The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-01-30
oNLF sfS,OOO.ooo CLAtvsn
IL Two Lore. Drseeinr Patent suit. Wa.
Have Already Cost the Cgty \ 10, o,e

Have Already Cost the Cgty Sint, oco eA
| A claim for something moro than s,o,o
| filed BY United Statcs Commission, $50
| NJ Deuel. as a Master in tho Iuite.l ,;,ro. wy, W."
| cult Court. camo under tho NOTICE o. -
trollcr Fitch the other day and hc in,t.,,,l,
an inquiry to ascertain why a I'ni,,I>,,,.ul
| Commissioner should have claims ~ -
magnitude against tho municiuafty. M.
yestigatioa resulted in tho discover tvt,r
that there have becn pending In tho t.rf,.,
States Courts long time two ac,io.I
against the city on which tho aggregate Il
ngcs claimed is over S13.OOO.U9u ID, 49,.
found that the city has already ptiI ont. q, ~,
way OF counsel foes feos to Masters and y
satisfaction OF stenographers and trir,...,
claims, more than 100000 in these .so,,,
tons
Comptroller Fitch wanted to know I, ga.
seemingly interminable drain on tho ,i,,
treasury could not be stopped. AMI he com,
munlcated with Corporation Counsel clark
The suits are for the recovery % rlNitso,a
damages because OF the uso Of two taler,oI
inventions IN all steam fro engines in IN.
city's Fire Department. The first wa br,uck,
in Deem er 1870. by William A. I;r,ck,u nm.
owner OF patented detachable watrr bca,s,
and the second in November. 1877. by thri,,
torher G.. Campbell. assignee " 'hn rnlh,,
patent TelleI waive, WnlCn Ileftflltk tip
Teal regulation Of the stream OF wa,nr itor
nre;engines without stopping the ma hines Ia
their operation.
These suits have dragged on. as unIy ca,.
in Chancery can, year after ycRr decision.
have been reached. but none that was final
Every judgment. in fact. has been ~ surba
character that the case had to go bach to tbs
Master for the taking OF now evidence until
there are now twenty massive printed volumes
OF testimony In the Campbell case aIun.
The knlbbs relief valve has been al opted hv
all manufacturers OF fire engines and In con,
sequence all those owned by. tho city are
equipped with It. Tho claim OF the owner az
the patent is for profits and damages meas.
ured. in the first Instance by the saw ng Of ths
services OF three men for every engine fir.
nished with tho valve. and next by tho saving
OF additional engines.
The validity OF the Knibbs patent was frat
attacked, but 1t was sustained by Judge
Wheeler OF the Circuit Court in 1884 and tbs
case was sent to Master Deuel. to take evidence
on an accounting. The case was Afterward
reoponed on n decision by tho Supreme Court
OF tho United States AMI the validity " the
patent reailrmed by Judge Wheeler in lSiI,
nce which time Master Deuel. has been more
pr less busy taking testimony. lsetts Nttet.
bury Hyde \ Belts have represented the ctr
In all patent cases for the past seven on years
and have advised succeeding Corporation COun.
eels that the city will ultimately win In this
dreary litigation.
Corporation Counsel Clark secured the sub.
stitution Of John X Bennett, a patent lawyer
in the Potter building in their stead early
last month. and a possible settlement OF these
old cases Is looked for by Comptroller Fitch
The Campbe claim. originally for 5000.
OOO, has grown to more than Sl1 600. 900: that
OF Brickell, which has not boon pushed 50
fiercely as the other isfor s.. 900 900 and more
Lawyer George + L. Howard OF Ib Wall street
Ia the master In tho Brickell case