Evening star., 1864-04-30
LOCAL NEWS.

VERDICT FOR THE DRFBNDANT.-Thec case OF
Michael Thompson against Thomas Z. Bowie,
which has occupied the attention OF the Crimi-
nal Court for the past week, Chiet Justice
Cartier presiding, resulted this morning in q
verdict for the defendant.
The cause Of action in this case was three
Of January, 1857, and payable to the order Of
Francis Steer, each for the sum Of one thousand
dollars, and indorsed in blank to Thompson.
The handwriting of the maker and the payer OF
that these notes were given for gaming CON.
sideration, and obtained from, the defendant
while he was under the influence Of liquor
To prove this, the defense was only able to
Introduce circumstantial evidence
They showed that on the 1st OF January, the
date of the notes, the defendant had been to an
entertainment and was considerably ineoriated;
that Steers was q professional gambler, ana
kept q gambling. house on Pennsylvania ave-
nue., between AZ and 9th streets, and at that
time was engaged in no other business but
gambling, and had NO property. That the 6ody
r. James, habitue Of Steers establishment,
and professional gambler; that another note
Of the amount Of 600 was obtained at the
Same time from Bowie, payable to the order OF
and an employee of Steers; and that Bowie,
while under the influence Of liquor, and at NO
other time, had an uncomfortable propensity TO
The notes, with interest, now amount to
The Court instructed the jury, at the request
OF the plaintiff, as follows;
nApt of the notes read in evidence then the
legai iYa Yia1,5'nti9n ,5s is that the holder thereof
fsth for IN good
den Of proof is on the DEFENDANT to overcome
That In tie absence Of direct evidence Of the
consideration Of said notes, it is competent for
the jury to find that the said notes were given
for a legal consideration passing between the
parties, and the plaintiff 40 holder Of said notes
Is entitled to the beneAt Of the presumption Of
Legally in the consideration Of the notes in
evidence
Granted with a modification on application
OF defendant by inserting the words stbut are
not bound' after the word Sc competent"
And at the request Of the defendant as fol-
lows: .a.a-
II the jury shall believe, from the evidence,
| that the notes on which the plaintiff has de-
clared against the defendant in this case ware
given for money won by gaming, or by betting
on the sides or in the hands Of such as did
game, they shall find for the defendant, not
withstanding they shall further believe that
the said plaintiff was not privy to the said
gaming and paid valuable consideration for
the same Granted.
The Jury in ten minutes rendered a verdict
fer the defendant.
Mr.. r. ]. Brent appeared for COL Thomp.
son. Messrs. w. s. Cox and T. L. Phillips for
Bowie. --
It is understood that the plaintiff will carry
the case to the Supreme Csurt on his bills OF
exception. VI
CRIMINAL COURT, Judge Fishsr.-Yesterday,
the District Attorney entered nolle pros In the
case Of Charity Banks, colored, who, it will be
recollected, was charged with numbering her
husband, George Banks-she, it is alleged,
holding himlwhile Peter Gooden, her paramour,
stabbed him.
This morning nolle pros was also entered
in the cases Of Leonard Cook and y. b. Holo-
day, indicted for larceny.
G. w. Dashe, committed to Jail for an attempt
to pick q pocket, was ordered to be discharged,
the offense not being indictable.
John Jones and Yarmouth Cartwright, COM
mitted to Jail to await requisition Of the Gov
erHor Of Maryland, were ordered to be dis
charged, no indictment having been found.
Valentine Major, indicted for renting house
523 18th street, to Nina Bowers John p. Hill
ton, 2S2 street, to Margaret Murphy, and c.
Graham, 800 d street, to Nina BeIringer, fol
bawdy houses.
Senator James A. McDougal, OF California,
was, on motion OF r. NJ. Beall, Esq, admitted
Co. No "A