USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > The courts of justice, bench & bar of Washington County, Pennsylvania > Part 19
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27
100 33
D. H. & W. H. Fee et al
264 32
Delmont Phillips
94 25
Christman Publishing Company
266 24
Hart & Foster
295 26
W. H. Cramer et al
347 85
Barry & Son
4 48
McDonald Outlook
4 20
J. Howard Cramer et al
151 39
Journal Publishing Company
144 80
$2,409 20
PAID OFFICERS.
Auditors
$619 75
Commissioner John M. Dunn, 274 days, $3.50
959 00
Commissioner John M. Dunn, expenses
109 16
Commissioner W. G. Shillito, 297 days, $3.50
1,039 50
Commissioner W. G. Shillito, expenses
164 45
Commissioner T. P. Sloan, 296 days, $3.50
1,036 00
Commissioner T. P. Sloan, expenses
277 00
Clerk G. E. Lockhart
1,600 00
Clerk W. A. Britton
840 00
County detective William M. McCleary
900 00
County detective William M. McCleary, expenses
513 58
County detective William Phennicie 24 00
County solicitor J. I. Brownson
600 00
240
COURTS OF JUSTICE, BENCH, AND BAR.
County solicitor J. I. Brownson, ex-
penses 5 52
Jury commissioners and clerk 420 40
Engineer C. B. Kellogg.
1,020 00
Assistant engineer W. W. Galbreath.
862 50
Superintendent public buildings, H. Ed- gar Mccutcheon
52 00
Janitor court-house, Robert Green
407 00
Janitor treasurer's office, Robert Green
20 00
Janitor court-house offices, Mrs. McGill
170 00
Janitors new court-house, Mrs. Gordon et al 125 61
$11,765 47
REWARDS.
M. R. Conley on Wustlach murder case
$250 00
Christman Publishing Company 2 40
$252 40
ROAD DAMAGES.
Thomas H. Bruce
$40 00
Sanky Bros.
70 00
Irwin Bros.
100 00
Wilson & Warrick
50 00
Mrs. Edward Martin
200 00
Mrs. John Enoch
25 00
John Teeters
35 00
John K. Horn
85 00
S. B. Anderson
45 00
William McPherson et al
140 00
David McPherson
125 00
Alexander Chapman
40 00
David Hufford
25 00
V. D. Shannon et al
150 00
Donehoo Bros.
75 00
Charles E. Baker
6 50
James H. Foster
41 00
John Lowry
250 00
Viewers and artists
645 05
$2,147 55
JOHN P. CHARLTON,
COUNTY COMMISSIONER, 1897-189S. [Half-tone by Bragdon, from only photograph known. ]
241
DEVELOPMENT IN THE YEAR 1900.
SUPPLIES.
L. Van Baalen
$113 25
Eliott & Hatch Typewriter Co.
17 50
A. and C. M. Reed
185 31
G. M. Warrick Sons
23 51
John W. Seaman
94 24
Isadore Schoenthal
1 68
G. W. Hays et al
41 05
Typewriter.
90 00
George Davis
39 19
W. V. Dermitt & Co.
19 00
W. P. Hastings et al
46 49
C. B. Kellogg
13 35
William G. Johnson & Co.
8 00
Oil Well Supply Co.
10 28
W. B. Ritchie
63 50
L. McCollum & Co.
1 70
Lionel Schoenthal
1 60
I. J. Dixon
9 30
First National Bank 23 20
J. W. Leech
8 50
J. R. Weldon & Co.
5 00
James Curran 2 40
Boiler Compound Co.
8 65
W. W. Hoyt
1 00
J. Howard Blair
8 40
Frank J. Neeson
10 80
T. E. Redman 2 85
Bigger & Bingham et al
52 35
C. W. Devore
24 80
Baker Office Furnishing Co.
20 00
$946 90
TRANSCRIBING.
Allen R. Dunn
$58 50
Frank Andrews
42 00
Ella M. Coleman
13 50
C. M. Barr
6 00
Nellie Pickett
12 00
$132 00
242
COURTS OF JUSTICE, BENCH, AND BAR.
LIGIIT, HIEAT, AND WATER.
