The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-04-14
PAYABLE In GOLD COIN.
THESE WORDs MAKE MISSISSIPPI
LEVEE BONDS VOID,
As Gold Was Not the Basis of the Business
of the Country When Bonds Were Issued.
other Supreme Court Decisions.

! WASHINGTON, April l3.-The Suprem'
| Court Of the United States reconvencd to-
| day after a ten-days' recess. and handed
down opinions in score and half of
cases. Mississippi litigation was the oc-
casion Of the most important, If not the
most interesting decisions. Amos Wood
ruff, trustee, and the German Bank Of
Memphis. holders Of certain bonds, is
sued by the Mississippi Levee Board, No.
]. brought suit In the Court Of Kinds
county. I'm that State TO enforce a lien
and trust upon certain lands in that coun-
Is created IN their favor as holders OF
such bonds. These bonds were issued in
1871. and were made payable In gold
coin" although the interest coupons were
payable In lawful money" The case
went against the plaintiffs and the Su-
prcme Court OF the State affirmed the
judgment of the trial court. In its deci-
sion the Supreme Court said.
when the bonds were issued gold
coin was not the basis OF the business Of
the country. 1t was money, but OF much
greater value than the circulating me-
dunn, consisting OF United States Treasury
notes, Of national bank notes, Of which
we take judicial notice. All debts payable
vable in lcgal-tendoIs but an oblga-
ton payable in gold coin can be discharg-
cd only according 10 its terms In au-
thorlzing the issuance OF bonds for one
million dollars, and in the use Of the
term money the Legislature must be
supposed 10 have meant in the act cited
that money which constituted the basis
OF the general business Of the country
and was a legal-tender for the payment Of
debts.
BONDS ARE VOID.
Therefore there was no authority in
tho act for the issuance of bonds payable
I'm gold coin and they were void for want
Of authority for their issuance. This Is a
matter OF substance involving a departure
In q most material feature from the act
authorizing bonds 10 be issued. and rem
dcred them void from the beginning"
From this decision the Landowners ap-
pealcd 10 the Supreme Court OF the
United States. The opinion Of the court
was Announced by chief Justice Fuller.
1t discussed at great length the question
whether or not gold coin" was money
and reached the conclusion that 1t was
MONEY. and. Therefore that the use OF that
term ina bond issued under authority TO
borrow money was not invalid. The judg
was reversed. and the cause remanded with
instructions to proceed not inconsistent
with the opinion.
CRIMINAL CASES.
The decision Of the Supreme Court Of
Mississippi. in the murder cases OF John
Gibson and Charles Smith was affirmed
in an exhaustive opinion read by Mr.. JUS
tice Harlan. The defendants IN these
cases were negroes Their attorneys APP
piled before trial for a transfer OF the
cases 10 the Federal Courts under section
6f. Revised Statutes. which provides for
such transfer whenever the State fails 10
secure to every citizen the same rights
under the laws. The petition for transfer
was denied; the trials proceeded in the
State courts. and the defendants were
convicted. As a result Of the discussion
Of the law and facts Justice Harlan stated
that the defendants were not entitled TO
the transfer asked. even If the facts
alleged in the petition were true, that no
negroes were ever summoned for jury
duty. because they were denied no right
under the Constitution and laws Of the
state. 4 denial I'm that form only was
such a discrimination as the Supreme
Court Of the United States could take cog
nizance OF. a criminal trial was not
reversible by the Suprerte Court, the
opinion concluded. unless il was had I'M
der a statute repugnant 10 the Constitu-
ton or laws Of the United States. The
records I'm these cases did not show that
to be the fact. nor did they show any
error Of procedure. The judgment of the
state Court was, therefore. affirmed.