USA > Indiana > Courts and lawyers of Indiana, Volume II > Part 26
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683
THE COUNTY COURTS
1900; George E. Mullin, 1901; Howard M. Gordon, 1901; George R. Foster, 1903; I. N. McCarty, 1904; Ben Winans, Jr., 1906; Charles P. Fant, 1908; Edward Stenger, 1909; Will A. Younts, 1912; Louis A. Jonas, 1912; Albert J. Peine, 1914; J. B. Kidney, George Haman and John Brockman.
James Noble, the second man admitted to the bar in Franklin county, served in the territorial Legislature, in the constitutional convention of 1816 and was elected to the first state Legislature from Franklin county. He was elected by the Legislature to one of the seats in the United States Senate at the opening of the first session of the state Legislature and continued in that office until his death, in 1831. Gen. Lew Wallace, who afterward became a well-known member of the Indiana bar and who lived at Crawfordsville, was born in Franklin county. Isaac Blackford, John T. Mckinney and Stephen C. Stevens, all of whom served on the Supreme bench of Indiana, the first from 1817 to 1853, the second from 1831 to 1837, and the third from 1831 to 1836, were residents of Franklin county at one time. Blackford lived in Brookville a year or two before the state was admitted to the Union and then moved to Vincennes. Jesse L. Holman, the fourth man admitted to practice law in Franklin county, was a member of the Indiana Supreme court from 1816 to 1831. John Test, the fifth admitted to practice law in Franklin county, served many years as a Circuit Judge and as a member of Congress from 1824 to 1827 and from 1829 to 1831. William Hen- dricks, the seventh admitted to practice law in Franklin county, represented the state in the national Congress from 1817 to 1822 and was Governor of the state from 1822 to 1825. He was elected to the United States Senate in 1825 and served until 1837. William W. Wick, of Indianapolis, who served many years as a Judge of the Circuit court, was a representa- tive in Congress from 1838 to 1841 and again from 1845 to 1849. Charles H. Test, who was admitted to practice in Franklin county, was a Circuit Judge for many years and secretary of state from 1849 to 1853. Samuel W. Parker was a member of Congress from 1853 to 1855. Abram A. Ham- mond was lieutenant-governor from 1857 to 1860 and acting
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COURTS AND LAWYERS OF INDIANA
Governor from 1860 to 1861, after the death of Governor Willard to the end of the term for which he was elected.
The first court of Franklin county met in one of the rooms of the tavern in Brookville owned by James Knight, and in this tavern all official business of the county appears to have been transacted from the organization of the county, in the spring of 1811 until April of the following year. During this time, a log court house had been erected on the present public square, but within two years the county felt the need of the new structure. A building was commenced in 1815 and completed in 1817, at a cost of three thousand dollars. On February 22, 1852, a fire broke out near the court house and in a little time that structure was entirely destroyed. A new court house was built at a cost of twenty-eight thousand dol- lars. In 1910 the old court house was remodeled at a cost of seventy-one thousand dollars. The repairs were completed and the building dedicated on November 15, 1912.
TERRITORIAL JUDICIARY.
December 6, 1810 Justices of the Peace: John Creek, Eli Hender- son and John Baker.
December 13, 1810. Justices of the Peace: John Cox, Jeremiah Meeks, Abraham Elli and Isaac East.
December 14, 1810. Judges of the Court of Common Pleas: Benja- min MeCarty, John Templeton and Thomas Brown.
December 14, 1810.
Prosecuting Attorney : James Noble, "for the counties of Wayne and Franklin." This is the first mention in the Executive Journal of the ap- pointment of a county prosecutor.
December 18, 1810 Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas aud Recorder : (name illegible).
December 18, 1810 Sheriff : Robert Hanna, Jr.
March 4, 1811
Coronor : Anthony Halverstall. Surveyor: Lan- don Robertson. Justices of the Peace: Samuel Rockefell (Rockafeller), John Hall, Andrew Tharp, Benjamin Smith, John Ewing, Isaac Wil- son and John Fugate (Fugit).
April 12, 1811 Justice of the Peace: Stanhope Royster.
December 16, 1811 Justice of the Peace: William Huff.
March 5, 1812. Justice of the Peace: Abraham I. Fisk.
May 24, 1812 Justices of the Peace: Nicholas Ragun and Wil- liam Holmes.
May 24, 1812 Judge of the Court of Common Pleas: Joshua Harland.
