Just to remind everyone -- Charlotte's "Pearls are now archived permanently at http://www.rootsweb.com/~ote/usa_genealogy/mo_newspaper.htm -------------------------------- Jefferson Democrat Hillsboro, Jefferson county, Missouri Part II WEDNESDAY, 13 JANUARY 1886 PROBATE COURT - C.G. WARNE was allowed, against Martin THORPE's estate, $90.80, costs of inquest. CIRCUIT COURT - Judge FOX of Fredericktown came up and held court for Judge THOMAS, Wednesday and Thursday of last week. It was expected that he would try several cases, but most of them were continued. Among the cases he was expected to try were six against Jacob N. DOUGLAS, for malfeasance in the office of collector. Mr. DOUGLAS filed a motion for change of venue, alleging prejudices on the part of the citizens of the county. forty five of the leading men of the county, including all the members of the petit jury present, were summoned to testify as to the feeling of the people. A large delegation was brought from De Soto for the same purpose, among them Mayor GOFF, E.S. PYLE, H. HOHENTHAL, Dr. FARRAR, Fred HACKE, C. BEISBARTH, H. HOFFMANN and several others. The evidence was all one way - all, with the possibility of two or three exceptions, testifying that they had heard of the matter and believed the defendant guilty. It was also shown that he had been found guilty and expelled from the Masonic lodge. Judge FOX very readily granted the change, as it seemed that nearly all the citizens of the county were incompetent as jurymen, on account of knowing of the offenses and having made up their minds. At the suggestion of the Prosecuting Attorney the cases were sent to Iron county. Henry MILLER and Charles MAUPIN were each fined ten dollars for assaulting Ed DOVER, colored. Some time last Summer DOVER got to abusing his wife and other wise making a nuisance of himself, and twenty or more of the boys took him to the pond and ducked him. Why only two, they were the poorest men in the lot, were indicted, we do not know. We think others ought to chip in and help the fines and costs. EARLY DAYS - by J.T. M'MULLIN - No. 6 - The first Circuit court I ever attended was at Herculaneum in 1835, I was a member of the grand jury. Herculaneum was then the county seat, but there was no courthouse. Court was held in an old house belonging to a Negro, who, I think was called Uncle Abe. The grand jury room was an out-house, about fifty yards from where the court was held. The attorneys present were GAMBLE, GO-ER, BA-S and POLK - all able men in their time. The first case I ever heard plead was between Mark MOSS and Gabriel JOHNSTON and the pleaders were GEYER and a man named LOWRY. I thought then that LOWRY's speech was very fine, and I think yet it was as able a defence as I ever heard. He defended JOHNSTON. I attended four courts at Herculaneum. There were but few conveniences at that place. The first court in Hillsboro was in18?0(?) and I was on the petit jury. There were more people in Hillsboro at that court than I have ever seen at court since; and it is safe to say that many of them came long distances, and that many had no business to attend to. Thomas B. HNDSON and Wilson PRIMM came down from St. Louis to attend to a case brought here on change of venue. They both addressed the crowd on political issues of the day. PRIMM was a Whig and HUDSON a Democrat. The presidential canvass between Martin VanBUREN and William Henry HARRISON was then in full blast, and everybody had a jolly time. there was but little hotel accommodation in Hillsboro then. Someone had erected four or five log pens for stables, near where the cemetery now is, and I remember well that about twenty of us slept out near the stables on our saddle-blankets for want of room or more suitable beds. At the court were G.W. HARRISON, Wilson WEAVER, Jeff BOARD, Wm. BUTLER, Lindley McMULLIN, Joseph DRYBREAD and many others, who were then young men, but are long since dead. There was only one place to eat at in the town, and the fare for every meal was hog meat, cornbread, beans and coffee. I think there were more beans eaten at that court than have been eaten in the county during any five years time since. If the incidents and scenes at that term of court and the one following, could be correctly written, it would make an interesting chapter of history; but as I depend upon my memory for what I have written, I will not attempt to enlarge upon the subject, but bid your readers good-bye for the present. (I apologize for the --:s and ?'s left in this item but part of the vital dates were misstyped and were impossible to read. Charlotte) Miss May LEWIS, who has been visiting her sister, Mrs. William FREY, left for her home in Louisville, Tuesday morning. A subordinate lodge of the National American Association was organized in this city, last Saturday evening, by State Secretary PARKER and State Agent G.C. HULBERT. There are about fifteen chapter members enrolled, with a dozen or more applications for membership. The character of the association is chiefly beneficiary, but has a rank for social members, as well. After giving the lodge the name and number of De Soto Association, NO. 37, the State Secretary installed the following officers; Ex-president, W.L. STONE; President, T.E. PHILLIPS; Vice-president, F.C. GHERING; Advocate, James F. CARLEY; Recording Secretary, William J. KNORPP; Collector, A.W. BLANK; Treasurer, W.J. HARTMAN; Chaplain, J.D. GRATIOT; Sergeant-at-arms, John GILBERT; Inside Doorkeeper, W.G. GOFF; Outside Doorkeeper, Edward R. COLLINS; Medical Examiner, Dr. G.A. AUERSWALD. DEATHS and BIRTHS; - The following deaths were filed with the County Clerk the past week. Date Name Age January 12 Charles J. WIDEMAN 1 yr 5 mos January 14 Nancy WILLIAMS 77 yrs, 8 1/2 mo BIRTHS Date Name of Mother sex January 18 Mrs. John BOYER girl January 8 Mrs. William W. FARLEY girl PLATTIN - Mrs. Mary SMITH had all her flowers frozen the last cold spell. One of Henry FRAZIER's children was buried yesterday at Upper Plattin church, and one of Reed PORTER's children has been very ill. </HTML>