Page:Bench and bar of Colorado - 1917.djvu/42

38 A careful investigation of the facts will lead any careful man to the firm conclusion that each and every one was clearly guilty and most properly acquitted. Pioneer juries evidently applied the same principle, in the trial of Mexicans, that tenderfoot juries, in these soft days, apply upon the trial of young Piute Indian braves.

The court continued to occupy the Larimer Street quarters until May 6, 1884, when it was removed to the old Symes block, since destroyed by fire, at Sixteenth and Champa, where it remained until November 29, 1889, when it was shifted to the Gettysburg building. It did not move again until February 3, 1893, when it went into possession of the quarters prepared for it in the Federal building at Sixteenth and Arapahoe streets, which have housed it from thence until today. By the way, the circumstances of the erection of this building shows the celerity with which this great government of ours can act when driven to it—its capacity for quick preparation—the site of that building was selected in 1880, and the building was ready for occupancy thirteen years later!

There were many notable cases tried in that old Larimer Street court room. The Leadville apex cases brought political and financial fortune to a number of lawyers. Judge George G. Symes came here in the '70s. He had been territorial judge in Montana. He formed a partnership with Judge Decker, and became immediately prominent, through connection with the litigation over the Dives-Pelican mines at Georgetown. He espoused the apex side in the controversy over the Leadville formation, but was defeated. He purchased a corner on Sixteenth Street with his fees, built a block and went to Congress. Patterson & Thomas represented the defense. Both became rich, and the riches of one, at least, have continued to grow ever since. Both, at times, ran for governor, and one of them was finally elected. Both ran for the Senate many times, and each was ultimately elected senator. They defeated the apex for Leadville, but lost it for Aspen. The Aspen cases were tried later, and