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THE COUNTY COURTS
December 22, 1812. Prosecuting Attorney : James Sparks, for Frank- lin and Wayne counties.
February 2, 1813. Justice of the Peace: John Bradbourn.
March 10, 1813. Surveyor: Joseph Allen.
December 10, 1813 Justices of the Peace: John Quick and John Whitworth.
January 6, 1814 Judges of the Circuit court : Benjamin McCarty, first judge; Thomas Brown, second judge; Joshua Harland, third judge. (This is the first mention of Circuit Judges in the territorial records. Mc- Carty was the President Judge and the other two were known as Associate Judges.) On this same day (January 6, 1814) Enoch McCarty was ap- pointed and commissioned clerk of the court.
January 15, 1814 To quote the words of the Journal: "A dedimus issued to Enoch MeCarty to administer the oaths of office and swear into office all officers civil and military in Franklin county."
January 25, 1814 "A dedimus was issued to John R. Beates (Beaty) to swear Enoch McCarty into office as clerk of Franklin county."
June 24, 1814. September 3, 1814
Justice of the Peace: John Briscoe.
Clerk of the Circuit court: George Hunt. The legislative act of December 31, 1813, divided Indi- ana Territory into three judicial circuits, Frauklin being placed in the Third with Dearborn and Wayne. The act of August 30, 1814, did not change the circuits. Elijah Sparks was appointed and commissioned (September 14, 1814) as judge of the Third circuit.
September 16, 1814 Associate Judges of the Circuit court: John Whit- worth, first associate; Arthur Dickson, second as- sociate.
September 21, 1814 To quote from record : "A dedimus issued to John R. Beaty, Clerk of Franklin county to administer the oath of office to civil and military officers of said county" (see original Journal. p. 59). (It will be noticed that on January 25, 1814, Enoch McCarty was commissioned as clerk and that George Hunt was commissioned to the same office on September 3, 1814.)
September 21, 1814 Associate Judge of the Circuit court: Benjamin Smith.
September 21, 1814 Clerk of the Circuit court: John R. Beaty. (A separate entry from the second above.)
November 8. 1814 Justices of the Peace : William Dubois and John Hanna.
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COURTS AND LAWYERS OF INDIANA
May 25, 1815. Circuit Judge : James Noble appointed to fill the vacancy in the Third circuit caused by the death of Elijah Sparks.
June 12, 1815 Clerk of the Circuit court: John Test, vice John R. Beaty, deceased.
July 20, 1815. Justices of the Peace: Ebenezer Howe, Israel W. Bonham and Jonathan Stout.
July 29, 1815 Coroner : John Winchell.
December 16, 1815. Associate Judge of the Circuit court : William H. Eads.
December 16, 1815. Justice of the Peace: Matthew Sparks.
March 16, 1816 Justice of the Peace: Edmund Harrison.
June 1, 1816 Justices of the Peace: Sanford Keeler and Thom- as Winscott.
ASSOCIATE JUDGES.
John Jacobs February 14, 1817, to serve seven years from date.
John Hanna February 14, 1817, to serve seven years from date.
William B. Laughlin February 15, 1819; resigned November 21.
David Mount February 3, 1822, vice William B. Laughlin, re- signed.
David Mount September 1, 1823.
Johu Hanna September 1. 1823; removed from county.
John Quick
May 26, 1829 (special election), vice John Hanna (resigned), to serve seven years from Septem- ber 1, 1823.
John Quick September 8, 1830, to serve seven years from February 14, 1831.
David Mount September 8, 1830, to serve seven years from February 14, 1831.
Enoch MeCarty August 12, 1837, to serve seven years from . Feb- ruary 14, 1838.
John Quick August 12, 1837, to serve seven years from Feb- ruary 14, 1838.
Rediu Osborn August 20, 1844, to serve seven years from Feb- ruary 14. 1845.
Giles Gant August 20, 1844, to serve seven years from Feb- ruary 14, 1845.
Giles Gant August 25, 1851, to serve seven years from Feb- ruary 14, 1852.
Redin Osborn August 25, 1851. to serve seven years from Feb- ruary 14, 1852.
PROBATE JUDGES.
John M. Johnson September 8, 1830, to serve seven years from September 1, 1830; resigned.
Henry Berry February 23, 1832, appointed vice John M. John- sou, resigned.
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THE COUNTY COURTS
Henry Berry
August 20, 1832.
