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Show . . j . tion of court business. Thoughthe law is eminent! j just, if not abused, it was not long, until unscrupulous lawyers began to file affidavits af-fidavits of disqualification, simply to delay bringing cases to trial. The matter became so serious as almost to be a menace. Judges' who knew neither party to a suit and who had never heard of the case at issue, would be disqualified. This was, to say the least, annoying, an-noying, and steps were'taken ito stop the disagreeable practice. None of these wetfe successful until Judge Smith was called in to try a case at ButteJ-the other day. " - '. ,';;" v Judge Smith, had nQ sooner called the case than a disqualifying affidavit was filed. The Judge had never heard of the plaintiff and asked the defendant' lawyer the grounds for the affidavit. The attorney started out bravely enough, but was closely questioned as to his motives by the court,. and soon became confused. Standing oil what he considered his rights according to 'the change, of venue law, he attempted to bluff the matter through. His actions plainly showing tliat hej had pijly attempted to delay the litigation, Judge Smith fined him foOO and five days in jail. This was later reduced to f 56 and five hours in jail, and the lawyer was put down stairs k with the hoboes and compelled to pay his foO. It is probable that justice in Montana will be a little swifter now jthan it has been.' i i DELAYING JUSTICE IN TREASURE STATE. Vadge Henry C. Smith of Helena, Mont., can't be "monkeyed" with. At least one Montana lawyer knows this fact, having been eeotenced to pay a fine of $500 and to spend five days in jail as a result of his conduct in the court of the Helena jurist the other day. Peculiar conditiois prevail in the Treasure State as regards law and i justice. Litigation between the big mining companies has created emergencies, which have been met in one way or another. Two years ago, finding that the Judges of Silver Bow county systematically decided de-cided in favor of one faction, a special session of the Legislature was called and a change of venue law was passed. This permitted a litigant to disqualify the court ontne grounds of prejudice and bias. Then another Judge could be brought in. It was possible " also to disqualify Win, and so on until five Judges had been disqual- i . . , - . v. "' i ' ' ' '. ' ' Slds law has since proved a serious impediment to the transae |