Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-02-06
Clerk If Courts Box Prepares
Some Interesting FaG'ssNt Figures
Work ACCOMPLISHED BY HIe
Rscords of Court Show That Judge
Has Heard on an Average ie1 Cases
a Year Ever since He Has Been
on Bench.

At the request Of number of the
friends Of Judge John w. G.. Black
stone, Clerk Of The Courts Harry II.
Holt, has compiled IL statement
Nhowing the work Judge blackstone
has accomplished since the new con-
stituilon went into effect. MS at that
time the old county court was ahol-
ishcd. In the statement MIR Holt shows
that Judge Blackstone has heard on
the average Of lCl cascf each year.
with an average 81 more than two
cases Tor each day M tho bench.
Mr. tIoltt statement is given he-
low
4 have HE honor TO slbnit the
following statement showing the con-
dillon of The docket of the court at
the time when tho new constitution
of this state became effective. on
February /, 1904; its present condl-
ton, and the number OF cases dispos-
ed OF by the Circuit Court of III S
county, with Hon. J. w. G.. Black
stone presiding, during the four years
just past. or expiring ut the end of the
January term, 1905 tho last day of
which was February ), 1908, to wit:
AT tho time of the abolition of the
county courts in the, state, on he
FIRST day of Fel.uary, 1901, the then
existing Circuit Court of Elizabeth
/ City county had pending upon IFS
docket t27 twenty seven cases at
law; by statute (27) twcnty seven
casos wcrc transferred to II from the
docket OF the county court. there
Vera CG) sixteen new cases at law
which were docketed for hearing Mt
tho March term, 1904, making u to-
tai number of cases on the law docket
OF the Circuit Court at the Marcn
term 1904, (the first term held In this
county after the new constitution be-
cnmo efrectlvel. OF seventy-one (7D.
At the end of the January term, 1905
there were nifty four (5D cases pend
Ing and undetermined On the law
docket OF the said court. of which
seven C7) cases are pending upon the
decision OF the Supreme Court.
AT the March term, 1901. there
were tighty-six (SG) cases pending In
said court on tho chance.y docket
At the end OF the anuary term. 1905
there were flfty-nvc (55) causes
pending on the chancery docket OF
said court.
During the four years intervening
between February l. 1904 and the end
of the January term. 1908, there were
ono hundred and seventy- one Q7D
new chancciy suits Instituted and
four hundred and fourteen (i1D new
suits at law, including criminal cases
both indictments ty grand jury and
appeals. hence 1t appears that There
have been total Of 257 cases on. the
chancory docket, and total of 4S5
law and criminal eases OH the Law
docket. making u total of TAP cases
pending during said four years, and
inasnuch as only fifty four (5i)
chancery and fifty-il five (55) law and
criminal or n total OF ninety nine
(99) remained on the docket NJ the
end Of the January term, 1905, the
court must have disposed OF six hun
drsd' and forty-three (643l cases in
the SAID four years, about one hun
dred and sixty-cne Q6D cases each
year. twonty-seven (97) cases each
term, or an average of two and one
fourth cases each day. in addition Ia
tho other matters. such rs granting
administrations, probating Wills, sub
shutting trustees. examining reports
and examining bills against the atatc
examining reports of nduclarles,
granting liquor licenses. qualifying
officers, naiurallzing citizens and
other numerous duties.
Very respectfullv.
"II IT HOI n