Henry Berry August 17, 1839.
Henry Berry August 20, 1839.
COMMON PLEAS JUDGES.
John S. Reid.
1852-60.
Jeremiah M. Wilson 1860-65, resigned.
J. F. Kibbey Appointed March 6, 1865-73.
DISTRICT PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS.
James R. McClure.
1852-54.
Joseph Marshall
1854-56.
Nathan'l McCrookshank 1856-58.
Clement C. Cory 1858-60.
John C. Whitridge
1860-64.
Henry C. Fox
1864-6S.
William H. Jones 1868-70.
John L. Rupe 1870-73.
PRESIDENT JUDGES.
John Test
December 18, 1816-January 2. 1819. Third cir-
cuit.
Alexander A. Meek January 2, 1819-February 2, 1819; probably never qualified.
John Watts
February 2, 1819-January 21, 1820.
Miles C. Eggleston January 21, 1820-December 18, 1844.
Courtland Cushing December 18, 1844-January 15, 1847. The act of January 15, 1847, put Franklin in the Thirteenth.
George H. Dunn Appointed January 21, 1847-January 24, 1850. William M. McCarty January 24, 1850-October 12, 1852.
CIRCUIT JUDGES.
William M. McCarty October 12, 1852; resigned July 29, 1853. Fourth circuit.
William S. Holman Appointed July 29, 1853; resigned August 10, 1853.
Renben D. Logan August 10, 1853-October 12, 1865.
Jeremiah M. Wilson October 12. 1865-April 22, 1869. The act of April 22, 1869, put Franklin in the newly created Twen- ty-sixth.
Robert N. Lamb Appointed April 28, 1869-October 24, 1ST0. Henry C. Hanna October 24, 1870; died in office July 24. 1880. The act of March 6. 1873, put Franklin in the Thirty-seventh and transferred Hanna from the Twenty-sixth to the Thirty-seventh.
Ferdinand S. Swift. Appointed July 28. 1880-October 27, 1904. The act of March 2, 1883. constituted Franklin, Fay- ette and Union the Thirty-seventh, since which time no change has been made.
688
COURTS AND LAWYERS OF INDIANA
George L. Gray. October 27, 1904-October 27, 1916. Raymond S. Springer __ Commissioned November 12, 1914, for a six-year term beginning October 27, 1916. PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS.
Oliver H. Smith August 9, 1824-August 1, 1826, resigned. Third circuit.
Amos Lane Appointed August 1, 1826-December 30, 1826.
Cyrus Finch December 30, 1826-December 30, 1828.
Martin M. Ray December 30, 1828-January 25, 1830.
James F. D. Lanier January 25, 1830-January 25, 1832.
John M. Johnson January 25, 1832; resigned February 21, 1833.
John Test Appointed February 21, 1833-December 5, 1833.
Courtland Cushing December 5, 1833-December 11, 1837.
John Dumont December 11, 1837-December 15, 1841.
George Robinson December 15, 1841-May 18, 1842; died.
John Dumont Appointed May 8, 1842-January 15, 1847. The act of January 15, 1847, put Franklin in the Thir- teenth.
Benjamin 1. Spooner __ August 19, 1851-October 12, 1852.
Oscar B. Hord. October 12. 1852-November 2, 1854, resigned. Fourth circuit.
William Patterson November 2, 1854-August 13, 1858, resigned.
Sebastian Green Appointed August 13, 1858-November 2, 1858.
Ilenry C. Hanna November 2, 1858-November 2, 1860.
Milton H. Cullum November 2, 1860-November 3, 1862.
Samuel S. Harrell November 3, 1862-November 3, 1864.
Creighton Dandy. November 3, 1864-November 3, 1866.
Kendall M. Hord
November 3, 1866-November 3, 1868.
Platt Wieks November 3, 1868-April 22, 1869. The act of April 22. 1869, put Franklin in the Twenty-sixth.
William Wirt Kelley __ Appointed April 28. 1869-October 24, 1870.
George R. Brumblay October 24, 1870-March 6, 1873. The act of March 6, 1873, put Franklin in the Thirty-seventh, and put Brumblay in the Seventh.
Bartemus Burke Appointed March 29, 1873-October 22, 1875.
Stephen E. Urmster October 22, 1875-October 22, 1877.
Bartemus Burke October 22, 1877-October 22, 1881.
Leland H. Stanford October 22, 1881-October 22, 1885
Louis M. Develin October 22. 1885-October 22, 1889.
