manner affect the disposition
OF the case. This has stimulated in
| centiye among the police. resulting in
more effcient and honest police ad-
ministration.
In its financial aspect the Municipal
court has set a high standard. The
/ money judgments entered by the court
since April, 1907, have exceeded both
the Superior and Circuit courts, and
Judge Olson Is confident OF leading
all the courts in this feature OF judi
] clal work.
The annual cost Of the court Is esti-
mated at 100000. Its income for the
first year probably will reach $780,
600, making the court self-sustainlng
from the start. Judge Olson, how
ever Is not content even with this show,
ing. He is determined that the court
shall be not only self-sustainlng. but
that II shall within the next few
years pay into the city treasury sur
plus every year.
HARDEST WORKERS IN COUNTY.
The volume Of business handled by
the Municipal court practically is ten
times that of all other courts In Cook
county, There are. twenty-six judges
In the Circuit, Superior, and Grimm
oil courts. These courts cost tax-pay-
ers annually $1,2500OO Their income
is In the neighborhood OF $3.50, 1000,
leaving total expense OF $1,000, 900
paid every year by the taxpayers OF
the county. "f
When suit is brought In the NUM-.
cipal court and Jury trial is demand
ed the case Is Immediately placed on
the jury calendar for the following
month. Up TO the present time the
court has been able TO dispose OF a
jury calendar each month. so far as
the litigants were able 10 go 10 trial.
In every case an opportunity for trial
has been given within two months OF
the time suit was started
In criminal cases and In trials OF
offenders against city ordinances
speedy trials always have been given.
Cases which formerly dragged on for
months and years the Municipal court
has disposed OF in a few days.
The number OF suits commenced in
the Circuit. Superior and County
courts have decreased materially as a
result Of the activity OF the new
court.
In the first six months of the life
OF the new court such suits have de-
creased 1922 per cent, and the decrease
IN the fees OF those courts have de-