Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-09-04

In the County Court of this county, this morn
ing, in the case of Harrison VS.. Walker, in
which the right of father to recover damages
for the loss Of service of his child, was in
yolred, Judge Cockcrilc delivered the fol-
owing opinion
This is an action brought by Robert Hari.
son against Robert Walker for the alleged Sc
duction Of his daughter Alice IN the year 1861.
The defendant AYERS by his plea that Alice
Harrison on the 2lst of February. 1870, inter-
married with one Alfred Clark, and that by
reason thereof the plaintiff. the father: cannot
maintain this action To this plea the plaintiff
demurs, and the question for the determination
Of the court arising upon the plea Is. Is the ac'
ton maintainable by the father
1t is settled in the case Of Lee W. Hedges,
18th Grattan, that the action by a father tor
the seduction of his daughter is founded on the
relation Of master and servant and not that OF
parent and child, and by the common law: proof
of the loss Of service was necessary to the
maintenance Of the action, and whilst our
statute (see Code, chapt. AS, sec. dlspenses
with any allegation or proof Of the loss OF ser
vice of the female. yet it does not give the ac-
ton in any case where it did not lie at common
law. The fathers legal right to damages ut
common law arises from the loss OF service
which he is supposed to have sustained by the
debauchment Of his daughter, and our statute
by changing that rule OF the common law does
not estimate these damages by any value OF the
service. but in the wrong which has been done
to the feelings of the father.
Now the question is, did this relation be-
tween the father and the child exist ut the
time of the commission of the act OF seduction
charged, md had the father a legal right to
her services and could he have commanded
them at the time There is nothing in the
plcadngS in this case to the contrary and 1t
being so charged the court Is OF the OPINION
that the relation sufficient to the maintenance
of the action existed at the time OF the Seduc-
ton, and that her intermarrlagc with Clarke
after the right OF action accrued to the iather
does not deprive him of his right thereto
Demurrer to plea sustained.
YESTERDAY The weather yesterday was
delightful and most of the summer health and
pleasure seekers having returned, the congrc-
cations in the different places OF worship, open,
Showed considerable improvement-ln point
of numbers The pulpits Of the churches, with
the exception of that Of Christ Church, which
was filled by Rev. Mr.. Girault, of New Orleans,
were occupied by the resident clergy. The
Corn Exchange Mission School in the afternoon.
was we'll attended, and at an open air meeting,
also in the afternoon, held at the depot OF the
Washington and Ohio Railroad, and addressed
by Rev. Messrs Davis, Cook and Madden,
colored there was large Attendance
The following is 4 synopsis Of the work done
during the day by the Young Mems Christian
Association: The Aims House services were
more largely atsended than usual, the interest
increasing and souls cnquiring. Bethel, no ser
vice The usual services at the Jail. and the
same interest. The Sunday prayer meeting at
the First Presbyterian Church was well attend
Cd with increasing interest. This activity OF the
association offers to the young people OF the
city 4 season full Of interest Tor their souls.
The open air meeting was fully attended, work
ed by full corps Of the members, and Is per-
forming its work for the Master.
County CouRT-Thc September term Of
the County Court, Judge Il. II. Cockerillc pre-
siding, commenced this morning.
Court met at / | O clock a. m. Martin Donal-
SON appeared u court and resigned his office OF
collector Of Washington township.
The powers Of John W. Pendcton as conSta-
bic of Jefferson township We're revoked and
annulled because Of his failure TO execute
new bond
Jefferson lacey was appointed commits.
soner Of roads for Jefferson township and
qualified and executed the bond required by
law.
Harrison VS.. Walker; action on the case Tor
seduction: the Judge delivered a written opln-
ion in this case sustaining the demurrer to the
plea.
Erredley vs. the Washington and Alexandria
nv ~ .hon
the Judge delivered written opinion in this
cause and refused to dissolve the injunction
heretofore granted
The reports Of the \. 4 F. r. ". Go. 5 land
damage commissioners in the cases Of Maria
McDermott and John Slater, were this day re
turned to court and filed, and there being no
exceptions thereto, the same were confirmed
and the money paid into court.
PRODUCE RECEIPTS Among the receipts Ly
the Orange Alexandria and Manassas Railroad
for last week were Corn, LBS bushels;
wheat, lG, GG5; rye, 300 oats, 4,2SO; barley. IL;
seed, 10; potatoes, LOG; onions, 20; corn meal,
81; mill feed, III; sumac, 3.2jG sacks; flour, 80
hbls.; rye -four, L. bbls; bacon, ,lT1j lbs; hay,
;%'23 bales; butter, 81 tubs, &c; eggs, :,2 bbs.
&C.; grapes, bbls and boxes; fowls IL coops;
calves, &C., %; whiskcy 10 bbls; bark. :!!S!
cord; leather, ~ rolls wool T. sacks; hides. ;
bundles; apples. n bbls. tobacco, u boxes;
country chccscs lG; lard, :: tirkins broom,
DOZEN wood, :; cord; lumber, 1880 feet; pig
iron 20 OO0 lbs; CATTLE cars; shccp2: stock. -
slate |: ties, |: slaves i; stone, t.
Daring the same period there where received
by W. 4 O. r. R:~Whcat, 2,o9G bushels;
corn, l,34j; oats, 7I2; rye, ho; mea TT; butter,
4G bills. and kegs; eggs, % bbls fruit, 100 bbls.
and boxes; vinegar, bbI; srrnac, t, SIS lbs;
cheese T. boxes; fowls, II coops; ca YES, "a
wool, & bales; hay, IS bales; hides, 2d bundles;
wood. I cars: stock, car; milk, 4l0 gallons
CATHOLIC BENEFICIAL SOCIETY,". A regular
meeting of the Alexandria Catholic Beneficial
Society was held at St. Mary's Hall yesterday
evening In the absence of the President, ice
President Hughes occupied the chair and NJ.
B. Harlow acted as secretary. Attcr the trans
action of the usual business the Society went
into the election Of 4 delegate to the national
convention of the Catholic Benevolent mon