George W. Pigman October 22, 1889-October 22, 1893.
George L. Gray
October 22, 1893-October 22, 1895.
Frank M. Smith
October 22, 1895-October 22, 1897.
George L. Gray
October 22, 1897-January 1, 1902.
Frank E. Nevin January 1, 1902-January 1, 1904.
Robert E. Barnhart January 1, 1904-January 1, 1908.
Allen Wiles January 1, 1908-January 1, 1910.
Frank M. Edwards January 1, 1910-January 1, 1916.
James A. Clifton January 1, 1916 term expires January 1, 1918.
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THE COUNTY COURTS
FULTON COUNTY.
Fulton county was organized by the Legislature with the act of February 4, 1836, the act becoming effective on the first of the following April. The county never experienced any trouble in regard to the location of its county seat. When the locating commissioners met on the first Monday in June, 1836, to select a site for the future seat of justice, they chose the site of the present town of Rochester. There was some effort to locate it at the crossing of the Michigan road and Tippecanoe river, but it was too far from the center of the county to receive serious consideration.
The first session of the Circuit court of Fulton county met at the house of Ebenezer Ward in Rochester, October 27. 1836. The court met here in order to meet the requirements of the act organizing the county, but it immediately adjourned to meet at the house of Robert Martin in the same town. The first President Judge of the circuit including Fulton county was Samuel C. Sample, and Judge Sample, with John Robbins and Anthony Martin, the Associate Judges, had charge of the first court in the county. Joseph L. Jernegan was the first prosecuting attorney.
The Probate court of Fulton county held its first session at the house of Robert Martin in Rochester, May 8, 1837, with Joseph Robbins as Judge of Probate. The first Common Pleas court was held on April 4, 1853, with Hugh Miller as judge.
ASSOCIATE JUDGES.
John Robbins April 18, 1836, to serve seven years from date.
Anthony Martin April 18, 1836, to serve seven years from date.
Anthony Martin August 8, 1842, to serve seven years from April 18. 1843; resigned February, 1844.
Jonathan Beebe August 8, 1842, to serve seven years from April 18, 1843; resigned July, 1845.
James McColm April 10. 1844 (special election). to serve seven years from April 18, 1843, vice Anthony Martin, resigned. James McColm removed from county May, 1845.
Ebenezer Ward August 20, 1845 (special election), to serve seven years from April 18, 1843; died June, 1847.
James Moore August 20, 1845 (special election), to serve seven years from April 18, 1843; died June, 18-47.
(44)
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COURTS AND LAWYERS OF INDIANA
John Ball August 20, 1847, to serve seven years from April 18. 1843.
Frederick Ault
August 20, 1847, to serve seven years from April
18, 1843.
John Ball August 18, 1849, to serve seven years from April 18, 1850.
James Burrows August 22, 1849, to serve seven years from April 18, 1850; died prior to October 15, 1851.
PROBATE JUDGES.
Joseph Robbins
March 7, 1837; resigned July, 1841.
John J. Shryock
August 11, 1841 ( special election), to serve seven
years from date; resigned June, 1847.
Anthony F. Smith August 20, 1847, to serve seven years from date; resigned June 10, 1849.
James Babcock
August 22, 1849 (special election), to serve seven
years from August 20, 1847.
COMMON PLEAS JUDGES.
Hugh Miller 1852-56.
Carter D. Hathaway 1856-60.
Kline G. Shryock
1860-62.
David D. Dykemar 1862-65, resigned.
Thomas C. Whiteside_ Appointed May 12. 1865-70.
James H. Carpenter. 1870-73.
DISTRICT PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS.
Rufus MeCormick
1852-53, resigned.
Kline G. Shryock.
Appointed July 1, 1853-54.
G. T. Wickersham 1854-56, resigned.
Frank C. Brown
Appointed October 28, 1856; failed to qualify.
James Marsden
Appointed Juue 29, 1857.
James W. Eldridge. 1857-58, resigned.
William L. Miner 1858-60.
William DeHart
1860, resigned.
W. W. Shuler
Appointed December 22, 1860-61, resigned.
E. T. Dickey Appointed November 2, 1861-62.
Stewart T. McConnell 1862-64.
John A. Farrell 1864-66, resigned.
Dyer B. McConnell
Appointed March 14, 1866.
Horace S. Foot.
1866-68.
