Evening journal., 1917-05-07
NEW COMMON pleas
court NOW OPEN
Chief Justice Pennewill
Points Out Advantages
OF the Tribunal
DIVORCE CASES
INTO COURT

The new Court Of Common Pleas foi
New Castle county was formally opened
at 2 o'clock today in No. > court room
when Chief Justice Pennewin ascended
to the bench and directed Court Criei
George Smith TO "open the Court Of
Common Pleas for New Castle county
Taking Of testimony in a divorce whicf
judge Heisel was hearing was suspended
temporarily while the brief formality
was observed. There being no cases
listed for trial today, court was ad-
iourned until next Monday at II o'clock
Chief Justice Pennewill in formally
opening the new court said:
'The new court created by a recent
act OF the Legislature is now open, and
The rules to govern its procedure and
assist in the performance of its duties
win be promulgated in the near future.
Speaking for all the judges. I wish
to say that the establishment Of this
court was favored by the bar OF the
county with the belief that II would
meet long felt want and be pro-
ductive of much good TO the people.
II is the hope OF all of us-both
bench and bar-that such belief may
prove to be well founded Whether
the court shall be successful or not
will depend very largely upon the
bench and bar. If they shall cooper
ate earnestly and sincerely to make
il accomplish the things It was Gre
ated to do, there can be no doubt OF
its success. With the simplifed plead
ing and expeditions procedure that Is
provided for. and the frequent ses-
sons that will be held by the judges
every reasonable want Of litigants
ought to be met speedily and with
comparatively little expense.
The judges will earnestly endeayor
10 do their full duty, and We have no
doubt the bar intend to be equally
jealous. But IN counsel should acquire
the habit Of unduly delaying the de-
termination Of causes by continuance,
appeal or other means that the judge
cannot control. then the good hoped
for will not be entirely realized, ana
there will be disappointment
I'VE should all do the best we can
to carry out the full intent Of the act,
and thereby increase the respect OF the
people for the law as well as their con-
fidence in its administration
Judges Rice, Boyce and Heisel were
present in the courtroom. as was also
Attorney General Relnhardt.
There was a sprinkling of lawyers
and many spectators to witness the
formal opening of the court, which
will mark the beginning of a new era
In New Castle county.
The court will have jurisdiction in
civil suits and may hear pleas In the
court OF General Sessions.
II will not be necessary to employ
a lawyer in order to bring suits in
the Court OF Common Pleas. Persons
desiring to avoid this expense may
state their cases to the clerk of the
court who will prepare the necessary
papers. but not give any legal advice.
For drawing the papers the clerk is
entitled to charge a small fee.
In order to insure proper stenog-
raphers' service for the two courts,
when both are in session at the same
time Court Stenographer u. C. Har-
desty will be in attendance In the
new court while his son, Eugene Har-
desty, will do the stenographic work
in the Superior Court, the Court Of
General Sessions and the Court OF
oyer and Terminer
Ralph =. White, the new clerk to
the court. began his duties today.
Chief Justice Pennewill administered
the oath.
Judge Rice sitting at the opening OF
the May term Of the county courts to-
day, announced to the grand jury,
when the members had been sworn,
that ordinary cases would be pre-
scented TO them this term as Attorney
General Reinhardt had informed the
court that nothing unusual in the
criminal line was to be presented. The
jury Immediately retired TO consider
cases brought before it.
Divorce cases occupied the atten-
ton Of the Superior Court. two ses-
sions being held at the same time,
Judge Rice sitting in No I court.
room and Judge Heisel in No. court
room.
This IS the first time in the history
of the county that two courts were
held at the same time on divorce cases
and a large number OF cases were dis
posed of by this method.
There are 5S cases on the list this
term besides 90 cases for final de.
crees BY going over the list 10 find
out how many OF these cases were
ready for trial, a few were weeded
out.
The first case tried before Judge
Rice was that OF Clara r. Horstead
against Douglass A. V. Horstead on
the ground of cruelty Former City
Judge Harry p Joslyn represented
the petitioner. Mrs. Horstead testi.