The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-03-28

will without expert advice IL sure to
deprive the benenciaries OF some part
Of the property to which they are
Justly entitled.
IA striking difference between the
plactice In the probate court and the
circuit court that has impressed itself
on me Is the lack of lighting spirit
shown by the attorneys who appear
before me. In the circuit court, no
attorney. no matter how youthful or
will take the opinion
of the Judge over his own, without
some argument. In the probate court,
however, II has struck me that the
very opposite spirit rules. have no
doubt but that this, In large part.
is due to the fact that lawyers have,
for so long q time. practiced before
Judge Durfee, in whose knowledge
and experience they have such per-
feet confidence that they have fallen
into this habit l will say for myself.
however. that ! desire to see attor'
neys contest a matter. not for the
sake of the contest, because that
means more hours and more work Tor
me. but because Of the fact that after
q vigorous contest. based upon SOUND
preparation, I am In a far better posi-
ton to render an opinion that will be
in accordance with the true facts and
the late relative to the case"
"You all know that the practice has
grown up in this county to prepare
simple petitions and pleadings for
those asking It, without any expense
or charge to them. I think the prac-
tice, II properly limited and restrain.
ed, Is Q good one. In the administra-
ton OF small estates, It Is proper ana
fitting that we should save, IL posi-
BILE, every dollar of the estate for those
interested In 1t. People do not come
into the probate court because they
want to. or because they have any
choice in the matter.
IL do not think, however, that this
practice Of preparing papers for peo'
pie and doing a lawyers work Tor
them should be followed in the hand
ling of large estates, and I have at.
tempted, since l have been In once,
to discourage any such practice. II .
person comes into the court with a
large estate, l do not think 1t is fatf
Of him to ask clerks, paid BY the tax
payers. to do work for him when ne
U0OutQ pIOPCIAy ch6oSO oA ~ss~AAA~s
for that purpose.
"A matter of vital interest to the
public at large that comes before our
court Ii the handling of insane cases.
and It 10 q subject that will stand a.
much publicity as any other matter
that comes before our court. / hope
that by publicity we may induce not
only the authorities IN this county,
but the legislature of the state to pro-
vide adequate facilities for taking
care of our insane. At the present
time, and Tor many weeks past, there
has never been day when there has
not been at least two or three people
ct large In this city who have been
committed to one of the insane insti-
tutions Of the state, but who cannot
be received by reason Of the lack Of
room. The Pontiac asylum is filed
to its capacity, the Traverse City
asylum and the Kalamazoo asylum.
both OF which are out OF our district.
are also filled. The conditions In
Eloise are almost impossible, and
were Il not for the able administra-
tiou Of that institution given by DR..
Marker, ] do not know what we would
be able TO do. At the present time
his maximum capacity ID 600. and he
now has go. What he does with
them or where he keeps them, I have
not the courage to inquire. All can
say II that the thanks Of the people
Of the county Of Wayne are due DR..
Marker for the heroic effort he makes
To take care of these unfortunates.''