Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-06-12
LOCAL NEWS.


ness transacted Judge Keith remarked that
he had never seen as much work done in any
one week since his advent to the bench. Much
of this was due to the promptness and decisio n
with which the Judge himself acts, and tor
which he is already distinguished
Among the most interesting decisions Of the
Court were two involving questions growing
out of the late state of war The first was in
suit brought by NJ. j. Worstcr, formerly
Sheriff, against the estate of j. C.. Gunnell,
to recover the amount of the consideration OF
his contract, in farming the Sherifalty to said
Gunnell for the years 1861 and 1862. The pleas
were made by defendant that the war supervcn-
ing had deprived Gunnell of the benefit of the
Office, after June 1861 that the Courts ceased
and the Sheriff 5 duties with them; and further
that Worster had abandoned the county, there
by vacating his office: and that the considera-
ton having failed, the plaintiff could not re-
cover at all, or at least only.a qUuntun' ctt|"t
Upon the plaintiffs motion, however, the
Court granted instructions that 1.-THE Interrupt
ton to the Sheriff duties was caused by no
act of the plaintiff and if his absence from the
county was caused by the presence OF armed
forces, he was entitled to recover, and under
these instructions the jury gave verdict tor
81, 500, the full amount Of the consideration.
Messrs. r.. r. Love and NJ. d. Bali, for plain
tiff. and Brent & Wattcs and L. &. Taylor
for defendant.
The other case involved important principles
of commercial law, and under the plaintiff $
prayers the right Of secession was also incident
ally brought in.
It was suit brought by the Farmer Bank
against j. c. Gunnell, as endorser of note OF
j. NJ. johnson for $4,000 It was Necessary
to prove notice Of protest in order to bind the
endorser and for this purpose it was shown
that such notice was mailed to Gunnell in Alex
andria addressed to Fairfax Court House il
August 1861, aud that Gunnell was in Alex
sndria during the war, and remained week,
aud was at the postotice during that time. Mr..
Massey, postmaster at the time, testified that
he always sent letters addressed to persons he
knew, as soon as the military mails were opened,
or an opportunity occurred.
The courts instructions were that if the jury
found notice was given Of protest by mailing
such notice at time when communications
were interrupted by war, then they must find
for the defendant, unless they find that further
notice was given as soon as mail communica-
tons were reopened.
The question of the right Of secession was
raised on plaintiff replication that the state Of
war was the act Of the defendant, he having
voted for the ordinance of secession. TO this
the Judge rejoined that, to make defendant
liable on that account, would be equivalent to
imposing liability on 4 man which he would
otherwise escape by reason Of great plaguc
or epidemic because Of his being htmSen
victim of the disease:
The Jury, under the instructions, found for the
defendant Messrs Brent l. Wattles, and +.
J.. Smith, ST., for the plaintiff, and 5. +.
Beach and H. W. Thomas for defendant.
Exceptions were reserved in both cases. with
view of taking appeals
STRIKE AT THE Coal WHAavEs.-One OF
the evil effects Of TIE late strike among the
colored laborers at Washington. was the partial
suspension of operations at the wharves OF the
American Coal Company in this city this morn
ing. The colored hands employed there retus
ed to 90 to work unless they were paid So per
boat, equivalent to 50 - per day. Their de-
mands wero of course rejected, those making
them ordered off, and one Of the rlngleaders
arrested and taken before the Mayor ON the
charge of attempting to intimidate those who
were willing to work. He, however, was dis
charged after a short Imprisonment, with an
sdnonition concerning the consequences OF
repetition of his offence. In anticipation OF Il
disturbance, the police were stationed In force
in the neighborhood but their services were
not required, and one gang. who were willing
to work at the rates Of wages given in George
town, were unmolested in their labor. Asthcrc
are large number Of unemployed laborcrs in
the city who will gladly work for $50 1 day,
and as the Mayor is determined to enforce
order, no difficulty is apprchended from the
strikers and they alone will b. the sufferers.
FREIGHT RECEIPTS. Among the receipts OF
freight at this city, by the O., a. 4 NJ. t. H.,
during the week ending Oh Saturday last, were :;
Corn, 2,572 bushels; wheat $50; rye l02; oats,
l,lO4; corn meal, 27O; mill otfal, $780, barley,
100; wool, 40 sacks; sumac, l07 sacks; rye
-four, Ia bbls.; -four, ass bbls; butter, II bbs.
and frkins; leather, l6 rolls; fur packs, eggs,
46 bbls; fowls, lG coops; lime, 50 bbls.; tobac-
co, Is boxes; slaves, 3,400; pig iron, 20 ;GOl
rags, Clio lbs; whiskey, 10 bbls. bacon, pa
lbs; bark. GIL cord; iron blooms: 1900 lbs;
lumber, $1,000 feet; cows, calves Nc, Al;
stock, 20 cars; stone,S III cars.
During the same period there were received
by the W. 4 0. R. r.: Corn. l,942 bushels;
wheat 6lS; oats, 500 feed, 25S; meal, lS2;
-four IS bbls.; vinegar. "a: eggs so; butter. "a
hills md Eecs. fowls lf c,nns. oalvas az. wool