The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-10-31
THE COURTS.
Circuit Court.

SouTts
On Friday morning of last week the case
of Mitchell ct al v. Pitts Sons Manufacturing
company was begun in the circuit court
Two years ago the Marseilles attorney, Bird
Bickford was proprietor OF paper mill al
the above city Desiring to effect loan, two
turbine water wheels he owned were given
as security for money he borrowed from
John and NJ. T. Mitchell, the plaintiffs in
the SUIT Pitts Sons gave permission to the
Mitchells to place the wheels on their prop
erty, but when they desired to remove them
the defendant would not permit them to do
50 until clGim they hal against MIR. Bick-
ford was satisfied. To get possession of the
property the Mitchells got out n rcplevln
and thus the matter came into court. The
case was rendered unusually interesting to
the spectators by means of the method OF
cross examination Of Bird Bickford by +. F.
Bull, counsel for the defendants, Jas. W.
Duncan appearing as attorney for the plain
tifs. The witness was found to be one of
the most difficult subjects to cross examine
that Mr.. Bull ever tackled, The case was
submitted to the jury without argument, and
on Wednesday morning after being out n
quarter ofan hour they returneda verdict for
the plaintiffs, John and NJ. 7. Mitchell.
AT Pontiac Wednesday, the case Of T. L.
% T., for
reached, but as the defendant could not be
produced in court, his bondsmen will be re-
quired to make good his bail in the sum Of
So 600 About two years ago UConnor was
tried in the circuit court here on the charge
of bastardy and his arrest for perjury fol-
lowed. After languishing in the county Jail
for some three months he was finally bailed
out. In all its attendant details, from the
time the bastardy suit was first instituted at
La Sale up to the flight of the criminal to
the west early last summer, it was one of the
filthiest and most horribly scandalous cases,
both in and out of court that was ever read
or heard of in this county.
Wednesday afternoon the case of Ellen
Thos. D Meara, against the Illinois Sarch
company was begun in the circuit court,
damages being laid at $1,000. The plaintiff
was represented by James W. Duncan and
the company by j. W. Ebersol and Jesse b.
Ruger. June 10Th, 1882, while Thomas
O'Melra was ordered by the foreman, Ihos.
Downcy, to go aloft and oil the machinery,
and in attempting to do so stepped upon
some plank which he supposed were fastened
to the beams upon which they rested. The
ends projected from their supports and rs
soon as he stepped upon them they tilted up
low and in n few days thereafter he died from
the effects Of the injuries received. The de-
Tense averred that O Meara had nothing TO
10 with that department of the factory, Chas.
Cation testiiying that he was the acting SUI
perintendent and that no one had authority
10 order O'Meara into another department
except himself and that he gave no such
commands. The case was given to the jury
at I p Nj, Thursday afternoon, and after be-
ing out five hours returned verdict for
$500
Wm. Allen v. the City of Streator. Plain
tiG is coal miner, living in Streator. On
the evening of the 1st Of June, 1888, he
stepped into hole in the sidewalk, near d.
Heenan & Co.'S store, and fell into the street
The fall caused a rupture, as he claims,
which has since incapact ited him for manual
labor. lie now sues the city of Streator for
g, 600 as damages. The case was concluded
yesterday and this morning the jury get
their instructions. The attorneys are Muir
dock and Reeves for the city and A. p.
Wright for tie plaintiff.
The following named petit jurors, who
were summoned to appear for next Monday,
have been notified that they will not be re-
quIred TO attend court until Wednesday
afternoon, Nov. 4th: Jerry Favorite, Allen;
H. Holcomb, Elmer Bacon, j. II. Fornof, W.
5. Gates, Bruce; j. Gtachell, Brookfeld;
VIM. Shute, Deer Park; l.. N. Hess, Dayton;
G. d. Miller, Freedom; Jonathan Wilson,
Grovelsnd; Ed. CRUDE, VIM. Ross, Vim. An
derson, La Sale; Valentine Herbert, Ed.
Lawrie, A. Splitter, Mendoza; Guy Smith,
Meriden; Andrew Hudney, Mission Frank
Chapman, Miller; Robt. d. Lamiter, North
vile; Nicholas Heating, Harrey E. Smith,