Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1910-10-28
Essex County Court. October
Term


Term.
The October term of Essex County
Court began Tuesday, October 2b, Hon
Zed S. Stanton, presiding judge; Hons
o. B. Cutting aud c. II. McGinnis asso.
ciate judges. After the customary proc.
lamation of sheriff Beattie, prayer was
offered by Rev. Pierce, and then fol
lowed the call of the jury and court
calendars. OF the II cases marked for
jury were marked "no trial, and the
Others were continued. There were six
on the court calendar, and of these one
was discontinued, two continued, aud
three, al divorce cases, set for hearing
The docket was next called, and OF
the 81 cases, six were reported as set
tied and discontinued, or settled, the
others were disposed of 10y continuance,
leaving no civil cases for the jury.
OF the nine cases on the chancery
docket, eight were disposed of by con.
FINANCE and one settled aud discontin-
ued
In the case of State VS.. Bert Davis a
mol pros was entered, two state cases
were continued, and one, State VS.. Viii
liam Smith marked for trial
The court next heard the divorce case
of Eluora Partridge V. Arthur c. Part
ridge, aud at its close, without giving
judgment, ordered recess until . p. NJ.
Upon reassembling IN the afternoon
the grand jury was impanelled and
sworn. Judge Stanton then delivered a
very able and exhaustive charge, first
calling attention to the significance of
the oath, full of meaning, full of sug-
gestiou, aud clearly outlined the duty of
the office. 1t was the guiding star. A
duty owed to the public to be diligent
Special attention was called to keep
secret the proceeding of the grand jurors
secret for all time. Legal evidence
was defined, with the suggestion that
the states attorney conduct examiaa-
ton of witnesses, although members of
the panel were in no wise debarred from
asking questions. Duty Of each grand
juror to perform that duty fearlessly
and honestly. 1t was clean cut charge
throughout.
The court appointed W. Il. Bishop OF
Island Pond foreman.
The grand jury then retired, and the
petit jurors were called and sworn.
JuDge Stanton, as in the case of the
grand jury took up the oath clause by
clause and pointed out the true signiti-
canoe of each. portion of it, adding a
special caution that they avoid some of
the things about which public criticism
is common.
Members of the bar and others who
have frequented the courts stated that
in years of experience they had. never
heard the both panels of jurors instruct
ed 10 so effective way.
The petit Jurors were then excused
until 8 A. NJ. Wednesday.
The court next heard arguments upon
the defendants motion to have the case
of Willard V. Norcross continued on &C.
count of the absence of his counsel,
Porter II. Dale. After consideration the
court announced that while they
thought the defendant at fault for not
securing other counsel they hardly felt
like forcing him to trial, but would con-
time the case upon terms that defend
ant pay the plaintiff 500 within two
weeks, otherwise judg ment for the plain
tiff.
VIM. Smith of Concord was brought
in, retracted his plea of not guilty, and
pleaded guilty to disturbance of the
peace. He was sentenced to not more
than three and one-half months and moi
less than three months III the county
Jail, pay costs of prosecution and stand
committed until sentence is complied
with. He will be transferred to the
House of Correction at Rutland.
Court then adjourned until 9 A. NJ.
Wednesday, with no civil cases for tria
by jury, a situation which has been nm
heard of in the county Tor many years
Wednesday morning when court con
vened a decision was given in the Part
ridge divorce case, dismissi ng it without
prejudice. Tie petit jurors were thei
excused until next Tuesday morning
Meanwhile until the grand jury reports
the court will do what business comes
before it, which promises to be small.
Good health is reduired