The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-10-20
LOCAL MATT + RS.

The ALLEeHANY-The United States steamer
Allegheny, Captain William w. Hunter, arrived
off the Washington Navy Yard On Thursday night,
having touched at Norfolk, from short cruise off
Round Island and Cuba.
POLICE TRIAL.---A poor woman named Roach,
who keeps a small fruit store the railroad
depot, arrested by officer Busher, a special
warrant issued by Police Justice Beck, and return
able to him, charged with selling liquor without
license. The poor woman, in much distress, (as
the amount of the fine would have swept off her
little stock, } applied to one of our young lawyers
(Mr. X. H. Laskey) for advice, who gratuitously
offered his services 10 attend 10 the The trial
stated, ruled before Justice Beck; but, be-
fore il came on, the counsel objected to his sitting
on the case, being alderman, and one of the cor
poration who laid the charge. IL thereupon
ordered to be tried before Police Justice Thompson.
The trial came off on Thursday afternoon and the
tact Of the lawyer discovered fatal error in the
warrant, which charged the selling of wine, ale,
and spirtuous liquors." rendering il necessary that
the sale of the whole should be proved; whereas
the corporation ordinance uses the word "or," in
stead of and making the selling of either penal
non-p pros. was thereupon entered by the magis-
trait.
The counsel for the woman, after stating the inn
poverished condition OF his poor client, to whom hc
had given his services gratuitously and of char
ity appealed 10 the officers TO let the drop,
surfing them on behalf of his client that similar
complaint should not arise. This was agreed to,
and the officer and police magistrate relnquished
their claims against the corporation for COSTS and
the poor woman discharged-the magistrate,
however, warning her that, upon a repetition of
such charge, the extent OF the law would be visit
ed upon her. Truly we more relieved
creature than she appeared after leaving the magis
trate's office.
SPECIAL WARRANTs.-Much complaint is heard
in the community of practice lately growing up
among some of our police magistrates of issuing
special warrants for violation of corporation ordi-
nances returnable TO themselves only. The law
W 10 earl rd f,r
the very purpose of afiording protection and JUS
tee to the citizen in OF any imagined oppres-
sion or injustice, and we think the old practice of
allowing the parties charged the privilege of select
ing either should not be departed from An in
former appears before a justice, makes his COM
plant, and warrant issues; should any informali-
ty occur in the proceeding II is not 10 be supposed
that minister of the law will admit himself in err
ror, and, if acting upon his own warrant, will I'M
doubleday give judgment accordingly, believing
himself TO be right. The party tried feels himself
aggrieved, and appeals 10 the city councils for relief
and much of their time is consumed in the hearing
of these cases.
But another and more important suggests
itself Why these corporation warrants should not
be special. II parties allowed to select their
magistrates, police justices would exercise
little more care in the framing of their warrants;
and they would not be easily overthrown on u
trial. (subjecting the corporation TO heavy costs)
where the facts could be well substantated; but
which, owing to the ignorance or negligence ofthe
frequently non pro,d We have already cited three
cases where this has occurred recently.
BAsTIANELLr's.-The attention Of our readers is
called 10 the Fancy and Perfumcry store of Basti-
anclli Co.. under Browns Hotel, where an OK
tensive assortment of under garments for gentle
men, handsome cravats, &c. can be found. Their
stock of fancy goods TO be very complete, and
is well worth the inspection of buyers.
MILrTARy.-The Washington Light Infantry,
Captain Tate, accompanied by their new and ex
cellent band of music Signor Garcia leader-and
the Walker Sharpshooters, Captain Bryant, with
their fine band, led by Fisher, psraded yesterday
weather, and marched through our principal streets
to the Northern Liberty Engine house, where they
partook of bounteous collation. prepared by the
Sharpshootcrs, and enjoyed themselves very plea
sanity for time. The Infantry about three O'Clock
returned TO their armory and were dismissed.
Tbs SERENADERs.-Th Original Ethiopian Ser
enadcrs, at Odd Fellows Hall, arc, ms usual, win
ming "aipo opinions from all sorts of people"
Their houses are crowded nightly with fashionable
audiences, and so great is the delight manifested
by those i'm attendance that nearly every piece Is
encored and the only difficulty with the Serenadcrs
Is TO bring an evenings performance to conclu
sion. Notwithstanding the inclemency of the wea-
Their on Thursday night, an excellent house was
drawn together, who seemed, during the concert,
TO be pleased with every body and with themselves.
Some choice morceour from the operas Of Don Pas
quail, &c, were burlesqued, in an inimitabe
ncr, during the evening by the troupe The Dhisi-
ling OF Parker is alone worth the price Of sdmis
| sion,