Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-05-14

u2on the person, such as a bill of
equity for an injunction. These
hearings are held by the justices
when there are no terms Of court.
Up to 1868, the supreme judicial
court of Maine had no help. They did
all of the high court work in the State
but the work increased and in 1868,
the Cumberland county superior court
was established. In 1878, the Kenne.
bee county superior court was estab-
lished, Judge William Penn White
house Of Augusta being its first judge.
The other two presiding officers Of
this court were Judge Hall and Judge
Fred Emery Beane, the present very
efficient judge. In 1917. the Andres
coggin county superior court was es-
tablished and in 1919, the Penobscot
superior court The superior courts
have trial work and divorce cases,
but. have nothing to do with natural
izatiOn cases or equity cases. These
courts have been of great assistance
to the supre emcourt.
TO show the volume of business
before the suprme court Of Maine.
Chief Justice Cornish read the num-
bcrs of cases on the dockets in the
years, 1918, 1919 and 1920. In 1920,
there were 4170 criminal cases, 925
criminal cases, 656 equity cases. a to-
tai Of 515l cases on the docket. He
pointed out. however, that that did
not mean that that number of cases
We're actually tried. The number of
divorce cases on the dockets was as
follows: 4S4 in 1918; 1908 in 1919:
and 1916 in 1920.
He stated that fault is found by
some with the divorce law, but he has
no fault to find with the law except
hat so many cases are heard with no
opposition-that is. that no one tells
the story of the other side and a
Judge is often doubtful if the story
he hears on the one side is true.
This he illustrated by an example
case from the Maine courts.
In some states the law court is a
separate court from the supreme
court. but in Maine it is the supreme
on appeal or exceptions. There are
three terms of the law court. at Ban
COR on the first Tuesday of June eacl,
year. at Portland on the fourth
Tuesday Of June. and at Augusta on
the first Tuesday of December. Six
justices including the chief justice.
preside at each term of the law court.
This is a court Of record. no witness
es appearing. The cases are present
cd to the court in printed form and
are argued by the counsel for both
sides. In 1918. 124 cases were argued
before the law court; in 1919. 143
cases: and in 1920. 157 cases.
The work Of the law court was then
described by Chief Justice Cornish
The decisions of this court arc hand :
ed down in the form of opinions or
rescripts. He showed that of the 1o1
cases argued before the law court in
1890. opinions have been drawn and
announced in 1877, and of the 30 re-
naming. opinions have been drawn
in 10, leaving but 10 cases to be dis
posed OF. The opinions of the law
court are bound into volumes which
comprise the Maine reports, Up to
date there are 11S of these reports.
For the purpose Of showing the
duties and responsibilities OF the at
torneys. Chief Justice Cornish read
the oath that each one swears to on
his admission to the bar.
In closing his address. he stated
that all OF us live under this invisi-
BILE something which we call the law
and that the safety of the country de-
ponds on having the laws admin
istered as they should be.
EIks' MTstrels Program
The Elks' MINISTRIES entertainers
gave particularly enjoyable pro-
gram which was greeted with rounds
of applause. The circle was seated
at one end of the hall and Judge 3.
F. Maher was the efficient interlocu-
tor. The following vocal selections
were given: I'm Wild About Moon
shine" Jack Hanson: BELLS Of Saint
Mary" James Altree: Floating
Down to Cotton Town." Jerry Carey;
Save a Little Dram for Me" DR.. w.
G. Thomas: an Apple Blossom
Time" j. Frank Dyer; "Rebecca,'
Charles P. kinsman; grand finale
by entire company The many friends
Of Rotarian Kinsman were glad to
greet him in the minstrel circle. He
had been scheduled to take part in
the Elks' Ministries and to sing the
selection "Rebecca," but was unable
to on account of illness.
Matters Of business being brought
up at the meeting, Rotarian Milton
0. Dean and Rev. James Ecob spoke
in behalf of the Chinese Famine fund
campaign, and a donation of SIS was
given by the Rotarians to the fund
Rotarian Elmer E. Newbert, being
called upon to render vocal solo as
part of the evenings program in
a very humorous little speech set
forth his reasons for declining.
The entertainment committee for
the next meeting is made up of
George Appleby, George W, Merrill
and DR.. w. s. Thompson.