Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-28
NEWS FROM RoCKyILLE
The New Court House Building-A Farmer
injured by Bull-Notes.


The New Court Hosss Buildine-A Farmer
injured by . Bull-Notes.
Corsspondence'of The Evening Star
ROCKVILLE, Sept "a, 1891.
After the organization Of Montgomery county
in the year 1776, and the selection Of Rockville
as the county seat, the first court held in the
as the Hungerford Tavern. and which house ID
still standing and occupied by Miss Mary Rus
sell, sister to Pay Director Alex. Russell and
Commander John h. Russell, q. s. N. This
house il well known as the oldest building in
the town. A short time after the above date
court house was erected which was used for a
| number Of years until supplanted by the build
ing which was demolished about fifteen months
ago to make room for the present imposing
structure. which will be entirely completed in .
few days.
The new building has . frontage Of SO feet
with depth of 1902 feet and is surmounted by q
tower Sc feet in height. The building is Of
brick with brown stone stills and hntels and
stands upon foundation Of Montgomery
granite feet high in front and Is feet in the
rear. The approach to the building in front is
by way Of massive Woodstock granite steps
leading to wide portico with double doors.
The entire building is covered with slate with
copper cornices and spouting. In the rear of
Tue UdHS uleut are Two rOOmy ana wel-llgQtSQ
Office rooms and the balance of the same is oc-
cupied by the Smead heating and ventilating
apparatus, consisting Of five large furnaces
and the necessary pipes sinks, &C., and in adj
dition two large coal cellars.
1he first floor of the building, the east side
OF which il constructed entirely Of iron, brick,
cement and terra Gotta tile, is entirely fire.
proof and contains rooms for the clerk of the
circuit court. register OF wills, the orphans
court county treasurer, commissioners, sheriff
n md yYnr InRv hA- al fwNv,
and side ssairways leading to the court room
above.
On the second floor are situated rooms for the
school board, states attorney, judges consult
ing room, apartment for female witnesses and
petit jury room. Upon this floor is also the
main court rOom-50X6O feet-with vaulted CELL
ing twenty-fOur feet high and lighted by two
immense stained glass windows. The judges
bench, clerks desk and seats are oil of ash,
finished in hard oil, and presen mt q neat and rich
appearance. The desks and tables for attor-
neys and chairs for jurors and officers OF the
court have not yet been put in position. Sew
| eral gentlemen of extensive travel through the
| several counties pronounce it the finest court
room in the state. From the second floor to
the tower an elevator has been put in to carry
record booksto n tireproof room in the same.
The halls and stairways in the building are
made OF iron and cement and all of the rooms
are provided with closets and eInbellished with
mantels OF Tennessee marble The wood work
trimmings of the rooms and halls are all OF ash,
neatly finished in hard oil by L. b. Nicholson,
| who had the contract for the painting of the
| entire building
The building is situated on an eminence and
from the tower fine view of the surrounding
country can be obtained, and on a clear day
fully one-third OF the Washington monument
Is plainly visible. The entire building presents
fine appearance and is quite an ornament to
the town and credit to the county.
Mr.. Frank E. Davis of Baltimore was the
architect of the building, the contractor for
building the same being Mr.. Thomas P. Johns
OF the same city. The entire work. from the
excavation for the foundation to the compile
ton OF the building, has been under the per-
sonal supervision of Mr. James I. Layfield of
Baltimore and the is of such a char
acter as to reflect credit upon all engaged
In 1t. The subcontractors for the several
classes Of work were: Messrs II. l. Gregory,
Washington. D. c.. heating and ventilating APP
paratus; A. X. Walton. Pennsylvania, cut
brown stone; Morgan Thomas, Washington. d.
C., slate roof and copper work; Alex Davis,
Baltimore, masonry work; Washington Granite
Company, cut granite. The building commit
| tee named in the law authorizing the constfuc-
| ton of the house were DIR. Charles j. Maddox,
Col. James A. Boyd, Samuel s. Hayes, J. II.
Bogley and Allen Farquhar.
Mr.. Edward Beale. farmer residing in the
vicinity Of Cedar Grove. this county, was badly
and perhaps fatally injured few days ago by
an Infatuated bull While crossing a field on
his place late in the evening he was suddenly
attacked by the animal. and before he had a
chance to defend himself or make his escape
was thrown to the ground and SO badly gored
by the animal as to render him unconscious for
some time. When he regained his senses he
again attempted to make his escape, but was
again attacked and other wounds inflicted. At
last he managed to crawl to an adjoining fence
and with great effort climbed over the same,
when he again became unconscious. In this
condition he was found about 10 o'clock at
night by members of his family, removed to
his home and medical aid summoned 1t was
found that several Of his ribs had been broken,
his head and body were almost a solid mass Of
CHASTITY wounds, and it is also feared that he is
badly injured internally. Efforts to restore
him to consciousness were finally successful,
when he gave an account Of how the affair hap
pened. At latest accounts there were but slight
hopes Of his recovery.
What came near proving fatal accident oc-
CURED here yesterday afternoon near the rail-
road station. An east-bound express train,
wagon loaded with stone at the crossing of
Baltimore street with the railroad, knocking
the rear end of the wagon to pieces, but not
injurlng the horses or driver. The team was in
charge of Mr.. Uriah Ricketts,. who was walking
| beside the same and when he saw the train was
| upon him he struck the horses with whip and
| leaped of the track in time to save his life
The safety gates at the crossing were up, and it
| is claimed by several persons who were near
| the track at the time that the engine man
failed to sound his whistle at the usual place
and that he gave no warning until nearly op-
| positc the depot and within a few yards of the
crossing An investigation Of the affair will be
made by the railroad company.
The contract for building new Touring mill
| at Gaithersburg has been awarded to Mr.. E. NJ.
West Of this town at So, $50. s. AN
|