Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-01-25


fifth OF the voting population.
Nothing of importance unless the tact that
our mills are so clogged with ice that they
grind little or nothing, be so,) has occurred III
the county, hot noted in our county papers
Possibly when the weather moderates the toun-
taius of news will be untr0Zen, and send forth
their long pent up sounds. ALIQUIS.
COURT OF AppEALS-SAWYERV w. C0RSE.
This was an action in the Circuit Court OF
Alexandria by John D. Corse against Ereder-
lick T. Sawyer, the contractor for carrying the
mail between Washington and Alexandria, to
recover damages for the loss Of letter contain
ing sum OF money, put into the mail at
Alexandria to be carried by way Of Washing
ton to Richmond The facts were argued, on
| Wednesday, and are substantially as follows:
Sawyer, the contractor, employed Archibald
| Fleming to carry the mail who was in charge
oft when the loss occurred. Fleming, on that
occasion. received from the post0dice at Alex
| andria two mail bags one larger than the Other,
| each containing mail matter, the letter being
in the smaller tag. The river being DISTRACTED
| bv ice, the mail 1T the time was carried on
horseback along the turnpike TO Washington.
| Fleming placed the bays on the saddle, the
smaller bag under the larger, sat on 10th, and
proceeded on his journey, but had not gone
more than two miles from Alexandra when he
missed the smaller bag containing the plain
tiff 5 letter, it having slipped from under him
without his perceiving it. He Immediately re-
turned to the post-otlicc along the route he
had travelled, and made diIigcnt search for the
said mail bag but was unable to find ii, al
though it was still day light; and it has never
been recovered. Fleming had been employed
| by various contractors to carry the mall be-
| tween Alexandria and Washington: and had
always been faithful! and careful agent -
Under previous contractor he was SWORD
faithfully to perform his duties but took no
oath whilst employed by Sawyer
The contract between Sawyer and the Coy
eminent provided, among other things, that he
should take the mail and every part OF it and
deliver it at each post-ofhce on the route and
into the post oficc at each end of the route,
and if there was no Office where the carrier
stopped at hight, to lock it up 10 a secure place
at the risk 81 the contractor, and also to DC an
swerablc for the person to whom said contractor
should commit the care and transportation OF
the mail.
The case argued did not fad whether or not
there had been negligence.
The Circuit Court gave judgment for the
plaintiff for 1888, with interest," and Sawyer OBJ
ttained soLp0selca$ to the Court of Appeals.
Judge Joynes delivered an opinion, in which
the other judges concurrcd, in which 1t was
| held that Fleming was not an officer OF the
| Government, but the agent OF the contractor,
and that the contractor was responsible for his
acts. But it was held that as the case argued
did not find whether or not there had been
+bo pfo IF Il
therefore the judgment was reversed and a
renirc lie MIRO awarded -Richn0nd HiSpntch
RECOVERY or FAMILY PLATE-A short
time previous to the evacuation Of Danvlle in
1863, box containing valuable family plate
and other articles valued at $4,000 was de-
posted in the Bank of Virginia in said town
by Mr.. G.. ". Rhodes In the confusion at
tending the evacuation, the box was lost and
could not be accounted for or found, after dill
rent search. About nine months after the box
was lost when all hopes OF finding it had been
given up, gentleman occupying rooms in the
Bank, wanting box, went into closet where
in was slowed away a large number OF boxes
and rubbish TIC his joy, saw a box which ex
ac'ly suited his purpose. This he pounccd
| upon but found 1t not empty, Dut full ana very
heavy. He opened the box, and to his sur
prise, found the silver plate which had been
given up by Dir. Rhodes as lost fore:er. 1t is
supposed that the box, in the hurry of moving
the effects of the Bank, had been pushed into
the closct.-Ric},. Times.
DANGERS OF Coal GAs-Mr. James ".
Ford made narrow escape with his life in
Richmond one nigh last week. Hewas stopping
at one of the first class hotels, and on awaking
in the morning experienced very peculiar sen
sations in the the head and stomach, On
arising he found himself in very weak condi
ton, and with difficulty managed to dress him
self and get to the door Of his room. The fresh
air somewhat revived him, and on going below
he reported his case. After examination it was
thought that coal gas had escaped into his room
from the chimney, where brick had fallen out
he being in the third story above the bake
house, The chambermaid on going into the
room soon after Mr., F. lett, had to retreat, not
being able to stand the gaseous condition ofthe
room. Had the fire been kndled at an earlier
hour in the morning it is more than probable
IT,