The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-12-18
[Reported By Chas. Fl. Smiley, Esq !

Court Proceedings. order to dispose
of two cases on the trial list at the Octo-
ber Term last, jury was called and in
structed to be present at the opening of
the December Term of the Argument
Court at 10 o'clock, on Tuesday the 18th
inst. Court opened at the time desig-
mated with the President Judge and both
Associates on the Bench, and all the Of
ficers in attendance except the Crier.-
The vacant chair of the genial, jovial
incumbent who had for many years per-
formed his duty with fidelity, and who
was held in such esteem by both bench
and bar, caused many a sad thought
and wakened many kind recollection
of B. F. Clegg. As a change in the
political status of the Bench would of
necessity make another appointment at
the January Term, no new incumbent
was designated for this Term, but Capt.
Mickey the efficient Prothonotary, whose
knowledge of the machinery of the
court, and the manner of starting it to
work, makes him such valuable Off
Ger, performed the duties of Crier with
the same ease that he wades through the
business at the Prothonotary' Desk.
The accounts presented by the Or
phans' Court Clerk were taken up in
regular order and confirmed, all but one
in which exceptions were enclosed. A
very considerable amount of miscella-
neous business of no public interest was
disposed of until 10 o'clock when court
was adjourned for one hour. Upon re-
assembling all twelve jurors were found
in their place ready for work, under the
instructions of Judge Junkin they were
sworn to well and truly try the issue
Joined between VIM. Mertz, Plff., and
VIM. ]. Graham, o lunatic, with notice
to VIM. Mcclure, his Committee, deft.
The case was founded upon the follow
ing circumstances For number of
years VIM. j. Graham carried on tan
ming in the vicinity of Landisburg.-
Mertz, the plff., was taken into his en-
ploy, as he alleges, at salary of $500 per
year. He remained i'll the employ of
Col. Graham for some time, receiving
his pay in money provisions and various
ways with no final settlement up until
the time he left Graham's employ, and
moved to one the Eastern counties of the
State. The plff. claimed a balance due
him of about 81 100 and Mr.. Mcclure,
the Committee of Graham, refused to
pay anything except the amount which
should be assessed by a Jury, After q
bitter contest, elaborate arguments by
the counsel, and a lucid charge by the
Court the jury went out to deliberate,
and in a little while returned with a
verdict of $3.50 damages for plff.
The next cases called up by the court
were those of g. Thudium VS.. The Com
missioners of Perry county, Robert
Taylor VS.. same, and John Bechtel 4
Son VS.. same. These cases were appeals
by the Plaintiffs from assessment de-
termined by the County Commissioners
at the last triennial assessment, They
were taken in pursuance of recent Act
of Assembly which provides that any
parties dissatisfied with the assessments
as made by the Commissioners may
appeal to the Court of Common Pleas
which shall hear them in such manner
and at such times as the court may de-
termine, and raise or lower them as may
seem just and proper, taking into con
sideration the assessments of otheI
properties in the same district. 1t was
contended in this case that the Commits