Litchfield enquirer., 1880-12-30

al TcCcuI CaSc, tuo OupTetne COurL OF the
United States have rendered decision which,
if newspaper reports can be trusted, will fur
nsh way for cities to escape their municipal
obligations. nesbsfese discovatsa: The city OF
Memphis, Tenn. sssbecame hyayily indebted,
and the place was further crippled by a terri
BILE season of yellow fever. The legislature of
the state finally came to Its aid by repeating
its charter and erecting a taxation district"
OF about the same extent. Suit was brought
to hold the old territory OF the city for its old
debts, but the court of final resort has decided
that this cannot be done; that the former
property of the city reverted to the state upon
the revocation of its charter, and that the
courts have no power to put the machi cry of
taxation in motion in such case 10 force the
people of the former city to pay the old citv
debt.
The Missouri Supreme Court has recently
rendered decision regarding kilograms which
takes sensible view of the rights of the par
ties sending and receiving messages. The
claim OF the managers of these private COM
panies to exemption from the duty that is on
all other citizens of telling all the relevant
truth they know concerning cases in which
they are called to testify, is repudiated. On
the other hand, however, the subpoena ducss
tecum which calls for the kilograms must
specify with reasonable certainty the message
requir ed to be produced. A call for all the
telegrame received by plaintiff or defendent
within year 10 held too broad.
The Tribune tells the following story OF
great presence Of mind and very narrow es-
cape Il
Fhere-is brakeman on the New London
Northern Railroad who ought to eat his herbs
with contentment to-day and be thankful, not
only that he has tooth in his mouth, but
head on his shoulders On Tuesday evening
he was walking down the track in front Of
sone cars which were switching into the
freight yard at New-London, and as a strong
gale was blowing he did not hear them. He
was struck and knocked down in the centre
OF the track, and the cars passed over him.
The brakesnan on the car did all in his power
to stop the cars, but failed. No one expected
| to see the man alive again, but the snow on
the ground saved him from severe injury, and,
having presence of mind, he seized the axle.
threw his legs up on the wheel frame, and
when the cars stopped, quietly crept out and
went home. His only hurt was a slight con-
fusion on the back of the head.
NoRoToN, Dec. a5th, 1880.
Alanson j. Pickett who was formerly res
ident of Morris. a merchant for thirty years or
more, its first selectman, and first representa-
tive, was too well known to the older inhabi-
tants to make it necessary to speak OF his
characteristics. To those of bis family and
near friends he was known to be manly, dig.
nified, peculiarly kind and generous, honest
in his transactions, and prompt in his business.
de was called from Morris to the presidency
of the futile Manufacturing Co. aud after
few YEARS moved u Noroton .nesr Stamford.
Here, in pleasants home,s which he much en-
ioyed, he breathed his last peacefully, and
after q prayer at bis house, and funeral ser.
vices at his daughters house in Waterbury.
conducted by Rev. Mr.. Anderson and Beck
with, he was buried among his kindred in
| Norris 81
For the sympathy and kindness of the
neighbors and friends, universally and tender
" expressed in the last rites and burial SER
vices. the thanks of the family Of tue deceased
are sincerely rendered, n