Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-08

The Commission Of Three Completed by the
Court Today.

Court Today.
HEssas. DAVIS AID THOMPSON rxcp,rp AND
MEssns BuncHKLL AND sauYyEalH ArroNrxp
IN rHRn ILAcEs-PnocIrplxos m corar TO
DAY-IHsrnrcrIoHsr TO NJ OWEN TOMORROW.
In the Court Ia General Term. Chief Justice
Bingham and Judges Hagner and James, this
morning the ehisf justice announced that two
OF the gentlemen named yesterday a. members
Of the commission 10 appraise the land in Rock
Creek Park, Msssrs. Lewis J. Davis and W. 6.
Thompson, had declined to ssrve for reasons
the court deemed satisfactory. Two others,
Msssrs. g. ]. ssuhsrle and Norval ". Burchell.
had been appointed, and, with Mr.. Norris,
would constitute the board
Mr.. Perry asked IL 1t was known whether
MsssrI Burchell and SeufFerls would accept and
the court answered that they wcnld know in
short time, and tomorrow the court would meet
to give the board instructions.
Mr.. Lambert suggested that an opportunity
be given to examine the appraisers as to their
interest In the matter.
The court said they considered this matter
for the court.
Mr.. Wilson, representing property owners,
said that this was a novel case, so novel that
they scarcely knew how TO proceed, but they
have in contemplation the fling of demurrer
to the petition, but would not argue it. as il
would raise the same questions included in
their objections. When this was overruled
they would ask a writ of error and that the
court fix the supercedeas bond.
The court took q recess till l o'clock.
WHAT NIB. sEUFFERLE SAID.
Mr.. G. ]. Seufferle 10 prominent grocer and
well-known business man Of Washington.
STAR reporter found him at the office OF Jack
son 4 Co., on Pennsylvania avenue, this morn
ing and asked what he had to say rs to his APP
pointment
What appointment?' said Mr.. Seuffcrle. in
a surprised tone. And SO it came about that
the first news he received that the Supreme
Court Of the District had taken favorable action
upon his name came through the medium of
the STAR.
"Well," he continued. "you have taken me
SO by surprise that hardly know what to say
about it. And beside that am not at all sure
that 1t would be proper thing to say
anything. about it until l have received
formal notification from the court that
l have been appointed. One thing 1 can
say In all honesty and am perfectly willing to
say that, and it is that did not want the place,
did not seek it and do not want
it now If 1 can get out of serving
you may be sure l will, for l do not
know Of a more thankless task than that OF an
appraiser. l might be willing to take the
place under some circumstances, but there
the present case to make the place anything but
an undesirable one. l was y member of the
board Of appraisers for the Congressional
Library site and also for condemning land for
street and If ! can get out Of it this time you
may be sure I will"
Mr. BURcHELL DOESN'T WANT IT.
Mr.. n. w. Burchell, who was also appointed
one Of the appraisers this morning. IL one of
the leading merchants in the city, having been
In the grocery business on street for more than
thirty-fve years. He came to Washington in 1856
and started in business as a member of the
firm OF King Burchell in the old King house
on the north side of + street, A few years
later he moved across the street to where the
Ebbitt House now stands, and in 1865
Hs, dissoiSad snee shsS Mr. Barshs
has been in business by himself and has
built up business Of fatterinc proportions.
He has also been connected with a number If
local charities as well as bushes; institutions.
He has been for twenty years past trustee OF
rector in the National Metropolitan Bank and
trustee in the Riggs and Mutual Protection
Insurance companies.
The STAR man reached Mr.. Burchelrs place
Of business this afternoon a few minutes be-
fore the bailiff who brought the order from
the court commanding Mr.. Burchell to appear
at court and assume the duties of an APP
praiser. When the latter came in the
bailiff handed hin: the sealed order, simply say
ing that it came from the cour. and no answer
was needed by the messenger. He told,
however. that he might make h. answer to the
reporter:
When he opened the envelope he seemed to
be anything but pleased he read the con-
tents. He admitted frankly that he didn't like
it a little Bit but be said that he preferred not
to say anything definitely about it until he
could appear at court and find out what he had
to do and what the state Of the case might be-
'Bnt. look here" said he, and he read from
the order OF the court to the effect that he was
to appear at court at O'Clock and hear and re-
ceive Whatever orders there might be for him.
why, its only few minutes of l
now. and It's good way from here
to the court house on rainy day like this So,
you see, / haven't any time to say anything
about it ut all. You can say. however, that l
have the acceptance under advisement. That's
ALL
PRHvAILKD ON TO ACCEPT.
At o'clock this afternoon Mr.. Seufferle APP
peared at court and frankly informed his friends
that he should decline the appointment He,
with Mr.. Norris, subsequently had conference.
with the juticess in the consultation room, as
did Mr.. Burchell, who arrived some time after
ward. Messrs. Seufferle and Burchell each
asked to be let of, but were finally prevailed
on to act.
EXAMINED BY THE COURT.
Al 2lO the court reconvened and the chief
justice said that they had made such investiga-
ton as to the qualifications Of those named as
they deemed it their duty to make. They do not
find that either of them have such interests
as would affect their judgment in acting as
appraisers. All Of them are residents
in the city city. One owns property PROPERTY
in the southern part OF the county aud one
small property north Of the city two miles from
the park. They were further satisfied that
they had not been engaged in the promotion
Of the park project. The court felt it their
duty TO take this course for II was not pro-
ceeding at common law.
MR. BURCHELL's STATEMENT.
Mr.. Burchell said that he had not fully un-
derstood the scope Of the inquiry as to the pro-
motion Of the project. He had, he said, asked
some members Of Congress to vote for the bill.
Judge Hagner read an authority on the SUBJ
ject and Mr.. Lambert suggested that Mr..
Burchell be further questioned.
Mr.. Burchell answered the chief Justice,
stating that he had favored the park for the
general good, not for any individual good.
The subject had been discussed in the Com
mittee of One Hundred and he acted in this
in the interest of the whole. .
Nothing which occurred at the meeting or
that he had done would affect his judgment