Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-09-20
D
800 MILES TO
MAN

Fort vermtllion, Alberta. Sept. 20.
The Alberta supreme court has
completed its term at Fort Vermiliion,
d small settlement far north Of ed
monitor, a district which often is
called the end Of civilization. The
term consisted Of a. single Ease. The
prisoner, a man Of so years, who was
accused Of assault with intent to kill,
was convicted of assault in a lesser
degree. Mr.. Justice Walsh, presiding
magistrate, E. B. Cogswell, K. c., the
prosecutor, and other representatives
Of Alberta Justice, travelled 800 miles
into the Northland to hear the case.
Fort Vermillion is. almost midway
between Calgary and Dawson City but
Of un%explored wilderness. This post
marks h end Of travel by steam
boat on the Peace river. Earlier in
the season, a small boat goes to Yer
million Chutes, SO miles to the north.
to give travellers a glimpse of the ma
jestic rapids and falls. which have
been compared with Niagara, but this
Journey can be made only during the
high water period. The end Of steel
! from Edmonton is at Peace River
Crossing. Even the journey is made
through a wilderness.
From Fort .Nernillion, modern pio-
| neers strike out. into the untrod north.
but from here the only law is. the
word of the mounted policeman. This
Is the last court" Fort vermillion
is ordinarily populated by four enti-
ties and two individuals. The former
are the Hudson's Bay company, the
Diamond P. Trading company. the
Roman Catholic mission and the
Church Of England mission. The lat
ter mission is vacant. The resident
clergyman has departed. The invi-
duals are the constable of the Alberta
provincial police and the government
ferryman, who operates the boat be-
tween the mainland and the large
island opposite 1.-The fort, White and
Indian trappers do a tremendous bust
ness
Court IS conducted with the same
dignity as in the larger Canadian cit.
les, but the audience marks the con-
trast. Every door and window forms
the frame for individuals of the
swarthy type. attired in the garb OF
the wild northwest. The Judge, at.
torneys and court officers all weal
robes and the Union Jack is sus.
pended behind the Judges chair. This
term involved a former resident o.
Montana who shot his partner, q
young Californian. His plea was self,
defense.
Canadian justice is speedy in the
/ great cities but it is dispensed Will
lightning rapidity in this land, Dor
derinG upon the sub-Arctic. Wher
the steamer arrived here, on Saturday
at 4:30 p. M. it was discovered tina,
the sheriff's instructions to empane
a Jury. had not been received by the
local constable. The boat was due
to leave for the south on Sunday
Court could not remain in session
after midnight Saturday night. 81
t;se sheriff got busy. He rounded VI
Is men. mostly sishtseers. shortl,
after 5 o'clock. the jury was obtained
and sworn. Taking Of testimony be
gan. 1t was growing dusk, which
means 1t was approaching II o'clock
when the case was closed and the jur,
retired. Fifteen minutes before mid
night they. agreed; the prisoner wa.
sentenced to a term at Edmonton ant
the judiciary party made ready fol
the trip to Peace River Crossing
where court 6lso is held. i