the amount expended has been $5,000. Another appropriation of $8,000 was made last spring, and this money is to be applied to dredging a channel cut eight feet deep and sixty feet wide at the entrance of the river. An appropriation of $25,000 was asked for in 1881, which is supposed to complete the improvement. This sum was granted.

HARBOR OF REFUGE, BELLE RIVER.

After a survey of the bar at the mouth of Belle River, an appropriation of $7,000 was made for its removal. Belle River is about one hundred and forty feet in width, and from seven to nine feet deep at the lower reaches, which it is intended to improve. The project adopted in 1880 is to afford a channel fifty feet wide, thirteen feet deep to the first bridge, and twelve feet deep to the second. No money has yet been expended on the improvement.

CHAPTER XXIV.

COURTS AND BAR OF MACOMB.

The first session of the Macomb County Court was held in the house of Christian Clemens, at Mt. Clemens, July 10, 1818. Christian Clemens, Chief Justice, with Daniel Le Roy and William Thompson, Associate Judges, presided.

The first case brought before this tribunal was the admission of Ezra Prescott to the bar of Macomb. Having produced his certificate as an attorney of the Supreme Judicial Court of New Hampshire, it was ordered that he should be admitted an attorney and counselor at law of this county. John Stockton was Clerk of the Court.

The next sitting of the court took place July 14, 1818. The Grand Jury made no presentments, and was discharged. The only civil suit brought before the Judges was that of Mitchell and Leo Trombley versus Joseph Dupree, on appeal from Justice Le Roy's Mr. Le Roy retired from the bench when the case was presented; however, on accourt of not being ready for trial, the cause was continued.

court.

The session of 1819 began February 1, with the same Judges presiding. James Fulton, the Sheriff, returned the names of twenty-four Grand and twenty-four Petit Jurors. The following are the names of the Grand Jurors who were present: Z. W. Bunce, Oliver Record, Andrew Westbrook, Baptiste Yax, William Brown, Joseph Mini, John K. Smith, Elisha Harrington, Edward Tucker, Jacob Tucker, John Connor, Isaac Russ, H. R. Underhill, Pierre Phenix, Felix Pelhy, Baptiste Nicla, Hugh McKay, Julius Forton, Francis Labadie, James Graham, John B. Beaubien, Gideon Olmstead. This jury retired under care of Constable J. B. Chapaton.

The cases brought before the court were as follows:

Mitchell Trombley, Supervisor of Huron Township, appealed from Justice Harring

His comton's court his complaint against John Tucker, which was ordered discontinued. plaints versus Julius Forton, Louis Chortier, Charles Peltier, Edward Tucker, Francis Labadie and Benjamin Trombley. The other cases were those of Andrew Westbrook versus William Austen, an appeal from Justice Smith's court, and the continued case of Trombley versus Dupree, which were continued.

The session of the court in 1820 was merely marked by the granting of a license to the Chief Justice of that court, as follows:

Christian Clemens, of said county, having made application to said court for a license to keep a tavern, and having satisfied said court that a tavern is necessary at his place of residence for the accommodation of travelers; that he is of good moral character, and has sufficient accommodation for such purpose; therefore said court have granted him this license.

JAMES FULLER,
JOSEPH HAYS.

CIRCUIT COURT.

WILLIAM THOMPSON,
DANIEL LE ROY,
Assistant Justices of said County.

The first record of the Circuit Court shows that Joseph Campau, of Wayne County, sued Charles Peltier, of Macomb, for £54 14s., New York currency, due the late Denis Campau, of whose estate Joseph Campau was administrator. William Woodbridge, Presiding Judge of the Court, held at Mt. Clemens July 21, 1828, issued an order for the arrest of Peltier and his safe custody until the opening of the Circuit Court in October of that year at Mt. Clemens. Judgment, damages, $185.36; costs, $15.50; total, $200.86.

RETIREMENT OF JUDGE MORELL.

