Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-11-07
DISTRICT LAW Suits.

Attorney Riddles Report Of the Coz.
en- THAI During the Last Fiscal
| Year.
MARKET COMPANY LITIGATION - orHrR
| CASES.
| Mr.. A. @. Riddle, attorney for the Distr,c, NJ
Columbia, In his annual report to the Commits.
sioners ior the nscai year ending June 3Oth
Court OF the United States the onlv ,nrn-t.nt
case, that of the Baltimore and Potomac Ra,l.
roao company against the Commissioners of
the Dastrict OF Columbia, growing out of an
attempt or the company to lay their tracks
across 14th street southwest without authority
Of Congress and against the orders of the Com.
mfssioners, was decided in favor of the Com.
missioners. The decision defines the rights of
railroad companies as more limited than here
tofore generally supposed.
various cases were tried in the General Term
OF the Supreme Court OF the District, among
them the important cases of the District AGAINST
me washington and Georgetown Railroad conf
pany. ana the same against the Metropolitan
argument were unanimous in SUSTAINING the
Judgment of the Circuit Court. We do not an.
Supreme Court, to which the Defendants nave
| removed them on error. hope some means
may be found to secure the advance of these
The cases of Strong against the District certi.
fled to the General Term by the CrcuitC court for
nearing on the defendants exceptions TO the
award OF the referees, was heard and decided at
| the hast term Of the General Term. The cases
are 80 widely known that do not deem it
the decision of the court reversing the award of
the referees was made since the end of the fiscal
year, still the result Of the hearing is a matter
OF such nOtoriety that 1t may be well to state
that the court in disposing Of the cases reversed
them on the one point that the referees erred in
allowing the plaintiff the difference between
the sum realized by him in disposing of audi.
tors certificates of the board Of public works
and their face value, aud remanded the cases
| to the Circuit Court for hearing.
In the cases oil the District Of Columbia agt
smith and the Washington Gas Light COM
by the District against the defendants for
creating and maintaining a nuisance, injurious
to health, consisting of the crushing and burn
ing OF oyster shells, &C. and removed to the
General Term by the defendants on certiorari
the court decided in favor of the District, and
remanded the cases to the Police Court for fur
Gibbons agt the District was q suit filed to
restrain the District from the collection of GER
sn sSe sb dne On bPrSp belonging to st
Term, was decided In favor of the District.
Browning case, action for damages to property
on account p, Of detective sewerage; The juds-
on hearing in General FERN reversed err ''' Was
IN e Paee Sy
require the defendant to pay license as COM
mercial agent. The defendant removed the
District, and the decision OF the General Term
was favorable to the District.
The McGiil case;IIhis was an action for dam:
ages against the District, in which the plaintiff
| recovered a judgment for $1,000, which was
affirmed ON appeal. AS it was tho negligence of
accident think the District will be able to col.
iect whatever amount it pays on account of the
judgment.
| Tie Emerson and Cannon cases. wherein
Judgments were obtained in the sum Of - 900
by each plaintiff, involve certain principles
Supreme Court of the United States, and have
accordingly taken the necessary steps to have
them removed to that court.
The ashington Market company case against
the District was an action instituted by the
market company to restrain the District, its
Commissioners and the commissioner of the
sinking fund from enforcing the collection of
certain special assessments due by the COM
pany. The principal point contended for by
paid the taxes sought to be collected. and there
ment; The court ruled against the plaintiff and
Clarke case, action for damages for personal
Injuries for S2O,OOO judgment in favor Of de-
Sherwood cases, actions for damages for per-
sonal injuries for $1,000; judgment for $4,000.
Bonavires, action for damages for $4,000 ON
account of alleged injuries received by being
turned out OF house owned by District without
requisite notice, &c. verdict for 500.
Hurdle case, suit for damages for personal in
trict. 49, 0''' " ~o0'0' ''' ''' A'-
Boone agt District; suit for damages for per-
81, 900. There were a great MANY other Cases
tried, some of which were finally disposed Of
and others are now pending on appeal.
cases in the Circuit and higher courts during
the year.
INCREASE OF POLICE COURT CASES.
The report of Mr.. James e. Padget, special
assistant attorney, in his annual report, states
that the cases tried in the Police Court from
tn limo
were S,203. Convictions, 1880; dismissals,
1913; mol pros, 90; continued, is, and amount
of lines imposed, S45, 800.
Mr.. Padgett states that the difficulties men.
toned la his previous report as regards the
prosecution on appeal of "whisky cases still
exists, and the only relief from the evil Of this
Illicit business is In new legislation.
The number OF cases tried in the Criminal
Court on appeal were twenty-three, in which
3 nolle pros. and three in which the jury disar
greed. The number of cases appealed from the
Police Court during the year was n.
In the name OF the District in the Police Court
has, during the past five years, been very
marked ,a showing either an increase of crime or
both. In 1880 there were 3,O25 cases, and fines
amounted a unite. 70 $1s, 5s5; IN 1881, ASA cases
fines 26,974; in 1883, 5,744 cases and fines
S24,6 56; IN 1884, 40 cases and fines sac, 300;
and in 1885, s,293 cases and fines $45,39O;
thus showing an increase in five years OF 100
per cent In number OF cases, and nearly 200
per cent in amount of fines imposed
General McClellan's Book.
From the New York Herald
1t has recently been stated that General Nc
Clellan's recollections, the manuscript Of which
was burned, had been almost entirely repro
duced and will be published soon, and they
will occasion as much comment as Mr.. Depew's
letter on the GrantJohnson matter gave rise to.
When spoken to ON the subject yesterday
General FitZ John Porter said: 1.-The personal
recollections OF General Mcclellan were nearly
all burned; but he did succeed in reproducing
them, and mad he lived he would have rewrit-
ten the whole book. The papers and records
were all saved. and only = lew weeks ago he
was engaged on a description of the Peninsular
campaign. So far as to the book creating stir
] do not know, but 1t will be different from the
Grant,Johnson controversy. Mr.. Depew's
statements were not proven. In General Nc
Clellan's case every statement is conclusively
proven. The publication Of the book is neces-
sary 70 General McClellan's reputation, and,
furthermore, 1t will set right many errors In
history and do away with many misapprehen-
si0ns."