The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1910-02-26
A JUSTICE COURT FARCE.


Last week civil case came up
in the local justice court which
seems to have attracted unusual at
tention among certain business men.
The case referred to was civil
action brought against one, E. X.
Watson, who, as readers Of the Rec
ord have been advised, was arrested
about a fortnight ago upon a com
plant filed against him by J. L.
Bowman, who alleged that Watson
was owing him on board bill and
was therefore an absconding debtor
On the morning of the day of the
arrest, Night Policeman Small OBJ
served the movements of Watson and
knowing that he had not squared
matters with the restaurant keeper,
persuaded Watson to pay him the
sum due Bowman. But Small, who
had been on duty throughout the
night, retired to Sunderland without
reporting the collection.
Subsequently, it became current
that Watson had flown; whereupon
Bowman and other creditors took
steps to apprehend him before he
had time to vanish over the Nevada
Utah state line. Sheriff Smith, al
though the stage with Watson had
about an hours start of him, made
fast drive overtaking his man in
Eagle Valley, with whom he returned
to Phoebe. The prisoner was taken
before Justice Garrison who fixed his
bail at $50. Unable to obtain the
necessary sureties. Watson informed
the Justice that he had only $40 In
his pocket, but rather than languish
In Jail would put up that amount
ia ipssfe--hiss appearance in court
Oirthe following Monday. This proved
satisfactory to the justice, SO the
money was advanced and deposited
In the Bank Of Phoebe for safe keep
ing. It then developed that the
account had been settled; the CON-
plainant entered no appearance and
early Monday forenoon the criminal
charge against Watson was dismissed
Watson, 1t seems, owed C. B. Stein
man. who instituted attachment
proceedings, after the Hodges-Cook
Mercantile company, Elias Kahn. Pr
oche Drug company and j. w. Holt
ham had assigned claims which they
TOO, held against Watson. This move.
We are informed by one of the cred
itors, was taken at the suggestion of
Justice Garrison.
But the scene then shifted. Enters
CHARLES Lee Horsey, attorney and
business associate Of the Justice,
with an assignment of the bail money
from Watson which bore the date
OF February ~. While the assign
ment was dated two days prior, it
did rot reach Justice Garrison until
undersheriff Jake Johnson had serv-
the attachment papers.
Now the question arose, was the
mandate of the sheriff good, or was
Horsey's assignment good? 1t is rea-
sonable to presume that the order of
the sheriff would have preference,
at least until the matter could be
threshad out in court, when attor-
neys representing both sides to the
controversy could be present and un.
til which time 1t would be impos,
slble to obtain a legal decision as
TO whether the creditors of Watson
had right to the money under
alta chment; or whether the assign
ment to Horsey was valid one and
took preference. But as near as the
Record can ascertain, there was nc
hearing Of the case at all. However
Justice Garrison turned the money
over to Horsey and we are firmly
OF the opinion that he did SO in con
tempt of his own court and can be
forced 70 make restitution il the part
les interested in the attachment
chose to push matters.
The Record has no interest in the
case whatsoever except that it desire
to see justice prevail We do mo-
pretend to say who is entitled tt
the money, or who is not entitled
- ~. She VIC w ucltNe that the Cast
has not been allowed to take thu
proper course and for that reason
justice Garrison should be criticiz
ed. There is no doubt but wha
a big fuss has been raised abou
z the matter and the impression ha
gone out that pressure was brough
to bear upon the justice to Undue,
him to act hastily-more SO than h,
would have done under different cir
cumstances-to the detriment of tn
business interests of the communit.
whose only safeguard against mel
Of Watson's stripe lies in the fair
ness Of the courts. 1t has been report
ed that soon after the money unde
the ban Of the sheriff was paid t
Attorney Horsey, Watson received