Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-10-22
EVENING STAR.
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

SUPPREssIoN OF SMALL Notes.-The Con-
gressional act for this purpose will go into ope-
ration on the first day of November:
The first section provides, that If any perstn
p or persons, body polite or corporate, within
this District, shall make, emit, issue, UTTER
sign, draw, or endorse any bank note, promis-
sorry note, or any instrument of writing, for
the payment or delivery Of money, or other
valuable thing, or Of any thing purporting to
be n valuable thing, Of q less amount than
i've dollars, to be used as paper currency, or
rs circulating medium, either as money or
in lieu Of money or of any other currency,
every such person, and every member, officer,
or agent of such body polite or corporate.
concerned in, or asserting to, such making,
emitting, issuing, uttering, signing, drawing,
or endorsing, as aforesaid for any of the pur-
poses mentioned, shall forfeit and pay the
sum of ten dollars for each and every such
bank note, promissory note, or instrument of
writing so made, issued, emitted, uttered,
signed, drawn, or endorsed-one-halft to the
use of any person who shall sue therefor, and
the other half to the county Of Washington.
The second section makes it unlawful for
any person or persons, body polite or cOrpo-
rate, to pass, or offer to pass within the Dis
trict of Columbia, any such paper; the vio
lation of the statute to be visited with fine
of not less than five nor more than ten dollars
for every such offence, one half to the use of
the person who shall sue therefor, and the
other half to the use Of the county of Wash
ington.
The third section provides that if the party
who shall issue such paper refuse to redeem
the same in gold and silver, he or they hall
forfeit and pay the sum of twenty dollars for
each and every such bank note; the amount
to inure to the benefit Of the party presenting
the note.
The fourth section provides that each and
every forfeiture under the foregoing provisions
OF this act shall be recovered in an action OF
debt, before any justice of the peace in the
District of Columbia, in the name of any per-
son who shall sue therefor; jurisdiction being
given to every justice of the peace with this
view.
The fifth section makes void and illegal all
contracts concerning matters in which notes
under the denomination of five dollars enter.
The sixth annuls the licenses of all author
ICED traders, &C., who shall either receive or
pay out any paper under the denomination
OF i've dollars or any other paper not payable
IN specie on demand.
The seventh section makes it the duty Of
the marshal of the District Of Columbias and
Of every constable of this District, to give in
formation to some Justice of the Peace in the
county Of every violation Of this law that
may come to his knowledge.
The eighth section provides that on the trial
CT any cause other than n criminal prosecu-
ton, under the provisions of this act, it shall
be lawful for the court before whom such
cause is pending, to cause to be brought be-
fore said court, and examined as a witness
any defendant to sny such suit, his agent, or
employer, touching the matters and things III
controversy, and to employ such process to
effect the object aforesaid as is usual in other
cases.
The act is to @ into effect from and after
the first day of November next. All such
parts Of former laws as may be repugnant to
this are repealed.
Court OF CLAIMs.-On Saturday, Mr.. ia
cob Barker, Of Louisiana, appeared, was sworn
an attorney Of this court, and filed petition
in the case of Richard r Ward and others,
his assignees, who claim the difference between
lawful money and the deprecated paper cur
rency received under the loan of 1914, on
So, 446, l03.
The court delivered an opinion, that the
case of David Myerle (No. on the law dock
et) is within the Jurisdiction Of this court, and
authorised testimony to be taken. This case
was submitted by argument on last Thursday
morning. Ii is claim arising from an al
legged non-ful6lIment Of n contract by govern
ment with the claimant for furnishing water
rotted hemp.
Case No % on the law docket, being called,
Mr.. Stanton appeared for the claimant. 1t IL
thee of VIM w. Cox, who claims cOmpen.
sation for extra services while head messenger
Of the Post Office Department.
Mr.. Stanton stated the case, and read let
tiers from Mr. Whittlesey, Comptroller Of the
Treasury; and Mr.. Phillips: Sixth Auditor Of
the Post Office Department.
The Solicitor followed, and at the conclusion
of his remarks Mr.. Stanton submitted the
case for the decision of the court as to whether
il is within its jurisdiction.
A number Of cases being called, which
were not ready for argument, the court set
apart Monday (to-dsy) for hearing arguments
in the case Of John C. Hale, No. 49, Asbury
Diekins, NO. 40,) Michael NOurse, (NO. AID
and John Rob, No. AID after which the court
adjourned. -
Gas ACCIDESr-The accident occurring to
the gas meters this morning in the city, was
occasioned by the letting in of gas from the
old to the new gasOmeter We have made in
uuiry ut the Office of the Company, and find
that the pressure of the gas in passing from
the old to the new gas holder forced the water
collected in the street main by condensation
into the drips, sealing them, and thus pre-
venting the flow to the large gasometer and
forcing the water out of the meters. All gas
works are liable, more or less, to these casual
ties and we learn the Directors of this Com
pany have secured the services Of n first rate
engineer, who will enter on his duties in few
days, and all cause for complaint will be
speedily removed.
We also hear that the price of gas is to be
reduced.
The employees of the Company are all &C.
lively at work in reflling the meters with
water, and no difficulty is anticipated after to-
night. -
Orphans CoURT.-Last week the will Of
the late Chief Justice Cranch was proved in
this count before Judge Purcell. His son,
Wilson Greenleaf Cranch, gave security as
executor of the estate.
On Saturday, Mrs. BOdisco and her brother,
Brooke Williams, entered bond in 100000,
the one as executrix, the other rs admnistra-
tor, of the will of Count Bodisco, the late Rus
sian Minister, so far relates to his personal
d estate. Judge Purcell decided that the will,
only bearing his signature, and not having
been witnessed according to the statute, is not
sufficient to pass the real estate which, how
ever, goes by descent to the widow and chill
drsn. Alfthe property Of the deceased Min
TO- = ,h;s oountyv ia supnnsed N amount IN