The New York herald., 1869-01-07
NEW YORK CITY,
The COURTS.
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT.
Tue Great Cotton Cnsc.
Before Judge B!atchford.

The United States us. Vernon X. SaeUe7s0n.-This
case was called on yesterday morning and jury
sworn, which Mr. Courtney, United States District
Attorney moved to amend the libel, extending the
time set forth In the original libel as that within
which the defendant Stevenson Is alleged to have
possessed and disposed OF the cotton, wnich Is the
subject matter Of the suit.
THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE LIBEL
Fi,st.-That before, at and during the times here
matter mentioned tine Uuited States were entitled
to the Immediate possession OF about 0U0 bales or
cotton, their property, OF the value OF $1.ooooov.
March, In the year 1861 TO the s day OF April in the
year 1885, In each OF the States ofTennessee Georgia.
Alabama, South Carolina Virginia and North Caro-
llna the said Vernon X. Stevenson. then and there
being possession OF 120 bales OF cotton part Of the
4O00 bales Aforesaid, converted and disposed Of the
same to hls own use, to the damage Of the United
Tnird-That during the period from April /, 1sss
to July J. 1861 IN each OF the SAID states of Ten
nessee Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Virginia
and North Carolina. the said Vernon <. Stevenson,
then and there being II possession Of 2S bales oI
and disposed Of the same to his own use to the dam
age OF the United States $4,000.
F0urtn-That during the period from November ],
1853 to February 1865 ia each OF the said States
OF Tennessee, Georgia Alabama, South Caroline,
Virginia and North Carolina, the said vernon X.
sl3o bales Of cotton part OF the 1000 bales afore
said, converted and disposed Of the same to his own
use, 10 the damage Of the United States $SC0,000
FUth-That during the period from July !, 1894, to
April l, 1865, Ia each Of the said States Of
IeHucSS6e dcOTEid, AiuUdHdy 0Outu SdIOIuuy
Virginia and North Carolina the said ver-
non X. Stevenson, then and there being In pos
session OF 500 bales OF cotton part OF the bales
aforesaid, converted and disposed Of the same to
his own use, to the damage OF the United States
$4,000.
wherefore the said attorney, on behalf OF the said
United States, asks Judgment against the said de-
fendant for 81, ,000, 600 damages Aforesaid.
Mr.. John Il. Ward and Clarence Seward, coun-
sci for the defendant opposed the motion, on
the ground that they were taken by surprise;
that the government for fourteen months Lad the
original libel on the file; that the prosecution
during all that time had never intimated desire to
amend Il, as might have been done, and that now
at the last moment, when a jury has been sworn TO
try the case, the government through its District At
t0rney, wants to amend the libel. Counsel con-
tended that the proposed amendment presented an
entirely new cause for action and that they there
fore were not prepared for this. Under the circum-
stances stated-that the proposed amendment would
present entirely issue, both as to law and TO
facts-counsei asked for the ruling OF the Court
against the motion.
Judge Blatchford conceded with the views OF de-
fendants counsel, but allowed the matter TO stand
over I'LL this morning to enable the district Attor-
ney to decide upon what course he would take
under the circumstances. sNw