Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-11-09
THE EVENING STAR.
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

An IMPORTANT DEcIsIoN-At the Julv
term OF the United States District Court at
Grand Rapids, Michigan, a claim ageat"
residing at Niles, Michigan, was indicted for
a violation OF the lsth and l3th sections OF the
act oil july 4, 1854. I he offences charged con.
sisted IN the Withholding by the agent OF pen
son due and allowed a pensiouer, aud in the
dtmanding and reflining the amount as fees
for prosecuting the eIsim. The case was
called for trial at the September term OF the
court, but The counsel for the accused entered
a a"demurrer" TO the indictment, assuu,Iesfp.
OBJECTIONS to the same IL First That Congress
had no power 10 enact a Law which provides
Punishment for an offense cognrzable under a
law OF the Staie. Second. That Congress had
no right to nix value upon Al agents ser
vices; teat this was the subject of q COZ tract
as between the employer and employee. The
Government replied that Congress had a
right, and was bound to follow the boxuty it
might prescribe by law, into the hands of the
beneficiary. And again, that Congress, to tAe
end that justice might be done to cislmants
and the Government, had a perfect right not
only to d. signate the persons to act as agents
in paying amounts due upon claims allowed,
but to appoint the persons who should prose-
cute these ciai,ns before the Department The
Government has no desire. 1t was argued, to
simply to provide that the pensioners and
other claimants should receive all the money
to which they had been DECLARED entitled
The argument was conducted with ability
by the Hon. Lucius Patterson in support of,
and Hon! L. A. EZgies'oD, u. s. Attorney.
against the 'sdsmur.er."
The questions involved being Of great i'm.
portance lin transacting the business of the
Pension Bureau, the decision OF Judge Wilt.
ney was looked for with unusual interest by
the Commissioner Of Pensions at whose in
stance the procC edings were commenced. The
Judge, after considering all The points and au
'horlties produced in the course of the argu.
menf, hrs set ezide the demurrer" and con-
ssquenny susia'ns the ",adictment" The
trlal OF the ease hes been continued until the
next term of the Coar'- and whether a conyic-
fion ensuss or not. this decision, the first OF
'he KIND, renders, beyond dispute, the vehdity
OF the particular act Of Congress referred to.
HoNoRABLY DISCHARGED. The manv
friends Of Dr.. John B. Keasby, who held that
he was very narshiy used by the court martial
dealing with his case. VIII be glad to see by
the following order that Justice has been ac
corded 10 him at last:
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY
Adjutaat Generals Ofcs,
Washington, Nocember /, 1o67. \
General Conrt Martial Orders 10. So
BY direction OF the President the sentence
OF RE General Court Martial in the CT . of
John b. keeshy, Surgr on of the Board OF Ea-
roiment iof The District OF Columbia 40 be
nisboDoTaely rismi- led the service of the
unit q "a es, and 10 forfeit all pay aud al
lowences now due or Which may become due
70 him. IS prOmulga I'd i'll General Courl-
~ ar'ial Orders No So Wsr Department Ad-
Jutapt Generals Office, February :, 1865. is
remit q. AID Surgeon Keasoy il honorably
discharged The Servca OF the United States as
OF the date OF hl Is dismissal -
by command of General Grant:
Omciai: T.. ID. TOWNSEND
ASSISTANT Adinf,fnf (lannrai