The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-06-12
CABIN COURT
ON BOARD SHIP
Sturdy Little Boat Which Goes Into
Rough Alaskan seas Dis
trIbuting Justice.

WASHINGTON June IL. Unique
among the chancellories of the earth
Is the cabin-court Of the United
State revenue cutter, Thetis. Once q
year this sturdy little ship is sent far
into the frozen north where the Eski-
mos, miners, traders, fishermen and
others, may air their grievances be-
fore representative Of Uncle Sans
Judiciary.
Under the northern lights and the
midnight sun, in the cabin Of the
Thetis, these people bring their diff
culties and legal tangles to be unrav-
eled. The Thetis has gained the title
of the floating court Of the rough
Alaskan seas" and among the outlaws
it is known as the Terror"
Secretary Of the Treasury McAdoo
today signed orders which designate
the Thetis to open court for the third
judicial district, embracing the Ber-
ing sea islands and Alaskan ports at
Valdez, July 10. On board will be
Judge Peter D. Overfield, selected by
Attorney General McReynolds to pre-
side and his assistants, Lieutenants
Frank L. Austin, Charles F. Setter
and Warner K. Thompson Of the rev.
enue cutter service During the courts
session these men will be United
States commissioners. Lieutenants
Thos. A. Stanley, Clarence H. Bench
and Stephen S. Yeandle will assist In
the capacity OF deputy United States
marshals.
+ The difficulties that beset the OIL
Gals of the floating court are many
and varied. There are no police in
that country. When an offender hears
that the Thetis has reached port he
generally takes to the hills and the
officers of the court generally pursue
Frequently they are captured and
prosecuted, but often they are able
to evade the officers by remaining in
concealment until word is received
that the court has sailed. Officials OF
the revenue cutter service in Wash.
ington who have served in judicial
capacities aboard the Thetis say that
a general exodus OF natives to the In
terror commences every time the ship
touches at Point Barrow, Port Clar.
ence or any other of the principal
ports of the far north.
Under the Eskimo laws 1t is the
i custom for parents to maintain CON
j troll Of their children even after they
are married Consequently, the mum
4 Der Of divorce cases and domestic
quarrels that are heard every year is
astounding. Mothers who are dissatis
fled with their daughters husbands u
their sons brides bring their trou
/ bles before the presiding Judge. Oh
course, the wives and husbands them
selves are given equal privileges
Once upon time, 1t appears in the
/ Theris' docket, there lived in little
village on st. Lawrence island an
Eskimo famed for his strength and
prowess who stole another Eskimo's
wife. The wife stealer had swiped
other wives and had made it hot fol
! the bereayed husbands who tried tc
get their mates back. This Eskimo
realizing his physical weakness, and
not wishing to suffer bodily harm
through any attempt to recover q
mere wife, waited until the Thetis
touched port with the court aboard
and asked justice. Captain Hender
son, at that time in command OF the
ship, put ashore to arrest the wife
stealer but that worthy had taken tc
/ the hills and could not be found. But
st. Lawrence island has never agar
been troubled by his depredations.