Daily Republican., 1883-10-20
AN INTERESTING SUIT.
wEssps. TRUMP BROTHERS, OF
THIS CITY, AWARDED $4,000
DAMAGE9.

About a year and half ago mar
named James l.. Brans0n, Of Phila
delphia, was arrested In this city on a
capias issued at the instance Of Messrs
Trump Brothers, machinists of this
city, for $500 due them by Branson
AT the time of his arrest and shortly
after his release he was interviewed by
a REPUBLICAN reporter, and informed
the newspaper man that he did not owe
them cent and that he had been
slamefully treated. An article to that
effect appeared, which done the Messrs.
Trump Brothers gross injustice,
but was corrected in later issue. The
capas was served on Branson by j. ii.
Hotlecker, Jr., Esq, attorney for
Trump Brothers, for the 81, 800 due his
clients, which was subsequently re-
covered without its being taken to
Court. The entire circumstance of the
case is about as follows:
The Trump Brothers first made a
contract with Branson in 1879, to manu-
facture patent knitting machine,
which, when they got hold oft was i'm
perfect and little or no good to the pat
entee. The contractors then set about
to improve tn q machine and after spend
Ing considerable time, and at great ex-
pense, they made it a very valuable ar
tcle, In order that they might fill his
Nhe patentee's orders large stock of
the machines was made land in 1882
they were doing a large business In
the manufacture of the same. In Feb
ruary, 1882, the patentee violated the
terms of his contract and ran into the
debt Of the manufacturers to the
amount of about 5000.
When he was approached upon the
subject he disputed their accounts and
claimed that q considerable sum of
money was due him. Several attempts
were made Oh the part of the manufac-
turers for an amicable settlement, but
without successes, as he declined to pay
any part of their claim, unless they &C.
ceded to certain unjust demands he
made upon them, which, ofcOurse, they
refused to do, and he finally told them
that he would not pay them cent un'
less compelled to in Court. He was ac-
corlingly arrested on capias, az stated
above, and the amount Of the claim col
leced.
This still left the manufacturers with
large number of the machines on
hand, together With considerable
amount Of valuable machinery used in
the construction, which he refused to
take Oft their hands, and, having al
ready come in'o possession through
them, of the improvements to his pa
tent, he began to manufacture them on
his own account in Philadelphia and
biddcliance to the firm in this city. In
view of this another suit was entered
in the L nited States Circuit Court at
Philadelphia, against Branson, for
breach ot contract, last October, and
after being carried along for nearly a
year came up few days ago for final
hearing.
The suit was heard before Judge But
Ter, and after several days had been
Consumed in hearing test mony, argu'
men,, etc, the case was given to the
jury on Thursday, who retired, and
after deliberation of about fifteen
MINUTES, returned with a verdict for
the plaintiffs for the full amount of this
cain with interest, which footed up
nearly $4,000. j. II. Hotiecker, Jr,,
E,Q, was counsel for the plaintiffs, and
was assisted by Silas W. Petit, Esq, of
the Philadelphia bar. The defendant
was represented by Thomas j. Diehl, Of
PAlladelphia