Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-17
IN COURT IN 1888.
A Famous Case In Detroit VIII Come Up
for Another Postponement.
From the Detroit Free Press.

1OT AuOVucT TOSUpO0cmeuts
From the Detroit Free Press.
A judge in the Wayne circuit court mounted
the steps of the new county building this
morning, brushed few fakes of snow from
his elegant sealskin wrap, which had just been
purchased from raise in his salary, proceeded
to the private electrical elevator, touched
button, and in a jify was deposited in his
sumptuously adorned private apartments on
the second floor. Around the room was
stately array of massive furniture, partly
hiding the polished marble wainscoting and
looking down upon his honor from the walls
were marvellous frescoes, the work Of home
talent. Touching another button the presence
of the judge was announced to his eight
associates, who occupied similar apartments
en- suite, and by some mysterious agency
heavy silk plush portieres vanished into the
air, resolving the eight rooms into one. The
eight judges greeted each other heartily and
entered into the spacious court chamber Of the
presiding judge. Here the walls were of many
colored marbles delicately blended, relieved
here and there by polished columns and has re-
liefs the furniture was of highly artistic design,
magnifcently upholstered for the bar and jury:
cushioned arm chairs for the lobby and won
derfully arranged bench of beautiful marble
added dignity fitting to the highest court of
original Jurisdiction in the United States. The
journal of the day previous was ordered read,
but there was no clerk present to stumble over
the work which he had been obliged to hur-
riedly complete the night before. In his place
was marble pedestal on which rested an i'm
proved photographer. A low buzzlng sound
was first heard and then came from the silver
bell mouth of the machine the sonorous tones
of a man repeating the various orders which
had been made at the previous session With
these preliminaries disposed of the judges re-
trad 10 xha,r {ria1 ham barC yvh oh
were each appointed in the same dignified
elegance as that of the presiding chamber. and
the judge who was first mentioned called his
court to order by means of an electrical court
crIer, arranged on the plan of monograph
which had a device in connection by which a
gaveI was brought down with a resounding
snap on a percussion cap. This court observed
one of the lobby in the act of talking aloud to
a companion, and by means of an electrical
connection by which the court was able to
reach every seat in the courtroom the mans
lips were paralyzed, and in this temporary
state he was shown into the hall.
The first was that of two rival cOmpa-
MES, in which one sought to enjoin the other
from the manufacture of an improved 8rlal
freight transmitter. The second matter was a
motion for a continuance of the case of the
estate of VIM. W. Wheaton against the estate
of Luther Beecher.
'.Who is the attorney in this case?" inquired
the court.
Il am, your nonor, repned an aSeu attor-
ney.
How long have you been connected with
the case?"
well, your honor, have been connected
with the plaintiff estate for about sixty years,
having succeeded Col. Sellers, who had charge
of the case for forty years before me, and be-
lieve commenced the suit in what history says
was a superior court for this city"
This is an application for the defense" in
terjected the court. lis the attorney PRESENT."
Eyes, your honor" said comparatively
young man. 'My grandfather Col. John At
kinson, was the first attorney and the charge of
the case has fallen to me by inheritance"
''Are you ready to go to trial?" suggested his
honor. pulling his ermine wrap around his
shoulder.
Il am not, your honor. Both my grand
father and father tried to get ready in their
lifetime, and think that, with the progress
they made, l shall have the case well in hand
in ten years. would like a continuance for
that time"
Il object to the order" broke in the plain
have been trying all my lifetime to bring this
case to trial and should like to see it go to a
jury before | die
under all the circumstances / shall con-
tinue the case for ten years." said the court.
1t is the general expression of opinion
formed by the progress that the Wheaton
Beecher case has been making for the past
three years, that a horoscope cast into the
future for one hundred years would reveal
situation something as is revealed above, and
the proceedings in the yesterday before
Judge Brevoort does not change the opinion.
Instead of the impaneling of jury, was ex-
pected. the proceeding simply amounted to
plea on the part of the defense for another
continuance of the case. Col Sellers, attorney
for Mr.. Wheaton. and Col. Atkinson, for Mr..
Beecher, again appeared in court in their ia
miliar positions across the tables from each
other, and their respective clients were near
them.