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 The Circuit Rider. the coveted writ, but it failed of the desired effect. Soon after Manistee and Grand Traverse counties were severed from the old Ninth Michigan Circuit, Judge Ramsell was elected judge of the new circuit by the residents of Grand Traverse county. Complaint was made to Governor John J. Bagley that there was a large amount of pressing business that required immediate attention awaiting a ses sion of court on Beaver Island. At that time the island was occupied by Strang and some of his Mormon followers, part of their colony extending into Charlevoix on the mainland, and several bands of fishermen, as well as woodsmen, who looked after the furnishing and loading of wood upon the occasional boats that came that way. The judge was requested by the governor to go to the island and hold a session of court and relieve the business that seemed to be so pressing. The judge responded to the governor that he did not feel like going to the island to hold court, for the reason that in his opinion there was no business requiring a term of court there, and also because there were no means of travel to the island unless he hired a boat in which to make the trip, and any boat that he felt safe for that purpose would charge $100 to take the judge over and remain until he could transact the business of the term. He was receiving only $1500 a year, and said he could ill afford such an outlay and therefore desired to be excused. For a time this explanation seemed to allay the anxiety of the executive office. In the meantime the judge attended his other coun ties on horseback and visited a day or two at each, telling stories and renewing the acquaintance of his neighbors thirty or forty miles off the trail as he made his pilgrimage. One day the judge received a peremptory order from Governor Bagley to call a term of court on Beaver Island and go there and hold the term. The governor said that he had received repeated appeals for a term of court and that there was much urgent busi

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ness there that must not be delayed; and or dered him to attend to the matter at once. The judge made the necessary arrange ments, fixing a term of court on the island, and then looked about to find some scheme to relieve himself of the entire burden of pay ing $100 to be taken over to the island and back. He went to Seth C. Moffit and other attorneys in the vicinity, and informed them of the great amount .of business that was to be done at the court to be held on the island, and induced them to purchase tickets of him to go then to attend court. The attorneys were eager for business and when the judge's boat steamed out of Traverse Bay for Beaver Island it was freighted with about all the legal learning and ability in that part of the State. When the boat arrived at the little bay at the island and came to anchor, for there were no docks, the shore was lined with those who had assembled with the view of attending a real, live ccurt. The boats were lowered and the party went ashore, led by the judge. As they reached the bank, they were met by Pat rick O'Flannigan, sheriff, and Mike O'Neil, county clerk. After the usual greetings, Pat rick said: "Judge, you have come to hold court?" The judge answered: "Yes. Where is the clerk's office, wh.re court is to be held?" "It is up to me place of business. Step right up there, Judge. I've attended to the liquors, and think everything is in readiness.'* "What is there here for the court to do?" "Your honor, I do not exactly know, but from what I hear there is a very large amount of business." This was before the days when the clerk was required to prepare a calendar for the court. When the party arrived at the county clerk's office, they found a log building, twen ty-five or thirty feet long and about sixteen feet in width. On the right as they entered were the bar and saloon fixtures; on the left