Jerome Q. Stratton 1868-70.
Hiram G. Depuy
1870-72.
II. B. Shively 1872-73.
PRESIDENT JUDGES.
Samuel C. Sample April 1, 1836-December 14, 1841. The act of De- cember 14, 1841, took Fulton out of the Ninth and put it in the Eighth.
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THE COUNTY COURTS
Henry Chase December 14, 1841.
John W. Wright. Resigned January 29, 1847.
Horace P. Biddle . Appointed January 29, 1847-August 20, 1852, re- signed.
Robert H. Milroy Appointed August 20, 1852-October 12, 1852. CIRCUIT JUDGES.
Thomas L. Stanfield October 12, 1852; resigned February 23, 1857. Ninth circuit.
Albert G. David. Appointed February 23, 1857-November 17, 1857.
Andrew L. Osborn November 17, 1857-October 24, 1870.
Thomas S. Stanfield October 24, 1870-March 6, 1873. The act of March 6, 1873, put Fulton in the newly created Thirty- third.
Elisha V. Long Appointed March 17, 1873-March 9, 1875. The act of March 9, 1875, put Fulton in the newly created Forty-first with Marshall, where they have since remained.
Horace Corbin Appointed March 9, 1875-October 24, 1876.
Sidney Keith October 24, 1876-November 15, 1882.
Jacob S. Slick November 15, 1882-March 8, 1883, resigned.
William B. Hess Appointed March 8, 1883-November 14, 1884.
Isaiah Conner November 14, 1884-November 14, 1890.
Albertus C. Capron November 14, 1890-November 14, 1902.
Harry Bernetha November 14, 1902-November 14, 1914.
Smith N. Stevens November 14, 1914; term expires November 14, 1920.
PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS.
Joseph L. Jernegan December 10, 1836-August 15, 1838, resigned. Ninth circuit.
John B. Niles. Appointed August 15, 1838-December 7, 1838.
William C. Hanna December 7, 1838-December 14, 1841. The act of December 14, 1841, took Fulton out of the Ninth and put it in the Eighth.
Spier S. Tipton December 15, 1841-December 15, 1843.
William Z. Stuart. December 15, 1843-December 15, 1845.
David M. Dunn December 15, 1845-December 15, 1847.
William Potter Appointed August 23, 1849-August 28, 1851, re- signed.
George E. Gordon Appointed August 28, 1851; resigned September 15, 1852.
John M. Wilson Appointed September 15, 1852-October 12, 1852.
D. J. Woodward October 12, 1852-November 7, 1854.
Morgan H. Weir November 7. 1854-October 1, 1856, resigned. Ninth circuit.
Reuben L. Farnsworth_ Appointed October 1, 1856-October 30, 1856. Mark S. Dumont. October 30, 1856-November 15, 1858.
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COURTS AND LAWYERS OF INDIANA
William B. Biddle November 15, 1858-November 15, 1860.
David T. Phillips
November 15, 1860-November 15, 1864.
Aaron G. Guiney. November 15, 1864-November 15, 1868.
William H. Calkins. November 15, 1868-November 15, 1870.
Michael L. Essick
November 15, 1870-November 15, 1872.
Thomas J. Wood
November 15, 1872-October 26, 1874. The act of March 6, 1873, put Fulton in the Thirty-third, and transferred Wood from the Ninth to the Thirty- third.
Perry O. Jones October 26, 1874-October 24, 1878. The act of March 9, 1875, put Fulton in the Forty-first with Marshall, where they have since remained. The same act transferred Jones from the Thirty-third to the Forty-first.
Baron D. Crawford October 24, 1878-November 17, 1882.
Elijah C. Martindale. November 17, 1882-November 17, 1886.
Charles P. Drummond. November 17, 1886-November 17, 1890.
Smith Nay Stevens. November 17, 1890-November 17, 1894.
J. K. Houghton November 17. 1894-November 17, 1896.
Harry Bernetha November 17, 1896-January 1, 1901.
Arthur Metzler January 1, 1901-January 1, 1905.
Samuel J. Hayes January 1, 1905-January 1, 1907.
John A. Nolter January 1, 1907-January 1, 1909.
Henry L. Unger. January 1, 1909-January 1, 1913.
Delph L. McKessen January 1, 1913; term expires January 1, 1917.
GIBSON COUNTY.
