New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-10-19
an IMPORTANT LAW CASE.
How TO CorIee, Southern Deb..
coae,pOrdence Of The y, Y, Trfbme

Co4upordence Of The y, y Tribune
ARI,yDHu, Va, Oct. lC, ls5l
A very important csse--one in which the ner-
chants of New-York and Philadelphia are specially
inerested-came before the Provost Court OF 'hls
city today. Heretofore this Court has confined iis
attention mostly 10 criminal cases-nOt desiring (as
Judge Freese said in delivering the sentence Of the
Cour to-day in The case fret above alluded to 10 in-
,erfere in the ordinary collection of debts or other
civil cases, bu. these cases being Of peculiar
character and there being no civil Court IN Alex
andria to which the case might be referred, the
Judge decided TO 90 ont of his usual channel and
Iak e them up.
The case was this A merchant Of New York nam
ed Moore think, had claims against two merchants
If this city, or rather against two fTms When the
Union troops fret occupied this city, the members oil
these firms having taken an active part in the seces-
sion movement, concluded that they had better 90
still further south, and accordingly abandoned tier
stores and stocks and fed with the enemy. Ii was
shown before the Court that both members of one OF
the firms were officers in the rebel army, aud that at
least one of the other firm occupied like potltion IL
was also shown that they had left no responsible
agent here TO settle their business and that those who
were now selling the goods they had left behind,
were self-consttuted agents. and when asked TO Pay
any debt due from the firm, replied that " they had
no authority 40 TO do" A relative 70 one OF the
missing firm had been heard 10 say that il was not
the intention of the merchants here TO pay any debts
due the id Yankees, as it would help them to OPP
press the South"
These facts having been stated 10 Judge Freeze, IN
advance-with the assurance that they could be
proved by competent witnesses-he decided that u
might be brought before his court; and accordingly
tie claimant had HE case properly prepared by ).
Furguson Beach, esq, the naval officer, and good
Unionawyer OF this city, and brought before the
Court to-day.
The aflidaviis and evidence, above stated, hay-
ing been submitted and the parties heard in defense,
Judge Freese decided:
Fra, That il was legitimate case TO come before
military court asst wasevidenty an attempt to take
advantage OF existDg circumstances, caused by tho
rebellion and especially 80 tho parties hoping to
reap this advantage were in arms against the Gov
eminent, and would be " aided and abetted' by the
carry ing ont of their scheme.
Second That as all the civil courts in this city
had been superseded and suspended by the military
occupancy Of the place, il was only just and equit'
able that loyal men having claims against disloyal
refugees shonld be aided by the military authorities
in obtaining their dues.
Third The claims having been clearly proved,
and no reason shown why any stay Of proceedings
should be granted, the Court ordered that all the
goods left by these absconcng debtors should at once
be taken possession Of by the Court for the benefit Of
the claimants that the stores should DC forthwith
locked up, the keys handed to the Court, and mill
iary guard detailed 10 watch theD thu, they lhould