Must Be Tried Here

MUST BE TRIED HERE

The Jueson-Moran Cases To Be Tried Here.

IT IS NOT IN THRALLDOM

That Mr. Judson [H, et] Consciences of Jurymen,

Judge Kinne Thinks Editor of a "Leading Journal" Has as Much Vantage Ground.--Interest Thought to be Exaggerated.

Judge Kinne has denied the motion for a chance of venue in Judson-Moran, Canfield Allmendinger cases and the cases must be tried in this county.

The judges opinion was as follows:

William Judson vs. S. A. Moran.

S. A. Moran vs. William Judson and Lester Canfield.

Lester Canfield vs. G. Frank Allmendinger.

In the above three cases motions have been made to transfer the causes to some other county on the ground that a fair and impartial trial could not be had in Washtenaw county and the particular reason urged is that Mr. Judson is a great political power and will impede the wheels of justice.

I am not able to regard this matter with much anxiety or seriousness. I have no reason to think that the people of this county have any great interest or knowledge of the issues involved in these litigations. I feel sure that counsel have exaggerated views as to the alleged public excitement or interest. These are personal controversies and outside of the particular friends of these parties, I think there is a manifest indifference in regard to all of these suits.

It may be true that Mr. Judson is a very active political leader, but no one I think would seriously claim that he holds the minds and consciences of the people of the country in thralldom. This is an age when men think and act for themselves, and the men who usually constitute the juries in this county, are not the minions or slaves of any man or set of men. They are remarkable for their intelligence, their freedom and independence of thought and action.

I do not apprehend any trouble in readily impannelling a fair and impartial jury in each and all of these cases. At least I think the effort should be made.

Neither Mr. Judson or any of the political friends are now connected with the conduct of the court room or the impannelling of juries and as against the editor of a leading journal, I cannot discover his vantage ground. If there is any soiled linen to be washed, let it be done with the waters of our county.

I do not think that the residents of this county should be sent elsewhere to settle their legal controversies unless it is apparent that justice cannot be secured at home. To grant these motions at least upon the present showing would in my opinion be a rebuke and a reproach to the high quality of our citizenship.

I think the motions should be denied without costs.

E. D. KINNE

April 29, 1899.