Electric light. $1,401 49
Gas for light 212 06
Gas for heat
3,462 48
Coal supply
30 79
Water for public buildings
1,026 50
$6,133 32
MISCELLANEOUS.
Elections
$10,392 22
W. S. Campbell, certifying judg- ments
1,686 80
W. C. Robison, recopying 5,490 cases at 15c. 823 50
J. I. Carson, recopying in prothonotary's office 829 15
W. F. Penn, satisfaction and assign- ments of mortgages, etc. 246 31
D. F. Patterson, additional attorney ___ 200 00
Frank R. Hall, county superintendent __ 200 00
M. M. Hemphill, sup. prison labor
385 00
Prison board supplies
19 35
Postage and box rent
53 05
Telephone service
94 45
Rebate on timber land, James Boone
8 07
Watching Sundays, W. B. Post.
72 00
Cleaning new court-house
146 50
Moving
98 15
Robt. Donley, hauling, etc.
33 75
Insurance, A. G. Happer
22 50
Castings, W. B. Ritchie
2 00
A. B. Caldwell Company, decorations.
8 64
W. S. Armstrong, entering 389 liens at 10c. 38 90
J. I. Carson, costs in No. 1074 Equity- Robert Green, laundry
3 25
7 50
Cartographic Company, map of county-
10 00
C. D. & P. Tel. Co. 8 80
T. J. Duncan 30 00
Samuel Mckinley, express, etc.
9 35
243
DEVELOPMENT IN THE YEAR 1900.
Dr. Wm. Denny, medicine for jail 25 00
Incidentals 49 08
$ 15,503 32
County fund, total orders issued
$163,323 95
Dog fund, total orders issued
4,109 05
Total expense of the county
$167,433 00
BUILDING FUND-COURT-HOUSE AND JAIL. 1
William Miller & Son $338,992 80
Pennsylvania Construction Company 47,724 87
Stinson, Kennedy & Co. 22,640 77
F. J. Osterling 27,375 71
Speer & Hollar
17,792 60
McGinn & Lewis
7,588 33
Otis Elevator Company 5,965 00
James Howard
561 45
H. P. Chambers
300 00
Keystone Wire Mat Company
84 00
J. W. Gessford 497 00
A. B. Caldwell Company 1,792 62
C. M. Reed 3,838 47
$475,153 62
BUILDING FUND-EXTRAORDINARY EXPENSES.
J. D. Bumgarner, watchman $558 00
E. E. Cummins. 556 65
U. S. Trust Company, interest 20,000 00
Grayham, Kerr & Co., interest, etc. 1,396 36
Citizens Nat. Bank, interest
343 06
Farmers & Mechanics Nat.
Bank,
interest
262 50
George D. Jenkins
20 00
Pittsburg Times, advertising
6 00
$23,142 57
Net total expenses, building fund
$498,296 19
1 This building-fund statement and the bond statement following it represent the payments made and the bonds sold on account of the new public buildings during the year 1900 only.
244
COURTS OF JUSTICE, BENCH, AND BAR.
BONDS-DEBTOR.
Jan. 23, to proceeds of bonds Nos. 1 to 90, inclusive $95,898 98
Dec. 13, to proceeds of bonds Nos. 91 to 250 250,000 00
$345,898 98
-CREDITOR.
Jan. 23, by W. S. Armstrong, treas.,
receipt $95,898 98
Dec. 13, by W. S. Armstrong, treas., receipt 250,000 00
$345,898 98
TOTAL COST OF COURT-HOUSE AND JAIL.
Contract for court-house building __ $272,300 00
Additional stone, granite, and con- crete work
16,859 48
Excavating
1,148 00
Fire-proofing
4,321 44
Plastering, furrowing, and stucco work
29,439 10
Brick work
758 65
Steel work
1,093 05
Tin and galvanized iron work
628 32
Mill work
28,845 60
Vault doors
929 50
Marble work
41,580 00
Art glass
6,184 40
Hardware
1,184 25
Electric work
5,301 94
Ornamental terra-cotta and statues
9,600 00
Rubber tile work
6,249 12
Gas logs and irons
774 00
Hardwood floors
466 80
Leather doors
1,100 00
Brass thresholds
330 00
Flag-pole
150 00
Ornamental iron work
6,359 00
Artificial marble work
11,948 56
1 As presented in the report of the county auditors.
TOM P. SLOAN,
COUNTY COMMISSIONER, 1900-1902. [Half-tone by Bragdon, from photograph by Hallam. 1
245
DEVELOPMENT IN THE YEAR 1900.
