24 April 2011

Judge With Bryan Ties Has Colorful Time on Omaha Bench - Scott

Judge Cunningham Robert Scott of Omaha, NE Had Ties to Williams County, OH

By Pamela Pattison Lash (update 26 Apr 2011)

(Judge) Cunningham Robert Scott (Oct 1832 Wayne Co, OH – c 28 June 1905 Bryan Democrat/c 28 Dec 1905 Bryan Press Obit and Bryan Democrat Obit - see below); s/o Robert and Charlotte Cunningham Scott




Almira R. Hunter, d/o William Alexander and Nancy Day Hunter; (Nov 1837 OH – 1 Oct 1902, Omaha, NE found in 2 Oct 1902 Bryan Press Obit, p2 - Almira Hunter Scott died on 1 Oct 1902 at home on Dodge St from combination of heart failure/asthma attack; her husband was notified while he was a sitting judge of ongoing case; she left three children; member of Presbyterian Church )

Cunningham R. Scott/Rachel Almira Hunter, 6 July 1858, Bryan, Pulaski Twp, Williams Co, OH

1860 Bryan, Williams, Ohio; Roll: M653_1052; Page: 36; Image: 75; Family History Library Film: 805052.
Scott, Cunningham 26 OH lawyer
Almira R 22 OH
Laura 11/12 OH

US CW Registration, Fairview, Jones Co, IA c1863 – CR Scott, 29 years old, married, birthplace OH, attorney

1870 Anamosa, Jones, Iowa; Roll: M593_401; Page: 46A; Image: 95; Family History Library Film: 545900.
h/h 155/165 Scott, CR 36 OH lawyer
Almira 31 OH
Laura 10 OH
Edgar H 6 IA
Kate 2 IA

1880 Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie, Iowa; Roll: 361; Family History Film: 1254361; Page: 247C; Enumeration District: 192; Image: 0497.
h/h 73/74 Scott, Cunningham  47 OH-OH-OH lawyer
Almyra 42 wife OH-OH-OH
Laura dau 20 OH-OH-OH
Edgar H son 18 IA-OH-OH
Kate dau 14 IA-OH-OH

1885 Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie Co, IA State Census
h/h 165/166 Scott, Cunnigham R 52 OH attorney
Elmera 45 OH
Laura 25 OH
Edgar 23 IA attorney
Kate 17 IA

1890 Omaha, NE City Directory – CR Scott, Miss Laura Scott, Miss Kitty Scott, Edgar Scott all living on Dodge St.

1892-1899 Cunningham R. Scott served as judge of the District Court in Omaha, NE.
Omaha Memories, Edward F. Morearty, p123 (a very negative entry)
  
Article Title: Who Killed Maud Rubel? A Case of Black and White in Omaha, 1894
Full Citation: Tommy Thompson, “Who Killed Maud Rubel? A Case of Black and White in Omaha, 1894,” Nebraska History 86 (2005): 26-36.
Date: 11/29/2010
Article Summary: When a young white woman, Maud Rubel, was found dead in South Omaha, suspects included Sam Payne, an African-American who had lived in a building near the crime scene. In spite of conflicting eyewitness reports and the fact that Payne recanted his original confession, he was convicted. Racial beliefs of the day, expressed in newspaper articles, played a role in his sentencing. After ten years in prison the governor pardoned Payne.

18 Feb 1893 – Jurors in Omaha went on strike due to poor quality and quantity of food served to them as they were locked up and could not return to their homes to eat or sleep until the trial was over. Judge CR Scott agreed with the jurors that they should not be deliberating on half-full stomachs and the provisions of the Grand Central Hotel, which had the lowest bid and therefore was awarded the food and lodging of jurors by the county commissioners at 25 cents per each juror.  Lincoln Weekly News, 29 June 1893

17 Oct 1894 - Two judges in two different rooms tried the same case.  Judge CR Scott, a personal enemy of Edward Rosewater, editor of the Omaha Bee, insisted on trying the criminal libel suit of Sophia Bennett v Rosewater.  Later both judges involved dismissed the case.  NY Times, 18 Oct 1894

7 Nov 1895 – Judge CR Scott, the famous criminal judge, was returned to office of judge as a Republican candidate for the Omaha District Court even though he had been bitterly criticized by the lawyers and press of the area.  NY Times, 7 Nov 1895

4 Oct 1897 – Judge CR Scott issued a strangely worded to the Nebraska Supreme Court.
NY Times, 5 Oct 1897

16 Dec 1898 – Judge CR Scott decided an Omaha contempt case known as the Exposition Affair.  He lectured prominent men of the area for two hours and found them guilty of lawless acts.  He disbarred the Attorney Carroll Montgomery.  Scott called his fellow jurists “anarchists” and levied $30,000 in fines.  NY Times, 17 Dec 1898

28 Jan 1899, Charges were leveled in the form of impeachment proceedings against District Judge Cunningham R. Scott of Omaha.  Endorsed by the majority of the Omaha Bar, Speaker of the House of Nebraska Legislature, Mr. Clark, began the action citing “every shortcoming and abuse of power of which a judge could be accused.”  NY Times, 29 Jan 1899

1900 Omaha Ward 4, Douglas, Nebraska; Roll: T623_924; Page: 6A; Enumeration District: 36.
2033 Dodge St
h/h 82/100 Scott, Cunningham R. 67 (Oct 1832) mar 42Y attorney
Almira R. wife 62 (Nov 1837) 3/3 ch OH-OH-OH
Laura dau 40 (June 1859) OH-OH-OH
Edgar son 39 (Aug 1860) IA-OH-OH attorney
Katharine dau 32 (Nov 1867) IA-OH-OH
Lindberg, Emma servant 20 (Feb 1880) IA-Sweden-Sweden

By 1910 the children live in Omaha, NE
Edgar is married with children
Laura and Kate are living together, both single