The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1908-06-11
GOSS EXPLAINS
A FEW THINGS
Popular Judge Throws Considerable Light Charges
That Have Been Made Against Hm---Voters
Take Accusation With Grain of Salt

that these officials have been pro-
vided with large corps of assist
ants to meet the demands Of the
rapidly increasing public business.
The business of the District Court
OF Ward county has kept pace with
the advancement in other depart
ments Of the public service, as the
following will show:
At the first terms Of Court that l
held after my election in 1904 l
found the number of civil cases a.
waiting trial in the district to be
2S6, besides about IS criminal cases,
or total of about $50 cases. Today
there are not more than ESQ civil
and not one dozen criminal cases
pending. 1t will seem that there IL
less unfinished business now than
when l took the office, and this not
withstanding the growth of the dis
trict in wealth and population. What
that growth means in increased court
business may be seen from state
ment which follows from the Clerk
of the District Court of Ward county:
|. j. E. Smith, Clerk of the Dis
trict court Of Ward County, North
Dakota, do hereby certify that the
records of my office show that from
the organization of Ward county up
to January 4, 1905 there had been
filed in this court 1899 civil cases.
that from January 4, 1905 to the 7th
day of June 1908 there had been fled
2,7O1 civil cases; that there are a.
bout 200 civil cases still undisposed
of.
I further certify that the records
of my office show that from the or
ganization of said Ward county up
to January l, 1905 there had been
filed in this court 262 criminal cases.
and from January l, 1905 to June
7, 1908 there were filed 1858 criminal
cases.
I further certify that at the special
January 1907 term of said court
there were 50 convictions and sen.
fences imposed in criminal cases, and
90 persons committed to the state
penitentiary from said court.
Dated June Sth, 1908.
(Signed) J. E. Smith,
Clerk of the District Court in and
for Ward County, North Dakota.
From these figures it will be seen
that more civil and criminal business
| has been done in the District Court
| of Ward County during the three
! and a half years of my term than
was done during the entire history Of
| the county up to the time took the
office, and there is now less unfin-
ished business on hand than was left
on hand when ] began. l claim no
special credit for this. because |
have simply performed as much serv-
ce as l could, and in the best and
| speeGiest manner possible under such
| conditions. While othe- public Of
| ficers have had help to meet the in
craasing demands of their Offices,
have had none, because the Jaw does
not allow it. If the expenses of the
courts increase from year to year it
is because the population and prop
erty has increased, and with it the
business of the Courts. The Judge
does not increase or reduce the vol
ume of the courts busiNess. 1t is
the peoples business, and he "iosy
take it as he finds it. l feel that I
have done, and am still doing, my
share of it, and if the people think
somebody else can do better, that
is also matter of their business, and
shall cheerfully abide by their
judgment.
Dated June Sth, 1908.
| (Signed) E. B. GOSS.