Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-05-29
E Y ENING STAR.
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.


THE SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION of the Metho.
dist Episcopal Church in Potomac District
Of tho Baltimore Conference, according to
previous arrangement, assembled at Lafay
cite Square, at nine o'clock, a. m, and
formed in procession. There was a very large
number Of teachers and children from nearly
all the schools in Potomac district, which in.
eludes the adjoining counties Of Virginia and
Maryland, and the District of Columbia
The arrangements were good, and very strict
ly complied with. We noticed in the line
Weber and Esputs's brass bands, besides
martial music. In the latter department four
little boys from the Garrison, experts at the
drum and fife, ELECTED much admiration.
The procession attracted the attention of
thousands Of admiring spectators, who lined
the sidewalks, some with ali eye to the beauty
and attractiveness of the children, and others
to the ditto ditto of the female teschereSSes so
beWitching in their white dresses, and with
their cOquettish little blue, green, and purple
sun shades.
The procession was very long, occupying
twenty two minutes in passing the Star Office
The schools proceeded to the Capitol grounds,
when the exercises as laid down IN the pub
lished arrangements were carried out. This
evening meeting of the friends of Sunday
Schools is to be held in Foundry church Ad-
dresses are to be delivered by Rev DR. Kid
der, secretary IF the Sunday School Union,
and John c. Hardness, Esq, of this city
Tomorrow evening q fellowship meeting is to
be held in that church, and Sunday sermons
are to be delivered in the respective charges
of the District, and collections taken up in
behalf Of the Sunday School Union of that
church.
SMITH as. THE CORPORATION OF WASHING
TOS.-This action, which has Just been tried
was brought by the plaintiff against the de-
feadants for injury sustained by the regarding
h street in front Of her premises, in franklin
Row, in doing which they cut down that street
some five or six feet, injurng as she alleged,
the value and use of her house. From the
evidence 1t appeared that the street had been
graded under the direction of the corporation
in 1880, and had remained ut that grade until
the summer of 1851, when the street was cut
down by the direction of the defendants some
two feet, and then grayelled and left, and the
fall of the same year they caused il to be
again graded by cutting it down about three
feet more. The grading destroyed the shade
trees in front of plaintiff premises, and rem.
dsred stone wall in front, and other i'm
provements, necessary for the convenient use
of her house. No compensation was made BY
the city for the injuries sustained
The plaintiff sought to recover the expenses
incurred and damages sustained by these
Gradings in 1851. The defendants insisted
that the general public good required the al
teratiOns made in the grade. The case finally
turned upon a question Of law. The defend
ants commended that they had, under the act
Of Congress, the right to regrade whenever, in
their Judgment, 1t was necessary and proper
and that they were notresponsibe in damages
unless plaintiff showed that they acted cor
Tuptly, OF with the malicious design Of injur-
ing the plaintiff On the other side il was in
sisted that when the corporation had estab-
hshed the grade Of street, that they had no
power to change II as TO lnj1re property with.
out making compensation 10 the owner, as had
been done IN three cases cut of seven in the
regarding in front Of Franklin Row The
court instructed the jury that the corporation
had the power to regrade the streets in the
city Of " 2shingtOn, under its charter, without
making compensation for individual injuries
unless the plaintiff showed that they acted
corruptly, or with the design to iDjure; and
that the jury must presume they acted legally
until one Of these things was proved. Thcy
held that the power to grade was a continuing
power, TO be exercised whenever they deemed
II proper to do so. To these instructions the
plaintiff counsel took exceptions The Jury,
under these Instructions, rendered verdict in
fIvu. # the defendants The plaintiff there
upon took steps TO remove the cause TO the
supreme Court where the question of law will
be finally Eettled.
Counsel for plaintiff, R. H. Gillet; for de-
PENDANTS, }. Il Bradley.
CONFUSION OF MUNICIPAL AccoUsrs.-Some
Of our city officials, we are told, have taken
great exception to the declaration of the pre-
amble to the anti-ksow Nothing resolutions
that the municipal accounts were in great
confusion; yet n number of evidences Of the
fact can DC pointed to. Among Others orr at
tention has been called to one in which the
Register of the city has paid, as the full
amount due for excess Of damages over bene-
hts N the appTaisement of an alley sos 40
when the amount actually due was $3.50 90
thus leaving the party to whom the money
was due wrongcd out of So 10. When the
Register attention was called to this matter
to-day. alter referring to the entry of the AS
sessmentS in the Tax Collectors books he was
unable to explain the mistake and asked for
time 70 consider AMI examine into the matter
on the plea that be WAS very busy. The fact is
nevertheless, beyond doubt as stated There
Is no criminal design imputed to the Register
OF the city by the councilman from the Second
Ward tMr. Jefferson) who discovered this en-
Tor, but be does say that the error shows a
negligence in keeping and settling the &C.
counts which Is altogether inexcusable.
COURT OF CLAINs.-Y esterday, Judge Black.
ford delivered his dissenting opinion in the
case Of David Wood rs the United States,
claiming duties illegally exacted.
Philip J Joachimsen, Of New York city,
and John Godfrey, Esq, Of Sau Francisco,
were sworn and admitted attorneys of this
court.
In the case Of Joseph Clymer u.s. the Uni,
ted States testimony was ordered to be taken
The case Of Matthew q. Emery az. the Uni
ted States, claiming compensation for hauling
marble used in the extension Of tho Capitoi
was argued by B. d. French, ESQ, for the
claimant, and by the Solicitor for the govern
ment, and submitted
The case Of Joseph ID. Beers, claiming dam
ages on a bill drawn In California by an agent
OF the government, was argued by Mr.. Lyon,
OF New York, for the claimant, and by the
Solicitor for the government, and submitted
In the case OF the New England Mississippi
Land Company ~. the United States, testimo-
py was ordered to be taken. Adjourned.
FAREWELL BENEFIT MIR j. jefferson, af-
Ter having made lasting impression on our
memories in connection with the histrionic
art in our city, is about leaving us. He de-
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