Decorating
20,132 50
Painting and glazing
6,720 00
Carpenter work.
12,640 00
Delays on account marble work
5,220 00
Sundries
1,128 00
$493,391 71
Less reduction for material omitted, etc.
24,947 09
$468,444 62
Contract for jail building
$107,600 00
1583 cubic yards foundation concrete @ $12.00
1,904 00
228 yards 2 feet cut stone work @ $1.80
405 25
851 yards 3 feet cutting third story sheriff's wing @ $1.00
851 25
700 yards cutting on dome and stack @ $1.00
700 00
111} square feet steps and platform @ $1.50
167 25
12-4% perch rubble stone work @ $7.25
89 90
58-53 cubic yards concrete boiler house @ $12.00
702 36
55 square feet cut stone boiler house steps @ $1.50
82 50
11, perch rubble tunnel wall @ $7.25
92 00
291} yards excavating @ $3.00
874 00
180 00
60 yards excavating tunnel @ $3.00_ Plastering ceilings, base two rooms, and girders
777 60
33,387 brick in basement @ $16.00 ..
534 19
8,470 brick in corners of rotunda $30.00
254 10
Cementing over jail tunnel
60 00
Painting in base, hot-air pipes, etc.
240 00
Picture molding for residence
200 00
One dumb waiter
360 00
Door, complete for residence 50 00
Three oak cases and table
315 60
246
COURTS OF JUSTICE, BENCH, AND BAR.
Cupboard in engine room 75 00
Changes in cell and prison work as
required by the state board of chari- ties, to extra for cells 12,840 00
To extra plumbing
3,888 00
To extra for vent flues
864 00
To special basket window guards
1,718 40
$135,825 48
Less reductions
2,564 47
$133,261 01
LABOR AND MATERIALS FIXING UP GROUNDS AROUND COURT-HOUSE AND JAIL.
To stone and concrete work $34,754 45
Excavating and grading
3,667 50
Brick work
1,823 00
Fire-proofing
223 20
Tin work
72 60
Electric work
306 79
Bronze lamps.
5,174 40
Sidewalks and drives
5,399 96
Ornamental iron fence, etc
2,131 20
Lumber, mill, and carpenter work
90 00
Plumbing and sewering.
162 00
$53,855 10
Less reduction
3,372 23
Carter Electric Co., electric work
325 00
Otis Elevator Company, elevator
5,965 00
Pennsylvania Construction Company, furniture
47,724 87
Speer & Hollar, furniture
17,792 60
Stinson, Kennedy & Co., plumb- ing.
30,555 97
Maginn & Lewis, ventilating and heat- ing
31,975 32
H. P. Chambers, half electric wir- ing_
300 00
James Howard, grading and sodding- 561 45
$50,432 87
247
DEVELOPMENT IN THE YEAR 1900.
Keystone Wire Matting Co., mats
84 00
A. B. Caldwell Company, linoleums 1,792 62
C. M. Reed, carpets
3,838 47
J. W. Gessford, blinds 497 00
$141,412 30
F. J. Osterling, architect, five per cent for service rendered in the erection of court-house and jail $35,912 58
2} per cent for service rendered in fixing up grounds, movable furni- ture, and fixtures 1,968 13
Five per cent for service rendered in contract with the Great Western Marble Company 1,495 00
$39,375 71
Total cost of construction and fur- nishment of court - house, jail, and grounds $832,926 51
EXTRAORDINARY EXPENSES.
Purchase of ground, rent, etc. $21,164 18
Interest and loans repaid 69,446 01
Watching at temporary jail and offices. 3,917 15
Surveying, etc. 56 25
Printing and advertising 297 25
Miscellaneous bills for carpenter work, plumbing, painting, etc., in arran- ging town hall and Dodd house for court and office work 6,220 10
$101,100 94
Total expense to the county
$934,027 45
248
COURTS OF JUSTICE, BENCH, AND BAR.