Gibson county was organized by the legislative act of March 9, 1813, the act becoming effective on the 1st of the fol- lowing month. The county seat has always been at Princeton, the town being named in honor of Judge William Prince, who was President Judge of the local court in 1816 and 1817, and congressman from the First congressional district in 1823. Gibson county was under the jurisdiction of the territorial courts for the first three years of its existence. The first term of the Common Pleas court, as it was then called, met May 10, 1813. William Harrington, Isaac Montgomery and Daniel Putnam were the Associate Judges.
William Prince, afterwards Judge Prince, was the first prosecuting attorney of the Gibson Circuit court. He was recommended for that office by the court to Governor Thomas Posey, from whom he received his appointment. He was
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THE COUNTY COURTS
appointed in November, 1813, and continued in office until 1818, at the "princely" compensation of one hundred dollars per annum. Richard Daniel was prosecutor in 1819, for a few months following William Prince, who again served as prosecutor in 1819.
From March, 1814, to March 18, 1816, Isaac Blackford was President Judge, and Willis C. Osborne and Jesse Emer- son, Associates. Judge Blackford organized and held the first Circuit courts in this district. He was appointed to the Su- preme bench, December 10, 1817, which position he held until January 3, 1853. He was one of the most eminent jurists of his day. March 18, 1816, to December 21, 1816, David Ray- mond was the President Judge. He was followed by Benjamin Parke, who was the last President Judge before the state was admitted to the Union. William Prince (1817-18), the suc- cessor of Parke, was a native of Ireland, having come to this country in 1804, first settling in Vincennes, where he began the study of law. He was appointed Circuit Judge in 1817. Prior to this he was Indian agent under General Harrison; he was the first prosecuting attorney in the Gibson circuit, and later a member of Congress from this district. He made the first improvement on the site where Princeton was after- ward located, and it was in his honor that the town was named. He was a very intelligent lawyer and a useful citizen of Gibson county, in which he resided until his death.
David Hart was President Judge of the Gibson Circuit court from February 16, 1818, to March 8, 1819. Judge Hart had the reputation of being a fine lawyer and an impartial judge. He was a resident of Princeton from 1815 until his death, which occurred about 1820.
Richard Daniel came to Princeton in 1815, and was a rep- resentative from Gibson county in the Legislature of 1817-18. He was appointed Judge of the Gibson Circuit court on Janu- ary 2, 1819, and served to January 21, 1822.
James R. E. Goodlet took his seat on the bench as Presi- dent Judge February 21, 1811, and served to January, 1832.
According to a traditional story covering that period, Judge Goodlet had a distinction other than that for having a long tenure of office. One of these was that his capability
694
COURTS AND LAWYERS OF INDIANA
and efficiency as a politician was greater than was that of a jurist, and it was due to his political sagacity that he was able to succeed himself in office from time to time. Another distinguishing characteristic was a violent and irritable tem- per, which made it very disagreeable to lawyers practicing in his court. Because of this, the lawyers combined to defeat him for re-election in 1832, and succeeded in inducing the Legislature to elect Judge Samuel Hall, a prominent lawyer and citizen of Princeton. Another story of the times is that Judge Goodlet became possessed of a very bitter and resentful feeling against his successor, which was especially manifested during a term of court in Mt. Vernon, Indiana, in 1834. Judge Goodlet was attorney in a case before the court, and during the trial disputed in a very insolent manner some of the rulings of Judge Hall, who ordered Goodlet to show cause why he should not be fined for contempt of court. On the following morning a friend of Judge Hall, knowing the fiery disposition of Judge Goodlet and anticipating trouble, walked up to Judge Hall while on the bench, and skillfully dropped into his lap a silk handkerchief, which contained within its folds a bright and dangerous dagger, such as was carried by many persons in those days. When Judge Hall informed Goodlet that it would be in order for him to show why he should not be fined for contempt of court, Goodlet, springing from his seat and rushing to attack Judge Hall, said: "I will show cause right now," with a reach to strike the Judge as he sat on the bench. Judge Hall, with dagger in hand, made a furious thrust at Goodlet, who was jerked suddenly back- ward by the sheriff, which in all probability was the saving of Goodlet's life. Goodlet was fined fifty dollars and sent to jail. He afterward sued Judge Hall for false imprisonment. The case was sent to Vincennes, but was withdrawn before coming to trial. This manner of adjusting personal differ- ences between Judges and lawyers, in and out of court, did not occasion as much remark in those days as it would in these latter days.
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