Lakewood’s Court History Started with a Hanging

People shuffling through the Lakewood Municipal Courtroom might feel like they got a raw deal when Judge Earnst Heller slams down his gavel, rendering a decision. What they don't realize is it could have been much worse.

The Oregon Territory's first trial was held in Lakewood. It ended with three people swinging from the business end of a rope some 102 years ago.

Chief Justice William P. Bryant of the Oregon Territory convened the opening trial in the future Washington Territory at Fort Steilacoom, trying six members of the Snoqualmie Tribe for murder. The gavel opened the proceedings on Oct. 1, 1849.

Four were declared innocent and the other two were found guilty and were hung the next day.

The case involved a scuffle on May 1, 1849 at nearby Fort Nisqually. The basics of the case have it that a group of about 100 members of the Snoqualmie and Skewahamish tribes arrived at the Hudson's Bay Company Fort looking to settle a dispute. They were upset about stories involving Nisqually Chief Lohalet reportedly abusing his Snoqualmie wife.

A fight broke out and the fort’s gates were closed. American settler Leander Wallace was trapped outside the fort and was shot dead.

Chief Justice William P Bryant gathered a grand jury, which promptly returned an indictment charging the six Snoqualmies with murder. Bryant appointed a lawyer to represent the defendants and followed the law the best he could. Trial convened the next day. Two of the men, Kussus and Quallalwowt were convicted of murdering Wallace. The jury of American settlers found the other four not guilty. One of the acquitted defendants was a slave not even present at the fight.

The total cost of the trial came to $2,3379.54 that included travel expenses, jurors fees, and the value of the 80 blankets, the bounty paid to have the Snoqualmies turn over the men to the court.

While murder cases in Lakewood are now tried in Pierce County Superior Court in downtown Tacoma, the current courtroom in Lakewood hears criminal misdemeanors gross misdemeanors, infractions, parking and photo infraction violations that occur in Lakewood and University Place.

The Lakewood court system was established with Lakewood incorporation. It was dedicated in the name of its first judge, John Feutz, in 2005 after Feutz died of cancer.

Feutz graduated from Clover Park High School in 1968, then the University of Washington in 1972 and University of Puget Sound Law School in 1977. He practiced law within various organizations and volunteer positions as well as was a member of the Washington State Bar Association, Washington State District and Municipal Court Judges Association, the Clover Park School Board, The Rotary Club of Lakewood and much more. He also provided his legal assistance to the formation of the Lakewood Historical Society.

The current judge is Ernest Heller, who has been serving on the bench since 2001. When not serving on the bench, Heller can often be found on stage at the Lakewood Playhouse.