Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-12-31
COURTS WORK
DURING YEAR
Interesting Totals Are Computed From
Records, Showing Less Grim
inal Business.
I'm SESSION 23O DAYS
Circuit Clerks Books Indicate Effects
of Panic of 19o7-The County
Court Grind.
IN SESSION 2so DAYS

In comparing the last years work
of the circuit court with that of the
year before some interesting totals
were obtained from Circuit Clerk
George w. Gamble Although show
ing variation in comparison, the vol
ume of business transacted was great
er in 1907 than in 1908, another indi-
cation that the world is growing bet
ter The number of days that the
circuit court was in session numbered
the same as in 1907. The number of
law cases started in 1908 exceeds that
of 1907 and the chancery side of the
but in most of the other cases the
record of 1907 beats that of the year
just gone.
The circuit court was in session
230 days, the same number as in 1907.
The grand jury was in session 80
days. whereas in 1907 it's work ex-
tended over 6S days and 1C2 indict-
ments were returned which was 9S
less than the number in 1907. A mum
Der Of these cases were certified to
| the county court for trial
/ Huch Business Transacted.
In 1867 the circuit court disposed
of total Of 2S9 cases while in 1905
| it disposed of nearly double that num-
Der, 52S in all Approximately $50 OF
these were criminal cases, an increase
chancery cases of which 60 were di
vorces, making 10 less divorces anc
II more chancery cases than the pre-
lvious years record showed.
| The fact that 430 new cases were
begun while SIS were disposed of does
not make the docket any lighter thar
at the first of the year. The thirt
Monday in the new year marks thC
opening of the new term with som,
CAB cases in hand, 364 of them Law
cases, while 279 are chancery cases
There were 145 new chancery case
lstarted of which 81 are divorces ant
LIS new law cases have been started
making Al more than last years dock
let carried. ef
The Instruments Filed.
The county records are also KEEP
by Circuit Clerk Gamble under tn
county organization. A report of tn
records show 1923 instruments file
lin 1908 while the 1907 record show
1892 fled. Of the 1928 instrument
filed in 1908. there were 1929 deed
and 1899 mortgages while 1900 wer
miscellaneous.
In 1907 twenty-nine aliens wer
given certificates of naturalization
but in 1908, So foreigners were natu
allied During 1908 only 80 foreigner
filed petitions for naturalization p;
Ipers and in 1907 264 petitions WEI
, filed In 1907, 81 declarations of il
, tention were issued, being exceede
in 1868 by 1913, there being III de
larations issued then.
l The issuing and recording of thes
! declarations of intention papers. pet
t tions for naturalization and certificate
of naturalization require much deta
y work and the large number of INN
: grants are increasing yearly, natural
increasing the business in the clerk
loffice. The present law makes Il
naturalization part of the work
|, courts of unlimited jurisdiction onl
l This formerly was handled in Il
: county court and through the coun
! clerks Office.
u In County Court.
County Clerk H. B. Hubbard's re
:, ords show that 61S marriage licens
:, were issued; 207 estates were start
: which includes the probate of so vii
so administrations and AZ guardia
ships; a total of 210 hunters licens
were issued; SO special assessme
a cases were filed; IS insanity and
. dependency cases were brought up a.
!. 81 pleas Of guilty in :, ninal cas-
were received. This record will abe
C equal that of 1907, though varying
# lsome items.
:. An approximate of the amount TAX