The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-02-11

The class in grammar. ! believe il
confession. The more We confess an!
expose our faults, the more likely we
are 10 -enounce and abandon them.
The courts have too long put their
faults and their light under bushel.
indeed they have seemed TO love
darkness rather than light.
In Vol 1G: ~ W. Reports there are
reported siZty;Wo decisions OF our
court. Mos: OF them are right A
few are spleadid; and a few are dead
wrong. Hale OF the decisions are
long winded and slipshod. In 1s5 \.
W. Reports $3.50 there is a decision
by Justice Grace which is three time;
too long. He repeats and uses many
redundant words, not thinking tina:
for every idle word he.must give an
account in the dag OF judgment. Here
are few samples suggesting correc-
tons and uoderscorirg Fo'ne needless
words:
Grace, j.: This is an appeal from:
the judgment Of the district court OF
Cass county. The issues OF such case
were tried to a jury and verdict was
returned icy them in favor OF the de-
PENDANT R. The issues were tried to
jury and their verdict was for the
defendant.
Grace. j.: 1T is claimed by the
plaintiff that during the lifetime CT
Grady she and Grady entered into an
agreement whereby each was 10 con-
tribute ratably to the support Of Mary
Cary. r. 1t is claimed by the plaintiff
that she and Grady made an agree
ment to contribute equally TO the sup
port of Mary Cary las men do not
make an agreement when dead. 1t is
needless to say that the agreement
was made during their lifetime)
Grace, j.: 1T appears that Grady
had taken life insurance policy on
his life for the sum of $4,000 which
was payable to Mary Cary after the
time Of the insurcd's death. Such in
surance upon the life of Grady was
collected after his death and paid TO
Mary Cary r. Grady had taken out
? life insurance policy for $4,000 pay
able to Mary Cary. After his deccase
it was collected and paid to her.
Grace, J.: There are presented in
this case but two questions for our
consideration" Il. The case presents
only two questions.
In the case of Mile BotZ (1G4 N.
W. Justices Grace and Robinson
write concurring decisions and tho
one is fifteen times longer than the
other. Shill the short decision is IN
every respect complete.
In Shark vs.. G. ~ fG4 N. D. %1)
concurrent opinions are written by
Justices Ernce and Robinson. The
one being fifteen times longer than
the other.
IN the Peterson case 1G4 N. w. 40
Justice Grace writes the leading opin-
on OF about 1900 words. In 300
words Robinson writes a conCurring
opinion which states fully the case
md the law.
In a suit for 500 against the Grand /
FORKS Fair association, the prevail
ing opinion WAS written by Justice |
no olnson in 300 words. 1G4 N. W.
:97j A dissent by Justice Bruce con-
tains 3,OCO words.
In the Fire Marshal case Justice
Bruce wrote an opinion of ten long
columns. 1t contains whole columns
Of quotations and citations Every
judge has a, stenographer to whom
he says Copy the complaint, copy
the answer, copy this, copy that, when
he should state in q few words only
the substance and effect of such mat
ters.
1t Is time for judges to learn how to
stop the writing Of cumbersome and
stuffy decisions and the use Of need
less and redundant words.
State VS.. Miller.
Robinson, r.: In this case defendant
was convicted of murder in the second
degree and sentenced to imprison-
ment for thirty years. He appeals on
the ground that at the time Of com
hitting the deed he was insane. There
is no doubt defendant was guilty OF p
cruel and unproyoked shooting and
killing. He was twenty years old and
for years he and his parents had lived
on farm in Stutsman county, a few
miles from the Hins. a German family
The two families visited together and
became rather intimate, end Gustaye |,
Hins, a young man became too intt-
mate With sister OF defendant and
instead Of marrying her he went to.E
Canada. Tho result was an ill9fceling