Among the old records of the bar of Macomb County is one dealing with an event in its history, namely, the retirement of Hon. George Morell from the judiciary of this circuit, April 4, 1843. A meeting of the bar was held within the old court house at Mt. Clemens, which was presided over by Hiron Hathaway as Chairman, and Azariah Prentiss, Vice Chairman, both Associate Judges of the county. Amos Dolby, Clerk of the Court, was appointed Secretary. The meeting as organized appointed a committee of nine on resolutions, the members of which were Conger, Butler, Leonard, Terry, Smith, Walker, Mitchell, Eldredge and Carter. This committee reported the following resolutions, which were adopted:

WHEREAS, The Hon. George Morell is about to retire from the Chief Justiceship of this State and the Presiding Judgeship of this circuit, where he has long presided with honor to himself and the State, therefore

Resolved, That we do cheerfully bear testimony to the ability, fidelity, promptness and impartiality with which he has ever discharged his many high and responsible duties as Presiding Judge of this Court and as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and that we do sincerely regret that the Judicial relations existing between us will terminate with the present session of this court.

The reply of Judge Morell to the practicing lawyers was pathetic in a high degree, as well as a high testimony to the old bar of Macomb.

THE GRAND JURY AND THE JUDGE.

After submitting the presentments to the court, the Grand Jurors re-assembled and adopted the following form of address:

The Grand Jurors of the county of Macomb at the April term of the Circuit Court in the year 1843, having completed their inquiries in and for said county, would respectfully present that, in common with their fellow-citizens of said county, they regret that this term of this court terminates, by the expiration of his term of office, the judicial labors of the Hon. George Morell as the Presiding Judge of said county; that they have long regarded him with sentiments of sincere esteem and respect; and believing that he has ever discharged his judicial duties with impartiality, integrity, firmness and ability, they present to the court here this token of their continuing esteem and unwavering confidence in him.

EPHRIAM CALKIN, Foreman,

ALFRED GOODELL,

ASA CURTISS,

ANTHONY CHORTIER,

WILLIAM STEVENS,

HENRY JERSEY,

G. W. SUMMERS,

JUSTUS R. CRANDALL,
JACOB SUMMERS,

TALMON H. GRAY,
HENRY S. COURTER,
ORASMUS LATHROP,
D. W. NOYES,
CHANCEY GOODRICH,
JAMES CHENEY,
HEMAN NYE,

JOHN HICKS,

STEWART TAYLOR, Secretary.

Sanford M. Green, formerly Judge of the Macomb County Circuit Court, was born at Grafton, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., May 30, 1807. In 1837, he came to Michigan and located lands where is now the village of Owasso. On the resignation of Judge Ransom, in 1848, and the transfer of Judge Whipple, Mr. Green was appointed Circuit Judge of the Fourth Circuit. He resigned this position in 1867. In June, 1872, he was appointed Judge of the Eighteenth Circuit, to fill vacancy. In 1860, he published a hand-book in the practice of the Circuit Courts, and took an active part in the revision of the Statutes of Michigan. He also published a work on the highway laws of Michigan.

In the history of St. Clair County, references will be made to Judges Dewey, W. T. Mitchell, E. W. Harris and H. W. Stevens, of this Circuit Court.

RECORD OF ADMISSIONS TO THE BAR OF MACOMB COUNTY.

Among the early lawyers of the county, or rather those practicing in the County Courts, were Cornelius O'Flynn, Alex D. Frazer, R. P. Eldredge, B. F. H. Witherell, O. D. Richardson, William A. Fletcher, Charler W. Whipple, Backus, Jacob M. Howard, Thomas Ashley, Ezra Prescott and James F. Joy.

The record of persons admitted as attorneys and counselors at law of this county shows the following names and dates:

Ezra Prescott, July 10, 1818; Thomas Ashley, June, 1820; Spencer Coleman, February, 1821; George McDougall, February 4, 1823; Jacob M. Howard, July 16, 1833; Franklin Sawyer, Jr., July 16, 1833; James F. Joy, April 12, 1837; Dewitt C. Walker, April 12, 1837; Royal P. Crouse, April 13, 1837; Harlehigh Carter, Prescott B. Thurston, April 13, 1837; Solomon Lathrop, April 12, 1837; Edward W. Harris, October 12, 1837; H. D. Terry, April 11, 1838; Peter S. Palmer, October 17, 1839; John