The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-05-21

IreSluent. ORC HeTUt0, 1910.
Especial dispatch to the Baltimore SUM-
The Prize Suit for the Capture Of Rich.
nond.-A S3, goo, 900 Claim Gone Glin.
inerine-Reversal OF Recent DC.
ou..COmment Without ConsOla-
tiOn, &c.
WASHINGTON, May 49, The Supreme
Court OF the District of Columbia, in gen
eral term, to-day decided the celebrated
suits OF Admiral Porter and the officers and
men Of the North Atlantic squadron for
prize-money on account OF the capture OF
Richmond. In 1874, nine years after the
conclusion Of the war, suits were entered
in the courts OF this District in behalf OF the
officers and men of the North Atlantic
squadron, claiming in the aggregate about
So, 900, 900 In prize-money for the part taken
by the squadron in the capture OF Rlch-
mond. Included in these suits were claims
for bounty-money for every man captured
on the Confederate tlotillas and batteries at
the rate of 5000 per head, and also bounty
for all ships and batteries destroyed by the
Confederate5 on the York and Pamunky
rivers to prevent them falling into the hands
OF the Union forces. Prize-money was also
claimed on account OF the capture OF the
Texas and Beaufort, Confederate men-of-
war. and in the bill the value OF these two
ships was appraised at 1892, 121.
The plaintiffs submitted an immense
amount Of testimony in support OF their
suits, which had been taken from time 10
time without any knowledge on the part OF
the United States authorities. The magnl-
tude Of this claim and the fact that suit was
not brought until so long time after the
end OF the war gave rise to much comment,
not altogether OF flattering character. The
subsequent progress of the suit and the de-
yelopments which have been brought TO
light have intensified very much this un1a-
yorable criticism. United States Dlstrlct-
ATTORNEY Wells, who defended the interests
of the Government, went to Richmond ana
elsewhere and took vast amount OF testi-
mony contradicting the allegations OF the
libelants. The testimony taken py MT;
Wells among the people who had personal
knowledge OF all the circumstances was L 70
the effect that the Texas was mere null;
that she had no guns, no spars, ana no
stores OF anv kind on board; that her to-
tal cost at the eXtravagant prices OF
labor and material which the Confederate
Government was obliged to pay did not eX-
ceed s74, 600; that the Beaufort, which was
nothing more than 4 tugboat, was pur-
chased bv the Confederate Government Tor
S6. 600: that she was altered at an expense
of $500. and that one Whitworth gun,
worth $500, had been put aboard OF her:
The Beaufort was also lying on the dry
dock at Richmond three days before and SIX
davs after the fall OF the city. The libelants
claimed that there was S150,000 worth OF
material on the vessel, and Mr.. Wells proved
that there was not more than 500. In the
testimony collected by A1r. Wells he also
included proof OF the facts, notorious every
where, that in the operations winch pre-
ceded the fall of Richmond the entire work
was practically performed by the army,
and the part of the navy was little or no
thing. The auditor to whom the case mad
been referred accepted the testimony SUD-
mitted by the 1ibellants and appraised tne
value of the Beaufort and Texas at the
sS92, 141 claimed. In November last Judge
Humphreys, before whom the case was
tried, set aside the former decree ana estl-
mated the value Of the two vessels ana ma
terial at SG7,22O, and awarded prlze-mone;y,
to the amount OF S33,610. he denied al
the other claims for prize Dlstiict,
Attorney Wells, on behalf OF the Onlteo
States. appealed from this decision on tue
nIea that the law and the facts entitled the
Iibellants to nothing whatever. The case
came up before the court in general term
to-day, and was argued by the District At
torney for the Government. Mr.. Wells was
very severe in bis language. he con-
sidered the suit one OF the most out.
raoeous that had ever been brought, and
WHY if had been brought surpassed his
comprehension. He said that he dld not
wish to criticise the conduct OF the hlsn
officers Of the navy who have been lnstru'
mental in bringing the suit, but the testi.
monv which they had given was the mos.
remarkable ever delivered by men. w nat
they had sworn to could only be accounted
for on the hypothesis that their memories
were intirm ten years after the occurrences
NJ which they assumed to speak. He quoted
from the report made by Admiral Porter 10
the Secretary Of the Navy on April 8, 1860,
as follows: Gas the movements nave Deen
OF military character, and have peen resu,
larly reported to the War Department, :,
have not deemed it necessary TO report.
The evidence from Admiral Porters own
mouth showed that he did not at the tlme
claim that the navy had given any ASSIST.
ance in the capture OF the Coniederate
capital. Again in his report Aamllal
Porter saws, concerning the two vessels
Witch he now claims to be worth
nearly 100000, that he "found al!
the rebel vessels had been destroyed
excepting an unfinished ram-the Texas
and a small tug gunboat-the Beaufort
mounting one gum AT the conclusion OF
the argument OF Mr.. Wells the Court stated
to the counsel for Admiral Porter and the
other libelants that it was scarcely neces'
sary for him to proceed in his argument
The Court then unanimously reversed the
former proceedings and dismissed all the
libels. There was great deal OF interest,"
taken at the courthouse to-day in the case
and it was the occasion OF much gossip In
legal circles, where the opinion was gene
rallv expressed that certain high naval oth'
GERS who have been prominent in the suits
have placed themselves in very unpleasant
attitude before the country. The Ibellants
still have the privilege Of appealing to tne
Supreme Court OF the United States, but Il
they should conclude to do so they will un
doubtediy meet with the same fate that they
have received at the hands OF the Distrlc'
judiciary, and keep alive scandal Whicf
is doing them no credit.
MEAN TR1cK.-A lady was in town yes
terdav who wanted to so to Lynchburg, va
She had been living on the Big Sandy fol