The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1880-03-19

A bill has passed the Legislature, relating
to Hartford and other counties, which confcrs
enlarged powers upon magistrates in adiudg-
ing petty criminal cases. The bill was original
Iyinended for Montgomery county alone, but
was amended, at the instance of President
Stump in the Senate, and of Mcssrs. Scott,
Nandiycr and Preston, in the House, 80 asto
include Hartford county
1t confcrs upon justices of the peace jnrs-
dction concurrent with that of the Circuit
Court in case Of assaults without any frlon-
ious intent; in cases Of assaults and battery,
in cases of petty larceny, where the value of
the property stolen does not exceed So and
mall misdemcanors not punishable by con
tinement in the pcnitcntiary The right of
person to jury trial before the Circuit Court,
and also of the States Attorney for Jury
trial of the case is in no wise abridged
In the Senate the bill was amended, on
motion of Mr.. Stump, requiring justices ofthc
peace 10 inform the party against whom the
charge is brought of his right of rial by Jury.
This law, while il increases the RESPONSE
bility and adds small amount to the fees of
justices of the peace, will keep out of court
many petty cases, the trials of which add
largely to the expense of administering JUS
iice. II is an excellent reform and will tend
to reduce county expenses.
Hon. DAVID DAvIs.-The New York Sun
of Monday contained long and interesting
sketch of Hon. David Davis, of Illinois. We
learn from it that Judge Davis was born in
Sassafras Neck, Cecil county, Md, on March
9th, 1915. His father was Dr. David Davis,
younger brother of the late Henry Winter
Davis, an extreme partisan, but one of the
most brilliant men Maryland ever produced
Young Davis quickly absorbed a primary edu-
cation in private school, taught at Cecilton,
by one Squire Pierce At the age of ten he
was sent to the academy at Newark, Del, to
be prepared for college. He must have been
ready scholar, for at the age of thirteen he
was entered at Kenyon College, Gambler,
Ohio He graduated in his eighteenth wear,
and after reading law in Lenox, Mass, turned
his face westward. After trying his fortunes
in Tazewell county, Illinois, he finally nailed
his single in Bloomington, Mclean county,
and soon became reasonably successful. In
lS41 he was elected Judge by the Wings,
chiefly through the exertons of Abraham
Lincoln, between whom and Davis warm
friendship had sprung up. AS Judge he is
said to have been impartial, firm, dignifed
and exceedingly popular lie repaid Lincoln's
good offices by leading the forces of the latter
in the Chicago convention which nominated
Lincoln for the Presidency. In 1869 Judge
Davis was nominated by President Lin
coin for n seat upon the bench of the SUI
preme Court of the United States, which he
left in 1877 for the United States Senate
where he represents the State of Illinois
ACKNow LED&EMENTs.--U. s. Senator
james b. Groomc will please accept our
thanks fora copy of the speech of Hon.
Thomas +. Bayarl, in favor of the resolution
Withdrawing from United States note. their
legal tender power.
We received, last week, with the compli-
mcnts of DIR. Holmes Smith, of this county,
an invitation To attend the 1liih annual com.
mcnccment of the Medical Department of the
University of Pennsylvania.
We are indebted To the Philadelphia
Times for neat little pamphlet, giving n
sketch of the origin and progress of the
1""cS, taken from The New York K,rniDg
1Hegi"m of February 9th, 1880 The Times
j. n model newspaper for general circulation
II is independent in all things, and slaslies
right and left at the follics and vices of fash.
ion and politics. lis pages are always spark
ling and bright, the news, editorials, &C. be-
ing presented in the most attractive and read
able form. Its ediior-in-chicf Mr.. A. IT,
Mcclure, is one Of the most accomplished and
brilliant journalists in The country, and the
editorial stall comprises, besides, II number of
writer's of acknowledged ability and cxpc.
riencc. The 1H,cs has been success from
the start, and lisa power in the country.
.
The bill TO repeal the appropriations to
the academies and colleges in the State is
very sweeping. 1t will practically abolish
every one, except St. Johns, the Agricultural
College and Brooks Fempe College. The
appropriation to the latter is cut down from
$500 to SO 200 year.
--@.s.p----
The contest over the adjustment of the
office of Tax Commissioner will come UP
again, it having been ascertaincd that the
vote TO lay it on the table was not properly
recorded