Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-11-29
The Asphalt Nuisance Cases.

This morning, In the Criminal Court. Judge
James, the cases OF ". c. Lurdoek snd Gran
ford, Hoffman Co. for maintaining ndisances-
uhe asphalt works of the former at 1ith ana b
streets and OF the latter at l1tn and B SUI
Iorthwest)-were set for trial. It had been un-
dersto0d that the cases would be called In order
and the Crawford case not called until the Muir.
dock case had been determined. Mr.. Robert
Christy appeared for Mr.. Murdoch and Mr.. w.
A. Cook for Crawford ct al. The indictments
charge that they Ibid then and there unlaw-
fully and injurously cause and permit great
quantities or foul air. gas, smoke. and other
gases and vapors to be generated arise and
escape, to enter the dwelling houses,
stores, shops and other places OF business, - .
40 1ee g1sa, bs aaage and common nuisance
inhabiting near the said furnaces" &c.
A jury was sworn in the Murdoch case-Mr
Jos. r. Waltemyer foreman-and Mr.. Perry
opened the case to the jury.
MI j. c. McGinn, chief clerk OF the health
department. testified that on the 1st OF Novem-
Der, 1879, he visited the premises on the north
from Pennsylvania avenue. There were four
or i've kettles there, one being in USE Mr..
NuTd0cB, In conversation with him, claimed
tnat a nuisance was created 1t was not In
territorial
John McCleiland testified that he lived at 1882
New York avenue, and at night he and his
family had suffered from the offensive smells of
asphalt boiling. especially at night when the
weather was warm and the wind from the
south.
c. S. Noyes testified that both at THE STAR
Cnlce, at d and 18th streets, and at his rest
deDCe, On NJ street, precisely north, he had
suffered much from the Offensive smell In 1879;
hat the smoke was frequently dense enough
10 come in the windows OF THE STAR Office, and
the smell was extremely nauseating to those in
The editorial rooms. He and his family had
suffered from the same sickeniDg smell at his
IN the summer to shut out the smell.
Witness was asked If this was the source OF
general complaint, and objection being made,
the question was not pressed.
George w. Adams testified that he was con.
nected with THE STAR, and In the fall OF 1919
roomed at Wizards Hotel; suffered much there
from the smell and sense OF suffOcation and
irritation OF the throat, particularly In warm
weather and when the wind was from the
south; had notified the proprietor that he would
have to change. The business Office Of TEE
STAR was frequently f1lled with smoke.
joseph g. Cooke testified that he Is one oflthe
propIietors of Wizards Hotel: that In the fall
of 1879 there were numerous complaints by the
guests at the hotel because OF the smell from
the works; the smell penetrated the entire
hotel, affecting the Threats and lungs OF the
guests, and several guests left the hotel be-
cause OF the odors.
DR.. William Parret testified that he Is the
rector OF the Church OF Epiphany; during the
fall OF 1879 he resided on New York avenue aud
suffered greatly from the asphalt; 1t would at
rect them In the night making 1t quite diff.
cult to breathe and most suGocatIng to his fam
greeabe during the prevalence OF a southern
breeze.
The case was In progress when our report
closed.