Imperial Valley press., 1909-03-20

ravens IS New Juoge or the Ntt1B
 Police Court.
 City Recorder J. F. Tout and his job were divorced by the City Trus- tees last Friday night for incompati- bility of temperament.
 Forty-nine citizens signed the com plaint alleging that MT. Tout lacked the necessary knowledge of law and was not qualified by training and tenn perament to hold the scales of justice at @ proper balance. Fifty-five other persons, most of them citizens of El Centro, signed the answer assevera- ting that Recorder Tout was the most upright, able, and admirable dispen- ser of justice that ever came down the pike, and protesting that they. the only really good people, would be grossly insulted and outraged by his removal
 Efforts were made to show that the grounds for divorce were other than those set forth in the complaint, and to drag the late lamented ana la mentable booze" case into the pro ceedings in the role of correspondent. Considerable fuss was made over the intrusion of the liquor question.
 Chairman Pearson stated the pur- pose of the meeting, the clerk read the petition and the protest, which at least one citizen had signed irn- partially, and the chairman then asked what was the siesssssas s7st board. The pleasI of the board seemed to-boste/ /maintain profound silence. The situation was becoming awkward, when Trustee Pellet, talk ing a long breath and pulling him. self together like one about to dive into chilly water, moved that Record CT Tout be fired and the office de clared vacant. Trustee aButtress terse- ly seconded the motion.
 Aten Takes the Burden.
 That relieved the tension and pre- cipitated a halcyon and vociferous session. Deputy Constable Aten, of Imperial, intrepidly took the lead and made the first speech. MT. AteR said he would take upon himself all responsibility for the liquor cases and relieve Recorder Tout of any burden on their account. He said 1t would be unjust to remove the Recorder be- %,,;o 0f not go in a way to suit the members of the board. It looked to him like scheme to defeat justice, plan to let other defendants escape If the other liquor cases pending should re- suit in acquittals, the trustees would be censured, no matter how just the new Recorder might be. Tout should be kept in office through those cases.
 When defendants are acquitted in these liquor cases" said Mir. Atea sarcastically, tits all right. When the people win, it's all wrong" Then he pulled the tremolo stop and con tinued: Because two innocent ladies applauded something that pleased them in court, and were not fined for contempt, this good judge must be removed. Don't do 1t, gentlemen. beg of you not to do such a thing just because two innocent ladies were allowed to applaud"
 The trustees were unmoved by this pathetic appeal. Not one of them was seen to furtively wipe a tear from his eye. Not one of them spoke.
 Dr. Blackinton explained why he signed and circulated the petition for recall of Recorder Tout. He did not deem MT. Tout competent. There was no personal feeling, except that he did feel outraged when Recorder Tout compelled him, as venireman, to relate a conversation with his wife.
 Judicial Temperament.
 That is false!" shouted Recorder Tout
 q trust my own memory on that point" calmly replied Dr. Blaclinton
 "It Is false. didn't do It." shouted Tout
 Dr. Blackinton reasserted that he was forced to relate the conversation. and said he would refer to the rec ord in the case.
 In the ensuing colloOuy, lt came out that Recorder Tout when an Objeo-
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