The Dickinson press., 1908-11-14


In three of the counties, Stark, Billings
and Morton. the time for holding court
is set by law. The other counties are
left to the discretion of the judge until
the legislature establishes some fixed
date. However, as Judge Crawford does
not take the Office until January 1 and
the legislature convenes January S. he
will not take any action in regard to
this matter and among the first bills
passed will be one establishing the
time of holding court in these new
counties. 1t has been the custom in the
past to leave the arranging of sessions
in the u of the way counties to the
discretion of the judge and probably
Dunn. Mckenzie, Mercer and Oliver
counties. will be left in this way. This
enables the judge to take advantage of
the seasons and hold court when it is
most convenient for all concerned: Most
of the counties in this district are fairly
we'll equipped with court houses but the
accommodations for all the necessary
officials are often limited and it would
be a great hardship to have to hold
court in the dead of winter at such
points as Schafer. Stanton. Manning
and Center which r located in the
country. Court will be held at these
places during the summer months.
The terms prescribed by law are
Billings county. 3rd Tuesday in April
and 1st Tuesday in October. Morton
county list Tuesday in May and End
Tuesday in November. Stark county list
Tuesday in April and End Tuesday in
September.
According to this arrangement the
first regular term is at Dickinson the
first Tuesday in April but Judge Crawford
expects to hold court at Hettinger. Mott
or Bowman before that time so that his
first term of court will probably be at
one of these three towns.
The principal judiciary chambers will
be located in Dickinson but according
to the law, the judge must hold cham
bers at Mandan in Morton county on the
first Monday in January. March, May,
July, September and November. except
when the regular court terms interfere,
and in Dickinson on the 1st Monday of
the alternate months under the same
conditions. Elk parte cases. or those in
which a trial by jury is not necessary,
may be heard by the judge in chambers.
All the remaining time. except when
presiding over court sessions. the judge
can be found at the Dickinson chambers.
The salary of the district judge is set
by law at So. 500. The appointment
Of the official court s~tenograph er has not
vet been made by the judge and depends
upon ability. It is probable that some
one in the district will be appointed
but if no one with the necessary skill
can be found in the district the position
will 20 outside. However, it is highly
probable that the Slope can furnish such
q q a.,
1t is understood that there are two
candidates, one in Mandan and one in
Dickinson. A male stenoerapher is
necessary owing to the hardships and
lack of good Accommodations at some of
the distant county seats. Richard Boulger
of this city is understood to be in the
field and is now in Chicago taking
advanced work at a special school. Mr..
BoulGer is already an expert but is
~perfectine himself still more. Up to
September /, he was stenoerapher for
Mcbride & Baker of this city.
Judge Crawford's vote at the elections
last week cannot be officially secured
until after the different county commits
sioners have canvassed the vote, which
will be done November Is. An estimate
of his vote gives a total of about $3.50
in the ten counties. In Morton county
he received 2.214 votes, the highest poll
on the ticket being 2,227. In Stark
county he polled 1 ,032 votes, in Billings
ITO, Adams CTS. Dunn 500, Bowman 700.
Mckenzie - Hettineer 900. Mercer
500. and Oliver AIS.