Daily Los Angeles herald., 1879-04-29

Downey City on Wednesday even
Ing next, at which Col. Charles
A. Sumner will discuss the princi-
pies of the Democratic party and,
we can assure our Downey friends
that lie will give them such DEM
ocratic talk as they have not heard
before in years. We bespeak for
Col. Sumner full turn out of the
gallant Democracy of Downey.
About half-past seven o'clock
last evening a small frame house
on Temple street, over the hill be-
yond the Pavilion, caught fire and
was burned to the ground. The en-
gines responded promptly but, as
there are no fire hydrants in that
section of the city, they were un-
able to render any aid. The house
was unoccupied and belonged to
Contractor York. 1t is not known
how the fire originated. Loss be-
tween 5000 and $500.
George Nc Lain, engineer Of the
3Ss Engine Company, has invented
and fitted to the engine house clock
an attachment by which it is
stopped the moment an alarm
is sounded aud the horses are
released from their stalls. The
same pull, in fact, releases the
horses and stops the clock. By this
the exact time of fire alarms may
be kept, and, by comparing the
hour and minute registered with
the town clock, when the boys re-
turn, they get the exact length of
time they have been out. 1t will
prove q very handy arrangement.
The Odd Fellows ball at Turn
verein Hall last night was u bril-
liant affair in every sense. The
decorations of the hall showed ex-
quisite taste, the music was deli
cious and the elite of Los Angeles
were on hand. "On with the dance,
let joy be unconfined,n were the
watchwords of the hour and the
night. Every detail of the evening
was perfect, and the revelers sepa-
rated with the conviction that they
had enjoyed an evening Of unal-
loyed pleasure, down to the details
of the supper, which was served in
the gymnasium attached to the
hall.
On Sunday afternoon Johnny
Mayer, who bad been given the
freedom of the Jail yard by Col.
Thompson, climbed the fence in the
rear and made his escape. He was in
for six months and day on con-
victions of assault to murder and of
robbery, the offenses being perpe.
trated against J. f. Gerkins. On
this term he had served about four
months and at its conclusion, there
was another sentence of six months
awaiting him. During his incar-
ceration he was of good service to
the city and county, laboring faith
fully to repair and rejuvenate the
Jail building. His escape, we think,
is good riddance as, with his un-
expired sentence hanging over him,
he will probably give us wide
berth for the future.
Wallace Leach, Esq, made q
powerful and brilliant argument
before the Supreme Court yester-
day in the case of A. B. Hotchkiss,
Esq, an attorney disbarred by
Judge McNealy, of the Eighteenth
District Court. The legal question
involved is as to whether a District
Judge, who has refused change of
venue asked for by the defendant
on an allegation of personal bias on
the part of the presiding Judge, can
disbar an attorney for causes other
than those alleged In the statute.
The appellant is personally one of
the most winning and popular gen
tlemen in Southern California, and
the nice legal point involved gave
Mr.. Leach an opportunity of show
ing depth of study and cogency
of argument which, taken in con-
nection with the warmth of his
personal devotion to his client,
would have produced thrilling
effect had the forum been less
grave one than that Of the Supreme c
Court of the State.
We had the pleasure of meeting
Hon. Joseph Medill yesterday, on
his return from Riverside. He ex-
pressed disgust at being paraded in
the San Francisco Chronicle as
having ranged himself in favor oil
the Sand Lot Constitution. Mr..
Meiill came to California simply
on visit of recreation and observa.
tion, with no intention OF espous
ing one side or the other of our To-
cal controversies. Whatever hos
pitalities might come in his way
he intended to enjoy, if acceptable,
without any drawback of partizan-
ship in heated discussion. AS q
matter of fact Mr.. Medill informed
us that, three weeks ago, he was
satisfied that the Sand Lot ConsIi-
tuition would be adopted; now he is
confident that 1t will be defeated.
Our contemporary, the Express,
would do we'll to note the facts
herein recited, and to recall its pa
rad ng of Mr.. Medill as in favor OF
the new Constitution, O. la Chroni
Gle. 1t is, at best, pitiful expe.
dent to bolster up q losing cause
The new Constitution is n dead
duck.