TAX LEVY
FOR BUILDING, COUNTY, STATE, AND DOG TAX FOR THE YEAR 1900, BY TOWNSHIPS.
TOWNSHIPS.
Bond.
County.
State.
Dog.
Ad't'nal.
Total.
Allen
$ 290 93
$ 872 30
$55 76
$42 00
$12 40
$1,273 39
Amwell
1,496 65
4,488 49
778 88
233 00
18 20
7,010 22
Beallsville.
208 09
625 71
376 37
21 00
5 60
1,237 27
Bentleysville
146 87
440 20
160 92
29 00
14 80
791 79
Blaine.
377 74
1,132 78
368 29
49 00
6 80
1,934 61
Buffalo ..
708 30
2,124 30
751 44
114 00
6 80
3,701 84
Burgettstown
347 52
1,042 10
331 12
25 00
7 20
1,752 94
California
416 36
1,247 58
152 34
52 00
26 00
1,894 28
Canonsburg, East Ward ...
388 84
1,066 00
196 01
31 00
44 00
1,822 85
Canonsburg, West Ward ..
670 59
2,019 90
762 12
26 00
77 20
3,546 81
Canton
1,308 84
3,925 59|
943 48
143 00
58 00
6.378 91
Carroll.
1,050 30
3,149 86
158 20
220 00
8 00
4,586 36
Centerville
645 06
1,934 72
148 32
59 00
8 80
2,795 90
Cecil
1,461 84
4,384 40
563 00
270 00
32 40
6,711 64
Chartiers
1,263 75
3,790 31
119 76
42 00
38 40
5,254 22
Claysville ..
327 86
982 83
722 81
19 00
7 20
2,059 70
Coal Center.
171 02
512 67
157 19
22 00
11 80
874 68
Cross Creek.
931 48
2,794 08
262 52
110 00
8 80
4,106 88
Charleroi
2,060 92.
6,181 78
74 63
115 60
36 80
8,469 13
Deemston
340 85
1,022 09
93 01
41 00
6 00
1,502 95
Donegal
1,107 58
3,532 16
315 93
136 00
7 60
5,169 27
East Bethlehem
406 14
1,217 54
89 94
29 00
13 20
1,755 82
East Finley
804 22
2,412 02
164 58
167 00
8 00
8,555 82
Elco
130 13
390 19
24 72
47 00
16 00
608 04
East Pikerun
938 03
2,812 98
445 99
141 00
34 40
4,372 40
East Washington
1,024 40
3,072 35
1,001 80|
23 00
24 40
5,148 95
Fallowfield
122 33
366 56
76 69
31 00
14 80
611 38
Hanover
1,220 74
3,662 16
541 27
198 00
3 60
5,625 77
Hopewell.
635 21
1,905 05
221 42
93 00
4 00
2,859 68
Independence
654 08
1,961 61
721 98
73 00
5 29
3,415 87
Jefferson.
674 73
2,023 54
165 00
126 00
8 80
2,998 07
Long Branch
159 881
479 47
8 46
38 00
6 00
691 81
McDonald
742 15
2,225 27
362 03
37 00
68 00
3,434 45
Monongahela City, 1st W ..
300 42
900 82
15 86
41 20
1,258 30
Monongahela City, 2d W.
570 32
1,710 10
549 31
.....
35 60
3,227 01
Morris
798 51
2,394 77
547 85
102 00
6 20
3,849 33
Mount Pleasant
1,366 96
4,100 27
515 70
179 00
16 40
6,178 33
North Charlerol.
119 70
358 941
158 25
13 00
12 80
662 69
North Franklin ..
554 40
1,662 981
77 56
31 00
19 60
2,345 54
North Strabane.
1,099 75
3,298 82
198 92
124 00
24 00
4,745 49
Nottingham ..
588 37
1,764 74
258 02
24 00
14 40
2,649 53
Peters ..
981 59
2,933 65
284 16
160 00
5 60
4,865 00
Robinson
998 41!
2,994 06
565 34
212 00
16 80
4,786 61
Roscoe
214 61
643 53
. 45 26
57 00
20 00
980 40
1,205 84
3,616 48
501 08
168 00
12 80
5,507 20
949 07
2,846 17
754 46
129 00
12 00
4,690 70
960 04
2,879 12
352 43
91 00
24 80
4,807 39
91 44
274 04
35 30
16 00
6 00
422 78
South Franklin.
