Middletown transcript., 1869-05-29
LOCAL AFFAIRS.

Rhoda Handy VS. Thomas J. Clark.
The plaintiff, an old colored woman, was
formerly the slave of defendant, and with
her daughter remained in his service till
September last; when, learning that she
had been unlawfully held to service since
the ratification of the 18th amendment of
the constitution, instituted suit to recover
claim of 142 weeks wages. The coun-
sci in the case were VIM. G. Spruance,
Esq. for plaintiff, and Hon. Thos. f
Bayard for defendant. The testimony of
the daughter was offered in the mothers
case, when Senator Bayard promptly OBJ
jected that by the law of Delaware the
evidence of colored persons, in this case,
was inadmissibe. The Court, however,
ordered the evidence to be taken, Chief
Justice Gilpin (who was not trying the
case) informally suggesting that the pas
sage of the 18th Amendment conclusively
settled the point, as to the right of colored
persons to testify. 1t was left to the
counsel for the defence to take exceptions
if he saw proper, and argue the question
in the Court of Errors and Appeals.
The case occupied the whole of Monday
afternoon, and on Tuesday the jury rem
dered verdict of $3.50 for plaintiff.
Judgment was also obtained in the case
of the daughter
Andrew Crumlish VS.. Robert Taylor.
Action to recover 1922 on promissory
note for horse. Defence alleged fraud
and want of consideration, proving the
horse to have had the glanders at time of
sale. Verdict for defendant.
State VS.. Thomas Fenemore indicted
for stealing mare, valued at 5000, the
property of Benz. r. Gill. Verdict not
guilty.
The petit jury were discharged on
Thursday, and the court adjourned.
BAD RoADs.-The authorities of Cecil
county should be made aware of the con-
dition Of some of the roads in the 1st
district The road from the Delaware
line, through Warwick, is disgrace to
the county. In winter it is almost i'm
passible, and even at this season it is un-
safe to ride over in carriage, faster than
a walk. As this section of road is not
over mile in length, it would not be
very costly job to ditch it we'll on either
side, and throw it up in the middle, so
that it would drain effectually. AS it
forms the main street of Warwick, it is
due to the citizens of that town, that it
should be kept in good order; and it is
due to the public generally, as well as the
citizens of Warwick, for it is the great
thoroughfare of the Maryland side of the
peninsula, over which all have to pass.
A mile or two below Warwick, towards
the Head of Sassafrs, are two deep and
extensive sloughs which extend from side
to side of the road, and through which
every traveller must pass. How the
Grand Jury failed to present the supcryi-
sor of that section of the road, at the late
April term of the Court, we are at loss
to understand, for certainly no road ever
more loudly called for the interposition of
the " Grand Inquest of the State of
Maryland inquiring for the body of Cecil
county," than that. We hope the Elkton
papers will stir up the proper authorities
in reference to these roads
PIscAToRY PLEASURES. party of
young ladies and gentlemen, from this
town, drove over to Georges Point, on
the Bohemia, on Tuesday last, for the
purpose of spending the day in boating
and angling, The day was fine, temper
ature about happy medium, and the
spirits of the party sufficiently buoyant to
give zest to the occasion. Two or three
dozen fish were taken, though but short
time was spent in angling. The exercise
and tho av h ilorotion 1uaro uor+b ,,,o,o %
them than all the fish in the Bohemia, and
the party preferred to "ply the feathered
oar" gliding pleasantly over the calm
surface of the beautiful waters.
The Directors of the Queen Anne's and
Kent Railroad met at Chentreville, Md.
on Thursday the Goth inst. The contrac-
tors have only two miles to grade. The
board passed resolution, requesting the
contractors to lay the track to Sudlcrsville
by the 25th Of July, and also appointed a
Committee to make a contract with Presi-
dent Hinckley to run the road during the
Peach season. The Peach crop along the
line of the road looks well, and is esti-
mated at 100,0 900 baskets. The boarc
adjourned to meet at Millington on thu
18th of June.
PUBLIC SALE OF A VALUABLE FARM. -
D. james Blackiston, Esq. trustee, sole
at Head of Sassafras, on Wednesday last
the home farm of the late VIM. ii. Black
iston, Esq. called " Sunny Side" situated
in the upper part of Kent county, Md
containing about $40 acres, for the sum o
SOL per acre, r. Thomas Cochran, Esq
of the vicinity of Middletown, purchaser
Two other farms of the same estate, con
tanning respectively l42 and 248 acres
and 30 acre wood lot, were Withdrawn
A memorial, numerously signed, ha
, been in circulation here for some day
past, praying President FELTON, and th
Directors of the Delaware Rail Road tt
erect new passenger depot at this place
The improvement asked for is one whicl
is greatly needed and we have the plea
sure of adding that a new depot will b
built, during the fall The plans an,
specifications are already prepared.