The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-02-21
.AOSKlNS HAILED
BEFORE 'IUR|STS
TO SHOW CAUSE
Man Who So Efficiently Has
Served State for More Than
Quarter Century Rewarded
HANDSOME TESTIMONIALS
TO CLERK AND HELPMEET
Fine Swiss Watches and Engross-
ed Memorial Express Appre-
citation Of Friends

NASAVA~A VI = AVAANAS
Faithful service extending over
more than I. Quartercantury received
handsome recognitions; yesterday az
ternoon, when r. D. fHoskins, clerk
of the North Dakota Supreme court
since statehood, and Mrs. Florence
M. Hoskins, for manys years his eff
cient assistant, were summarily hailed
before the states highest tribunal to
"show cause" as Chief Justice An
drew A. Bruce expressed it, why they
should not accept splendid testimon.
ials of the high esteem in which they
are held by the courts and members
Of the North Dakota bar.
The testimonials took the form OF
Swiss watches, two of the finest time
pieces which could be procured in
America, and among the last products
of the world-famous Patek PHILIPPE &
Co., Geneve, Switzerland. to be found
on this side of the water. Mrs. Hos
kins received, q wrist watch, on the
inside cover Of. which was engraved,
"TestimoniaI ta Mrs. Florence M.
Hoskins from the Judges and Law
,yers Of North Dakota On Mr.. Hos
'kins' time-piece was inscribed, "Testi-
monial to r. d. Hoskins, Retiring
Clerk Supreme Court, North Dakota,
1SS9-1917, for Faithful Services, from
Judges and Lawyers"
Engrossed Testimonial.
.. ACCOMPANYING The tg6fs was a
handsomely engrossed testimonial
reading: a@.
"The present justices Of the su-
preme court, former justices, district
Judges and members of the bar ac-
quiesce with regret in your decision
to retire from the office of clerk of
the supreme court, which you have
held continuously; since our state. was
ts'You have served the state faith
fully and we'll, and now upon the oc-
casiOn of your voluntary retirement
we ask you to accept from us this
testimonial of our appreciation of the
high efficiency, the unfailing integ-
rity and uniform impartiality with
which you have performed the duties
of your Office during the long period
of your service"
The testimonial bears the sigma.
lures Of all of the present justices OF
the supreme court and former JUS
tices, including Judge Alfred Wallin
of San Diego and Judge Guy c. II.
Corliss of Grand Forks, the only sur
viving members of North Dakota's
first supreme court; of all Of the dis
trict judges of North Dakota and the
of the bar.
Half Life on Job.
R. D. HOskins, who has asked that
his resignation from the Office of
clerk of the supreme court take effect
March 1, has spent exactly one-half
his life in the service of North Da-
kota. He was admitted to the Da-
kota territorial bar in 1887, and he
was a practicing attorney at Bath
gate when he was called to Bismarck
on November 4, 1889, to become clerk
of the newly organized supreme court
of the state.
He has remained ever since citi-
zen of Bismarck. Probably no man
in public life is better known or has
more friends throughout the state
than r. D. Hoskins. His signature
appears on the certificate of every
attorney who has been ad
mitted to the bar since North Dakota
became a state. There is not an at
torney in North Dakota and very few
men who have ever held public Office
Of any kind who have not had occa-
sion at some time or other to trans
act business with the clerk Of the su-
preme court, and Mrs. Hoskins, for
many years chief assistant in his Of
ice, and how well they performed
heir duties may be Judged from the
splendid tribute paid them yesterday.
Was Kept Secret.
The conspirators who planned the
testimonial operated with the utmost
The victims had not the
slightest inkling of what was to hap.
pen when they were summoned to the
chief Justices Office. There they
'ound assembled members Of the
court and the immediate family Of
Mr.. and Mrs. Hoskins.
''You have been summoned" the
chief justice advised the pleaders be-
'ore the bar, ito show cause why you |
should not accept these testimonials !
If the esteem in which you are held
BY the Judges and attorneys Of North |
Dakota" and the clerk of the su-
,reme court for once in his life was
It loss for an answer.
Then kilograms began pouring in
rom all over the state, and "R. D."
and his helpmeet were kept busy
lodging messenger boys until late in
he evening, when they boarded No. q
or a belated honeymoon journey to
he twin cities, where they will spend
] short vacation.
Mr.. Hoskins will be succeeded as
CONTINUED on PAGE TWo)