776 22
2,318 25
154 30
114 00
8 40
3,381 17
Speers .
92 06
276 04
11 00
379 10
South Washington.
619 09
1,856 80
396 30
38 00
46 80
2,956 99
South Canonsburg
208 23
624 37
58 20
33 00
2 45
444 08
Union
1,029 88
3,088 28
164 49
82 00
60 40
4,425 05
West Alexander.
137 50
411 97
348 70
16 00
1 20
915 37
West Bethlehem
1,389 48
4,466 47
481 49
239 00
20 80
6,297 24
West Brownsville.
193 76
580 81
45 65
42 00
8 00
870 22
West Finley
798 49
2,304 20
170 76
153 00
8 40
3,524 91
West Middletown.
81 94
245 53
263 24
5 00
5 20
600 91
West Pikerun.
716 26
2,147 92
225 09
86 00
9 60
3,084 87
West Washington.
516 69
1,578 63
27 80
98 00
32 80
2,263 92
Washington, 1st W
1,137 27
3,411 10
1,336 19
17 00
62 00
5,963 56
Washington, 2d W.
1,320 23
3,959 41
630 38
60 00
82 80
6,052 82
Washington, 3d W.
914 28
2,832 27
1,212 50
15 00
69 60
5,073 65
Washington, 4th W
1,611 60
4,798 19
1,491 43
13 00
72 00
7,986 22
Total
$47,865 39
$143,502 12 $24,479 80
$5,346 00
$1,474 45 $222,667 77
Twilight
96 84
290 37
28 42
26 00
54 00
2,883 73
Monongahela City, 3d W ..
623 33
1,868 49
699 59
96 00
17 60
3,270 39
North Washington
718 75
2,155 34
369 68
97 00
3,340 77
Finleyville
740 13
2,209 55
197 11
Smith
Somerset
South Strabane.
Stockdale ..
973 80
GEORGE E. LOCKHART,
COMMISSIONERS' CHIEF CLERK, 1897-1902.
WILLIAM A. BRITTON, COMMISSIONERS' ASSISTANT CLERK, 1899-1902.
[Half-tones by Bragdon, from photographs by Hallam.]
249
DEVELOPMENT IN THE YEAR 1900.
To his honor J. A. McIlvaine, judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Washington County, Pennsylvania:
We, the undersigned commissioners of Washington County, Pennsylvania, do certify that the foregoing statement is cor- rect, except as noted.
Given under our hands and official seals this 30th day of March, A. D. 1901.
W. G. SHILLITO, [SEAL]
JOHN M. DUNN, [SEAL]
TOM P. SLOAN, [SEAL] Commissioners.
We, the undersigned auditors of Washington County, Pennsyl- vania, respectfully report, that agreeable to the act of assembly we have carefully audited the foregoing account of the com- missioners of said county for the year 1900, and examined the vouchers connected therewith, and find said account correct as stated.
Given under our hands and seals this 8th day of March, A. D. 1901.
W. A. KENNEDY, [SEAL] JAS. B. HALLAM, [SEAL]
J. F. BRISTOR, [SEAL] Auditors.
XII.
THE COURT LIBRARY, BAR ASSOCIATION, ROLL OF ATTORNEYS.
THE COURT LIBRARY.
As heretofore stated, ante, p. 68, upon the building of the new jail in 1868 there was an addition to that building placed directly in the rear of the old court-house (the third one erected), containing on the lower floor an office for the county treasurer, with a large vault behind it to receive the overflow of record papers and dockets from the court- house offices; and over this treasurer's office and vault was made a room, perhaps thirty-five feet by twenty-four, for a court library for the use of the court and the members of the bar.
Under the provisions of the special act of assembly of April 4, 1867, P. L. 755, an appropriation was there- after made by the court, from time to time, from fines and forfeited recognizances in the Court of Quarter Sessions for the establishment and maintenance of this library; and for many years the first attorney-fee for each year, taxed and received by the prothonotary for each member of the bar, was turned into a fund that was paid over to the libra- rian and devoted to the same uses, the commissioners of the county furnishing the cases, as from time to time became necessary, as the number of the volumes of law books increased.
