Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-01-10

cheers for General Grant THE STAR, Re
publican and Chronicle offices were then sere-
naded, AFTER which the assemblage dispersed.
The Case OF Prutt agt the b. d p.
Railroad Company.
To-day, in the Circuit Court, Judge Cartier
the case of Norman Pruit agt. the Baltimore
and Potomac Railroad company-action for
damages for being elected from train
commenced on Friday laSt,) was resumed :,
Col. NJ. Thompson for plaintiff and Hon.
Daniel Clark and Mr. II. w. Garnett for de-
fendant. The complaining witness resumed
the stand, and was further cross examined.
Mr.. Kegan, the conductor, was called for tue
defendant, and testified that a few days be-
fore this difficulty. Prult. after his ticket had
been punched, took up the portion punched
and replaced IL in the ticket, and they had
some words about il, when he (witness)
threatened 10 take out two punches. Pruit
then said that no conductor could have his
Ilcket. On the day OF the difficulty he asked
Pruit for the ticket four or more times and
PTuit refused to give it up. Witness called
the brakemen. and they elected Pruit. using
no more force than was necessary. Witness
presented ticket with one of the numbers
put back, and explained TO the court
how IL could be done. 1t was claimed
by the witness that when these pieces were
relnserted in the ticket il was difficult to
discover the fraud by the looks. The
COurt-"The feeling makes il APPARENT
witness, on DISCRIMINATION, said that
FRUIT, on being accused Of filling tie hole,
acknowledged that he did SO. When he
witness took the two punches, IL was in
the frei ght Office, and he considered that he
settled with him by giving him another ride.
When he came to Pruit he (P) held the
ticket in both hands, and the reason witness
refused TO punch the ticket was because one
of the holes had been filled. In the scuffle
witness thumb got into Fruits mouth and
he held on TO IL until he went TO the floor
when witness choked Pruit to make him
loose 10. On redirect examination witness
said that il was when Pruit backed himself
against the door that he went to him and got
his thumb in Fruits mouth.
A number of witnesses were sworn for the
defense, among them Mr.. II. b. Ridgway,
who testified that he was formerly on the
Alexandria road, and had seen some of these
filed tickets, probably twenty-five or thirty.
When he called the attention OF holders to
them some would say 10 was mistake, and
others would get angry, but they would geu-
orally pay. The plaintiff was called in re-
buttal, and testified that he had not filled the
hole in this ticket nor in any other ticket.
and never had attempted to defraud the
company. Kegan had never accused him OF
Milling the hole. 1t was the custom OF pas
sengers with these tickets 10 hold them in
their hands when the conductor punched
them.
Tie plaintiff asked the court tn instruc,
the jury that the words s'to be shown to the
conductor" do not mean that the conductor
Shall have full possession OF the ticket, bat
IL shall be shown, and an Oppo -tunity given
10 punch il. The court said that the mean
ing OF the contract was that the passenger
should so hold the ticket as to give the con-
ductor an opportunity to punch the ticket.
nave fair opportunity to inspect the ticket.
The court said the words of the PRAYER ga
lair opportunity" would imply that ample
opportunity should be given to the conduc.
ductOr both to punch and inspect the Ii cket.
IL would not be fair TO so hold the ticket as
TO conceal IL, and he would grant the prayer.
JOHN OWENS IN "OUR Boys John
owens. who is now performing at the north
to big houses in "Our Boys" will appear in
Washington January l. tn in the same piece.
a Nnle1f HTo aTA 10 o
bJIne, who is not apt To overpraise act9rs
says of Mr.. Owens in this piece: The one
Thing OF which the spectator Is always sure,
who sees his representations, is enjoyment;
and the artistic taste, which looks beyond
enjoyment, is equally sure of finding spirit,
form and finish in these works of art. Mr.
Owens is now acting "Middlewick. - in Mr.
Byron's comedy OF "Our Boys" and he has
found, in this character, an am pie and congo
NAL medium for the expression alike OF his
rich bumor and OF his versatile and precise
skill in depicting eccentric Individuality
There is the joyous freshness OF spontaneous
ease, in this achievement, which denotes
something done by an artist who delights
In his work, and there is the symmetry OF
form which crystaliZeS out OF countless little
details of action, demeanor, dress, and facial
play, animated and directed by one clear
evitable certainty with which this '.Middle-
wick's" cOmmonness of quality blunders
into the tangles Of polite custom are the
springs OF the humor, while the passionate
sincerity with which the old butterman con-
tiDues to be unconsciOnsiy droll through all
his emotions Of wounded love, pride, and
anger, Is the fiber OF the character Mr.
Owens cOnceives "MiddlewickD as a man OF
strong intelligence and sensitive feelings
with odd eXternals OF raspy bluntness and
the variegated vulgsrity which springs from
commonness OF blood and the atmosphere of
the shop. Inherent goodness checks this yul-
garity on this side OF coarseness: but inner
ent delicacy is altogether, aud properly,
omitted.
1
ELECTIONS OF OFFICERS.-The Y MICA
Lyceum on Saturday evening elected Mr. G.
Read, president; Mr.. Tryon vice president;
L. Cabel Williamson, secretary: Mr. Free