The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-10-22

IN pONcA CITY. oct. 2i.--Federal
,.,,rfs during oklahoma territorial
k,.y. were presided over as rule by
- ~ nigh character and fine legal
,,irHs vet these men were not al
,rsys able TO control the outbreaks
,sat might occur and for the time
S.l.y Fct the courts in an uproar.
tSs8 Judge John II. Cotteral the
,r.sart incumbent on the western
II k..,!ot bench, came near breaking
M 81. gavel on one occasion because an
osags indian witness did not under
.ri tfa meaning OF "yeracity"
,ber an attorney asked him in re-
I'D 10 the truth and veracity" OF
a slulw who had preceded him on
!" pr,6r 10 the days OF Judge Cot
III ,eraL however. when John II. Bur
S4SarH. 4. j. Sely, Benjamin r. Bur-
fysu clinton r. Irwin, Frank Dale
HI q. &. Bierer and their associate
3vdges we're on the federal bench,
I y.5nsttfcus were different. The big
II majority ot the people were new TO
u ,be territory and they were going
\ through the melting pot. being
moulded into the present common
wealth. They respected tho courts
and the men on tho bench. but no
r opportunity TO put some FUN into a
"A r0urf tNN4OH was UttlllNAfu " IbHNs
Sometimes the judges themselves
we're the innocent cause OF such out
breaks. but moro frequently It was
the Witnesses; even the judges were
made the butts OF little Jokes. They
had to he men of great discretion,
shls 10 overlook things II necesasry
and at the same time preserve the
dignity OF the court TO tho greatest
j extent possible.
/ The gun-toting habit was bad dur
,ns the first days and ~ became
necessary, on one occasion, for
Judge John n. Burford Cwhose death
occurred recently to Issue Il court
order that all parties entering the
courtroom or appearing on tho
streets must temporarily surrender
their side arms and not wear them
until they were ready TO leave for
home. This was at Beaver, the shire.
town Of Beaver county. which then
u extended over what Is now the coun-
M ties Of Beaver, Texas and Cimarron.
" AZ that time II was populated most
&lly by cowmen and cowboys.
~ Pistol on Judges Desk.
Judge Burford's disarmament
E order was respected generally. but
the next morning after court had
convened Gus Camel, n fun-lovng
cowman OF that day. appeared at the
door suddenly, walked quickly down
= the aisle. pulled cheap cast-iron
toy pistol from his hip pocket and
placed Il on the judges desk, saying:
Judge, you left your revolver
under your pillow at the hotel and
thought ought 10 bring 1t 20 you"
Camel wheeled quickly and hur-
tied from the courtroom without
tven a smile on his face. Then the
crowd broke loose in prolonged
laughter. in which Judge Burford
Joined, and he permitted them to
have their laugh out before rapping
for order.
Was n suikcy Driver.
The story Is told on judge John
u. Panooast, presiding at a later
date in northwestern oklahoma
counties, that he adjourned federal
court at Alva on one occasion in
order TO drive n fast pacing mare
Il that he owned. IN a county fair race
during the afternoon. Another Judge
Is said 10 have adjourned court a
half hour at Enid while he conversed
with charming grass widow in his
private office. still another is known
20 have become wealthy during the
get-Quick divorce days.
II was Judge A. j. Seay who held
the first term OF court in old Beaver
county Prior to Oklahoma being
N opened 20 settlement in 1889, that
y lhrea had been known as mo Mans
!, : Land" without courts or law en-
IA forcement excepting that which the
settlers themselves accomplished in
iheiftOwn way. The first court was,
therefore, a novelty and the people
assembled from all directions 10 see
i work. II was made regular gala
t2y.
Il was known by all that n grand
Jury would he empaneied and things
would be investigated, so a delegation
OF leading citizens called upon Judge
seay prior ot court cOnyenlng. IN
order 70 explain things TO him. They
told the court TO lay a heavy hand
on "hoss thieves, cattle rustlers and
claim Jumrers' II he had jurisdlc-
tlon, But there were several things
that, in the opinion OF tho citizens
uid not need "airin'."
The committee explained that
there had been a few poker games
lust for pastime." Those who played
went into them eyes open and OF
thelr own free will. II was all a
Httle recreation. Then, too. they ad-
mltted that the liquor business had
heen l.t.le open; some even had
sod j. without a license. but they
meant well" and intended no harm.
N'Nv"lSe lneTe nad Deen a rev nenp
parties for the good OF the country
shd tney did not want any Of these
looked into for they had been nee
eSary 70 the general welfare and
we good OF society demanded them
Foreman Was Still Owner.
IN instructiug the grand fury
Jgdge Seay explained that word from
- washington had been sent him 20 in
N es,sa'e whisky still, running In
III Ine county, and on this he gave eX-
IL PIelt directions, Sandy Mitchell, from
hssn'ucky and a genuine Chester
L ueld' was the foreman. The tury''
II Bspori congratulated the people o'
/ t1eaVer county on the clean condi-
E bills ''N
L When court adjourned that day
Seage Seay asked the county attor'
IN ney about the alleged still. The at
/ ,-'hey admitted that there was one
IL operation and that everybody
Il ,, can't understand why this mat
II ci was not acted upon" Seay de-
n ne ,, with such a scholarly man
IL .Muchell as foreman"
III ts easy enough TO lnderRta nd '