The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-06-06
Very Heavy Judgments In the Court
of Claims.

The Court of Claims has rendered tho
following Judgments for cotton seized
Inv Gen. Sherman's forces at the time of
the capture of Savannah. and sold by
the United States In favor of VIM.
Rottersby and the executors Of Thos. S.
Netcalf. SiS5, ,242, being the largest
single Judgment ever rendered by the
Court of Claims. Battersby is an alien
from Great Britain, who has resided for
thirty years in Savannah. The cotton
claim of VIM. S. Mills, another British
subject, was dismissed on the ground
that the cotton for which he sued was
purchased by him outside OF the Union
lines and IN violation of the regulations
then in force Judgment was rendered
for s155, 554 in favor OF Chas. Greene,
of Savannah, also q subject OF Great
Britain. The main question in this case
was whether an alien, domiciled during
the rebellion within insurrectionaty
States, could be guilty of the crime OF
treason against the United States.
The Court of Claims, following the
decision of the United States Supreme
Court last term, decides this question
affirmatively, but also holds under the
same decision that aliens thus guilty OF
treason by failing to observe their obi
cations Of qualified allegiance, were in
cluded aud pardoned by the Presi-
dents amnesty proclamation, OF Decem-
Der 25th. 1868. A decision was render
ed in the long pending case OF Eliza >.
Atocha, administratriX OF Alexander ).
Atocha, deceased. Atocha was a native
of Spain, but a naturalized citizen OF
the United States, who did business as
a banker in the city of Mexico, and was
expelled from that country during the
revolution of 1916, which overthrow the
government of Santa Anna.
The United States, having by the
treaty of Gaudaloupe Hidalgo, assumed
the claims of its own citizens against
Mexico, Atocha presented his claim for
losses caused by his expulsion, and 1t
was rejected by commission appointed
to examine such claims. Subsequent
ly, in 1865, Congress referred the clam
to this court, which now renders Judg-
ment in favor of Atocha against tho
United States for S2,0l9, 800, being Il
balance of three and one-fourth millions
provided by the treaty of Gaudalopo
Hidalgo, for the payment of the claims
of citizens of the United States against
the Government of Mexico, which now
remains unapplied to that object.
Judgments were also rendered for
s92. .7S7 in favor of VIM. Cones, Of
Memphis, for cotton seized by the Gov
ernment, and in favor of Harney & Le-
vesry for $40, BOG for work and damages
in building a bridge for the Govern
ment at Rock Island. I'm the case OF
the executor of John J. Piatt, claim
for supplies furnished the army in the
war of 1912, the court found that tho
Government was Justly indebted 20
Piatt the amount of Sl3,559, but were
equally divided upon the subsequent
question, namely, whether a payment
Of part Of the debt, under private net
of Congress, does not bar the recovery
of the balance now. Piatt, after press
ing this claim upon the Government for
many years, died in debtors prison in
this city. The court, after hearing the
argument in Halspring's case, adjourn
ed until Monday, when an adjournment
will probably be ordered.