Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 8.djvu/278

 270 JENNIE B. HARRIS. 1. Marion Scott. 7. Matthew Wallis 2. T. P. Holland 8. Josiah M. Lakin 3. A. W. Patterson 9. John Fergerson 4. James Breeding 10. Wm. Dodson 5. Wm. C. Spencer 11. Wm. Smith 6. Wm. McCabe 12. Hiram Richardson This jury returned a verdict for the defendants. This is the first civil case tried before a jury in Lane County. According to the best information secured, this term of court was held in a room about twelve by fourteen feet, lo- cated on Tenth and Oak streets, on what is now known as the Titus property. As in the case of the first term of court, the jury had to be sent into the open air to deliberate, and they accordingly withdrew to an oak tree near by. On May 1, 1854, the third term of District Court for Lane County convened, with George H. Williams presiding. This term was held in the same room where the second term con- vened, and on the second day of the session, May 2, 1854, the first criminal case in Lane County was called. It is the place where these two terms of court were held that has been marked, it being the place where the first case was tried before a jury. These three places have been chosen because of their im- portance ; the first question has been answered, and a second, "How shall these historic spots be marked?" demands solu- tion. Shall they be marked with costly shafts? Such monu- ments seem not in keeping with the events themselves nor the time. For were not the actors simple, sturdy, daring, deter- mined men and women of the frontier period? After much deliberation, the question is settled, and three basaltic monu- ments, from the hand of Nature, are taken from the butte bearing the family name of our first settler and placed within the city christened with his Christian name. What could be more fitting than these columns, characterized by simplicity, plainness, and strength, typical of the pioneer character ?