The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-09-15
THE NEW COURT HOUSE.
First Court Held in The New Build
ing Convened Yesterday, judge
Memminger Presiding.

The first term Of court held lii the
new court house convened yesterday
morning. Judge r. Withers Memmin-
ger. OF Charleston, presiding. There
were no formal ceremonies in the
nature uf dedication Of the new tenn
pie Of justice. The fact that it was
the first term Of court held in the
new building was not formally men
toned.
The building, however, spoke for
itself. 1t is one Of the lmndsomest
court houses in South Carolina, or in
this section OF the South. Judge Mem
minger in private conversation with
the members Of the bar and other cit
liens expressed himself as delighted
with the building as whole, and
with the convenient arrangement of
the court room, and the jury rooms
and retiring rooms.
The court which convened yester-
day morning was the fall term Of the
common pleas court. Had it been
term Of the court Of general ses-
sions. with the grand jury in atten-
dance, the presiding judge would
have had all opportunity. in his gen.
eral charge to the grand jury, to say
something in regard to the new
building. The court being term of
the common pleas court. however,
there was no opportunity for any re-
marks Of this kind, and the court
proceeded with the ordinary routine
Of business.
The court convened at exactly ten
o'clock. The petit juries were called,
and Judge Memminger then called
the cases which had been set for
trial. a roster having been arranged
by the bar.
The first case set for trial on the
roster was continued by consent of
counsel on both sides, and several
other cases we're disposed of in like
manner. The first case in which a
trial was asked for was that Of Bouk-
night V. the Southern railway, the
plaintiff being represented by Messrs
Hunt. Hunt and Hunter, and the de-
fendant railway company by Messrs
Johnstone and Cromer. The plain.
tiff's attorneys announced ready. The
defendants 5 attorneys stated thai
they did not desire a continuance
but that several material witnesses
for the defence had not arrived, but
were expected on the train reaching
Newberry at 1.40 O'Clock. Judge
Memminger stated that he would moi
force the case to a trial at that time
but that after the dinner hour the
case would be forced to trial.
A preliminary motion on the part
of counsel TO strike out certain allie
cations in the complaint was hearC
by Judge Memminger, this being the
first business actually taken up IL
the new court house. The motion
prevailed in part, and was overrule6
in part.
Judge Memminger, who is holding
this term Of the court, comes from
Charleston. He was elected judge
when the number of circuits in this
State was increased at the session OF
the legislature in 1905 from. eight tc
ten. He is perhaps the Youngest
man on the circuit bench in South
Carolina, but he is one of the strong
est members of the States Judiciary
He presides with dignity and firm.
ness. His rulings are prompt and de-
cisive. His aim is to mete out jus.
tice and to dispatch business, and he
succeeds.
This is Judge Memminger's second
term as presiding Judge in this circuit
He held the Newberry courts in the
fall Of 1905, and the celebrated case
Of McCarley v. the Glen-1lowry Mfg
Co., was tried before him.