Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1888-03-24

ne Deu I6sepAoao Raten1s Sustained
WAsHmoron, d. O., March 1s.-The opin
ION Of the United States supreme court in
tho telephone cases q far q IL has ben
read seems toindicats that the patent Of the
Bell company win be sustained a . patent
tor process and for IN apparatus. Less
han quarter Of tho opinion, however, has
besu read. In considering the question Of
the alleged anticipation Of Bells in
vention BY the telephone Of Refs in
Germany, the court holds, that Rais
discovered q means Of transmitting mu-
steal tones and nothing more Bells patent
being for the process or art Of transmitting
speech veuld have been Just as valid if they
had used the apparatus Of Reis in developing
it. Tho court holds that tho apparatus Of
Rsis was not successful in transmitting
speech and that his invention was not in
this respect an anticipation of the discovery
which was made by Bell. AL the points
thus far considered in the courts in the tels-
phone cases have been decided in favor of
Bell, including the points set up in the
claims Of Refs, Vandsrwayds and Me-
Donough. Justice Blatchford il now (12:45)
reviewing the Drawbaugh case.
The decision Of the court has been 90
nounced and is in favor of the Bell Tsls-
phone company on all points and in all Of
the cases. The court holds that the force
of the testimony, showing that Drawbaugh
had telephones in use before the invention
of Bell, is completely broken by his own
conduct and indifference, which he mani
tested in regard to his alleged inventions,
until years after Bells telephones were
known to the world. The Drawbaugh claim
10 declared to be unsustained.
Justice Bradley is at this time (11:45
reading an opinion dissenting from the de-
cision of the court. Justices Field and
Harlan dissent and Justices Gray and
Lamar did not sit. The Bell patents are
therefore sustained by majority of one.
The court stands four to three. Justice
Blatchford is reviewing the charge of fraud
aud collision in the patent Office by means
of which Bell is alleged to have obtained
surreptitious information with regard to the
inventions of his rival and than amended
his own specifications and held that
there was not tho slightest evidence
to support this charge or to cast the least
reflection upon the integrity of Bell or his
attorneys.
The dissent Of Justices Bradley, Field
and Harlan in tho telephone cases, is based
g2on the Drawbaugh claim. These three
Justices are of the opinion that the evidence
overwhelmingly shows that Drawbaugh was
tho first inventor of the speaking telephone,
although he was unconscious Of it and was
not aware of it's importance.
Immediately after the conclusion Of the
reading of the findings in the telephone
cases, Justice Lamar began the reading Of
his first opinion as a member of the United
States supreme court, the case decided be-
ing No. 1913, the Missouri River Packet COM
pany vs. the Hannibal q st. Joseph railroad
company. The point involved was the con-
struction to be given to q law of congress
authorizing the building of bridge for the
use of the railroad company across the Mis-
souri, river at Kansas City. The judge
mont of the Missouri supreme
court in favor of the Hannibal
& st. Joseph Railroad company, was affirm
Cd.