National Republican., 1877-03-11
THE COURTS.
4 Lf0Hr DAY AND DULL BUSINESS
WITH THE LEGAL LTGHTS.

l.
WTTH THE LEGAL LIGHTS.
Revival Of the Tennessee Mule Claim-was
Ex-sccretary Bristsw CogniIant Of tho
Fraud Charged to Have been Comn1ttod2
Saturday 10 usually sot apart for hearing mo.
tions In the Circuit Court, that being tho only ono
in session on the last day OF the week, and as n
consequence the attorneys arc we'll represented At
tho bar. Sometimes there Ia considerable sport
transpiring IN the chamber, his Honor not being
slow to give expression to hisyIews which is oftcn
done in such an original manner rs to provoke
mrth and hearty laughter. Yesterday, however.
the court was engaged on one case that occupied
The MacManus Mule Contract.
Last summer the MacManus mule contract
came into the political campaign and not only
occupied prom inent position before the public
but Was the subject OF severe structures on tho
part Of the press. At that time Presidential as
plrunts wcrc numerous, and the ambitious can
didatcs wor, settling their pinions for drec
nIsht toward tho White House. IL was tho do
sse Of the contestants IN tho race TO clip tho
wings Of as many rivnl birds as possible, and
thereby narrow down the number Of the rivals
for tho prize. Past misdeeds were unearthed
against several u tho prospective candidates, and
they we're compelled TO take back seats. Ono OF
likely to become President Grants successor was
Hon. BENJAMIN Il, Bristow, the Secretary of tho
Treasury. Ills strength was on tho increase, and
ing host OF supporters to his coors, and II be.
| came necessary to resort to some process TO
| dampen that ardor and give him an efectual
check.
After a lengthy and dilIgent search the mate:
| rial requisite TO check his career and besmirch
him with dirt was unearthed, and was this: VIM.
| Il. Moore, J. A. Thompson \ Co. had q claim
against the Government Of the Inited States Tor
| MacManus, quartermaster Of the army Of Gen.
Thomas, located at that time In Tennessee, on
| which he demanded slss,7JO. Benjamin II. Bris.
| tow and Thomas j. d. Fuller, as attorneys for the
| claimant, carried on and conducted the case be.
Obtained in the plaintiis' favor. and tho amount
| paid by the Government. II was Afterwards al
legged that the claim was fraud. carried on and
completed IN that spirit, and that all the parties
connected with II were cognizant OF that fact, and
should be held nmcnable to the law violated
served on Benjamin II. BrIstow aud Hugh Ander.
son and J. &. Kennedy, administrators OF the
estate Of Thomas J. ID. Fuller The considSrs.
to the case Of MIR. Bristow. as coming up on de-
murrer TO the replication Orthc bill
| The suit Ia brought and carried un In tho name
of the United States over the rclator. Thomas
MacMnnus. under the authority Of the act OF
March ., 1865, entitled AN act to prevent and
states, charging these defendants with a con.
:piracy to deiIaul The United states by obtaining
claim for the sum Of slUs,7;o for mules furnished
to the quartermatter OF General Thomas army,
The suit was instituted shortly after the retire:
mcht of MIR. Bristow from the Secretaryship OF
II. u
himself TO answer the charge under oath, and did
so, generally and specifically In the general issue
and in speeihc plea, which, after denying each
and every allegation In the declaration imputing
y fraudulent character to the clalm, or imputinx
to him any fraudulent or improper conduct, or
knowledge of any such conduct on the par,
Of others In connection with tho same. sets
Iorth that the claim, by :, the advice Of
% referred By tSC Secretary Of war. under the I aa
hority OF the act OF June 20, 1855, to ths Court Of
Claims, to be there proceeded with according 70
| law; that the Court Of Claims heard and adjud
Gated the claim upon It's merits, and on the 9Th o
January, lsT4, entei ed Judgment for the sum o.
sos $50, and that he amount of the judgment
was regularly panI to the claimants out OF the
specific abpropTai2n applicable to the case as
OF the claim was In his capacity as attorney under
retainer to argue the case as counsel for the claim
ants In the Court of Claims, in connection with
T J. d. Fuller, esq, ard that he mad no partici
patton in or connection with the collection pay
ment 'of the Judgment Of the Court Of Claims
his employ ymcnt as counsel imposing upon him n,
other duty or obligation than the argument of th'
case in court; and ayers that he attempted to per
form that duty TO the best Of his ability as he wa
bound to do, and under due and proper sense o
his obligations TO the court as n member of tn
Ills Honor, aiter hearing the argument on tn
demurrer, reserved judgment.
the Goyern%ent. T ar and Messrs p, PRIliips, y
Hubley Ashton, Walter s. Cox and Edwin L
Stanton for the defendant.
Trying to Recover a Coupon Bond.
J. l. Middleton and his wife, Sarah 8. Mid
dletOn, have entered suit against tho Baltimor
and Ohio Railroad Company to recover fl, ,2Oi
the value OF ono coupon bond of that compin
owned by her, and which they declined to pay.
The General Term.
The Supreme Court OF the District will NEE
again tomorrow and sit in the Equity courtroom
for the purpose of hearing the reargument in tn
. case of FAINT VS.. Stewart. There are two NOR
cases Of n criminal nature to he heard after whic
: |
have had protracted sitting and endoavored t
expedite business, still the calendar has not bee
more than half disposed Of and over nifty case
still stand awaiting their actor.
1t Is the intention, however, of the Judges Q
convene their respective courts Tomorrow, an
alter Monday TO SIT regularly through tn
on the derCn ' sTmn
causes can be found many important ones avail
ing a hearing, and the District Attorney Is an,
as far as possible crafty those parties pleadIn
for trials.
= Court Calendar for To- Morrow.
. CmCuIT Court, before Chief Justice Car
ter-Nos. IS. Jones vs.. Yoder; u, Taylor, use
baltimore and Potomac railroad Company; Ii
eride; 1859, District of ColuIubia VS.. John B. Llr
:. ls 0,Neale VS.. yanderburgh; ass, Newbcrn Y
Washington et al.
0 CRIMINAL Court, before Justice Ma,
!. hrthur.-Hcnry Hall. assault with intent
= Kill; John Newman, petit larceny, second OF
, ! James johnson, petit larceny, second Oiiens
y Daniel PysicOlls, petit larceny, second oiens
l. Daniel Bailey, petit larceny, second ollens
n Nathan Ashton, petit larceny, second otiens
Samuel Thomas, petit larceny, second oiicns
l., Nathan Thompson. larceny: John Morris, larcen
!, Lizzie Carroll, larceny; Washington Sidney, la
" ceDy,
n iMrSEMENTS.
:, National.
o The play Of Lemons" which has be'
Is performed before large audiences at the Nation