The first librarian in charge was Mr. D. S. Wilson, a mem- ber of the bar now retired from practice, to whom belongs the honor of establishing for the county, under the order of the court, what is now one of the finest law libraries in the state outside the large cities.
The services of Mr. Wilson as librarian ended in 1876,
250
4
SOUTHWEST CORNER OF COURT LIBRARY. [Half-tone by the Chasmar-Winchell Press, New York, from photograph by Hallam.]
251
THE WASHINGTON BAR ASSOCIATION.
when he retired from practice and removed to Leetsdale, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. He was succeeded as libra- rian by Mr. Boyd Crumrine, who, in 1890, while the official State Reporter of the decisions of the Supreme Court, was succeeded in the care of the library by Mr. Henry Ganz. Mr. Ganz served until the library was placed in charge of the library committee of the Washington Bar Association, some time after its organization on October 31, 1892; and since then it has been in the immediate charge of Mr. Win- field McIlvaine, of that committee.
On the removal of the court library to its elegant room in the new court-house, the care of the books, and of the good order of the gentlemen who make use of them, was committed to Miss Alice E. Jones, librarian by appointment of the court, a daughter of Mr. George O. Jones of the bar. Our half-tone shows the southern half of the library, with the adjoining private room of the librarian, both rooms being abundantly lighted from the eastern front of the building on Main Street, and both entered from the beautiful corridor of the second floor on the eastern side of the rotunda.
THE WASHINGTON BAR ASSOCIATION.
Immediately over the court library, and on the third floor, are the rooms of the Washington Bar Association, occupying the whole of the central front on that floor. The main room, in which the meetings of the association are held, is of the same size as the court library room below it, and it is well lighted in the same way. Adjoining at each end are elegant committee rooms, with lavatories.
By the decree of the Court of Common Pleas, dated October 31, 1892, at No. 775, in equity (Equity Docket, Book 4, p. 80), the Washington Bar Association was duly incorporated under the provisions of the act of assembly of April 29, 1874, P. L. 73, and its supplements, by a charter and decree recorded in the office of the recorder of deeds
252
COURTS OF JUSTICE, BENCH, AND BAR.
on November 1, 1892, in Deed Book 175, p. 333, "for the purpose," as shown by Article II. of its Constitution, " of main- taining the honor and dignity of the profession of the law; of cultivating social relations among its members, and in- creasing its usefulness in promoting the due administration of justice; and for the accomplishment of these ends, to super- vise the conduct of the members of the bar and of all per- sons connected officially with the administration of the law, or in charge of the public records; to institute, in case of any breach of duty on their part, such proceedings as may be lawful in respect thereto, to protect the bar and judicial tribunals, their officers and members, from invasion of their rights; and to found and maintain a law library."
On the organization of the association the following were made its officers and committees:
OFFICERS.
GENERAL. A. M. Todd, President. L. McCarrell, Vice-President. Samuel Amspoker, Recording Secretary. J. F. McFarland, Corresponding Secretary. J. M. McBurney, Treasurer. Henry Ganz, Librarian.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
A. M. Todd (ex officio), 1894. A. S. Sprowls, 1894. John H. Murdoch, 1895. Alvan Donnan, 1896. J. I. Brownson, Jr., 1897.
COMMITTEES.
LIBRARY.
Boyd Crumrine. A. M. Linn.
James C. Ewing.
James Q. McGiffin .* Winfield McIlvaine.
253
THE WASHINGTON BAR ASSOCIATION.
AMENDMENT OF THE LAW.
Alexander Wilson. Thomas H. Baird .* John D. Braden .*
JUDICIARY.
H. M. Dougan .* R. W. Irwin. J. M. Dickson.
GRIEVANCES.
M. L. A. McCracken. J. M. Braden .* T. Jeff. Duncan.
FEE BILL.
J. P. Miller. J. F. Taylor. Thomas F. Birch.
Except by death, few changes have been made in the officers and committees of the association since its organization, but for a number of years past the presiding officer has been Mr. Alexander Wilson, admitted in 1853. Mr. Samuel Amspoker continues as the recording secretary, and Mr. James M. McBurney as the treasurer. The gentlemen indicated by a * are now deceased.
