Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-20
DISTRICT SUPREME COURT
EARLY DAYS DESCRIBED BY
JUSTICE JOB BARNARD.
Gives History of the Tribunal From
It's Establishment in the
Year 1868.

Early days of the Supreme Court of the
District of Columbia were described by
Job Barnard. associate justice of that
court. 10 an audience that completely filled
the large hall in the main building OF
George Washington University last even
ing. The address was delivered at the re-
quest of the Bar Association OF the Dis
trict.
Justice Barnard described the organiza-
ton of the court by President Lincoln in
1853, with David X. Cartier OF Ohio as
chief justice and Abraham Il. DIN. New
York: George p. Fisher Delaware. and
Andrew Wylie of the District as associate
justices.
Justice Wylic resided in Alexandria.
Va, said the speaker. at the time of
the election OF President Lincoln. and had
been known to he an avowed republican.
and he the only man in the city o.
Alexandria who voted for Mr.. Lincoln.
His open avowal OF his political principles
had subjected him TO threats that he
would be shot If he voted for Mr.. Lincoln,
and after the election he was fired upon
by some one while sitting on his porch.
the bullet striking and breaking glass
which he held in his hand. and shortly
after that he removed from Alexandria 10
Washington.
Hat, 5 Corpus for Mrs. Surratt.
Jus:i>e Wyle issued writ of habeaS
corpus for Mrs. Surratt. but the return
was made that the writ was suspended
by order of the President. Andrew john
son. and Mrs. Surratt was executed with
out having an inquiry under the writ. she
having been convicted by military
court
The Justices lecture covered the history
of the court during the twentyfour years
that David *. Cartier sat on the bench as
chief justice. which was from its estab-
lishment in 1863, until his DEATH in 1887.
at the age of seventyfour.
During these twentyfour years" said
Justice Barnard. the Supreme Court of
the District of Columbia did much to ad-
vance the cause of good order and good
government. not only for this District. but
for the nation at large. It's broad jurisdc-
ton and its location at the nations cap
ital brought before it's judges many I'M
portant causes such as could not have
arisen in other courts, either state or
federal
The speaker also told of the later APP
pointees who had been associated with
him. Justices Humphreys, Macarthur
Hagner, Cox, James, Merrick and Mont
gomery.
Only One officer Remains.
.Of all the officers connected with the
court when it was first organized the
speaker explain d, none remain except
Mr.. Return Jonathan MelgS, IT., VINO was
with his father as assistant clerk from the
beginning. and is still in the office. or
the members of the bar then, only three
remain in practice at this time-William
F. Mattingly. who is now president of the
bar association; Nathaniel Wilson and
Eugene Carusi.
During these twenty-four years the
court witnessed three bloodless revolu-
tons in the government of this District.
and the futile efforts of Logan L. Reavls
to have the capital removed to ST. Louis.
It saw the last mayor and common coun-
Gill; and witnessed the abolition of the city
governments OF Washington and George
town and of the levy court; II saw the
experiment of voting for delegate In
Congress and members of the District
legislature and the administration OF Two
governors and 1t saw the beginning OF the
government by Commissioners IL hearu
the city groan under the weight of its own
inertia and then saw it spring forward
toward it's present beauty and wealth and
comfort"
On the platform were Mr.. Justice STAFF
ford. Mr.. Justice Gould and Mr.. Justice ;
Anderson, assoc ate justices or the Su-
prerne Court of the District of Coumbia:
Mr.. Justice Van Orsdel of the Court Oh
AppeaIs of the District of Columbia; VII
nItn t. Mattingly, president OF the DIS
trict Bar Association, and Walter Z. Cie-
NJ