During the evening of Saturday, December 14, 1901, a meet- ing of the Bar Association was held at its rooms in the third story front of the new court-house, not for business, but for social enjoyment after several weeks of hard work in court, and with one week of it remaining before the holidays vacation. A regular northwestern blizzard (a good word: see Century Dictionary) had just struck the town, which might account for the absence of some of those who failed to show due obedi- ence to the subpoena requiring their presence. It was the first meeting in our new rooms that was not for business; and though its purpose may not be fully set forth in the constitu- tion and by-laws of the association, as the authorized single purpose of a called meeting, yet that purpose cannot be said to be unconstitutional.
254
COURTS OF JUSTICE, BENCH, AND BAR.
The members present had assembled in consequence of an order issued by our recording secretary, all of his own motion, as is suspected, and ever zealous in his desire for what is best for the association, he out of his own head had arranged what was to be attended to, disclosed in his subpoena as follows:
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, ANIA} SS.
COUNTY OF WASHINGTON,
[SEAL. ] To the Members of the Washington Bar Association, Greeting:
We command you and each of you, that, setting aside all manner of business and excuses whatsoever, you and each of you be and appear in your proper persons at a meeting of said association, to be held in its rooms in the court-house in said county, on the 14th day of December, 1901, at 7:30 o'clock, P. M., there to take part in a feast of wit and wisdom, in which the following subjects will be opened with remarks by the fol- lowing-named persons:
Opening Address, Alexander Wilson, Esq. Our New Rooms, - John H. Murdoch, Esq.
The Old Way, - J. L. Judson, Esq.
How Shall We Decorate Our Rooms, Object of the Bar Association,
Esprit de Corps of the Bar,
Court Rules, - - I
Early Reminiscences of the Bar, -
Later Reminiscences of the Bar,
M. L. A. McCracken, Esq. H. J. Vankirk, Esq.
How We May Make It a Success,
A. M. Todd, Esq.
And this you are not to omit, under the penalty of one hundred pounds.
Witness the Honorable Alexander Wilson, president of said association, at Washington, Pennsylvania, this sixth day of December, 1901.
SAMUEL AMSPOKER,
Secretary.
- J. F. Taylor, Judge T. Jeff. Duncan, Esq. J. A. McIlvaine, Judge T. Flem. Birch, Esq.
- Boyd Crumrine, Esq. - R. W. Irwin, Esq. Grievances of the Bar, - Bar Picnics,
MISS ALICE E. JONES, COURT LIBRARIAN FROM 1900. [ Half-tone by Bragdon, from photograph by Hallam.]
255
THE WASHINGTON BAR ASSOCIATION.
As the members appeared, Mr. Wilson, the president, sit- ting at the head of the long table, with a commanding wave of his sceptered hand, required each to subscribe his name upon a paper laid before him; and as every member of the bar present was able to write his name himself, that paper will be preserved, and may hereafter be referred to, if merely as the standard of comparison in respect of the genuineness of sig- natures alleged to be the signatures of the judges or lawyers at that meeting.
One member, after taking his seat and observing the pro- ceedings a while, began to say to himself:
" A chiel's amang ye takin' notes, And, faith, he'll prent it."
Mr. Amspoker, running things apparently with at least the permission of the president, made it known that each speaker to make "remarks" would be allowed four minutes; why he could not go to five was one mystery, but every address was of such interest that no one thought of calling time, and each speaker said what he had to say.
As a part of the "opening address" of Mr. Wilson, the president, he referred to certain peculiar methods of practice in the earlier days, and presented what he called the report of the trial of a will case on an issue devisavit vel non, explain- ing in advance the old-time pleadings, wherein the proponent of the will, the executor thereof, as plaintiff, averred that a bet of one dollar had been made between the plaintiff and the de- fendant that a certain testamentary writing described was the last will and testament of the decedent; that the contestant (a disappointed heir defending,) had denied that the said testamentary paper was the last will and testament of the decedent, and had accepted the bet; and that the bet had been won by the plaintiff, for that the said testamentary paper was the last will and testament of the decedent, and the plaintiff was entitled to have and receive from the defendant the said sum of one dollar, for which suit was brought; the defendant by his plea admitting the bet, but most solemnly denying that
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.