Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1896-09-10
lCorrepondenes Of ths BsacoEl

CHAPTIcn, Sept 6, 1895.
Messrs. Editors Very much to the
qualification of your correspondent his re-
turn TO Chaptico was much sooner than an
ticipated. and after having spent week of
rest and recreation at Westmoreland's pop
ular resort on the Potomac feels greatly re-
cuperaied and in fine shape for work, and
am glad of an opportunity to spend week
or so more with proprietor Cawood of the
Chaptico Inn.
4 very interesting case came up to be
heard in Justice Gamers Court yesterday,
and from the number of spectators In the
Court room one would have thought the
litigation was of great Importance. 1. was
my first attendance upon q Maryland
Court of Justice, and felt somewhat Gu
rious to drop in and witness the proceed
ings. l noted but little difference, howev.
er, from similar tribunals in the Old DO
minion.
The litigation in question was upon com.
paint Of Fl. B. Cawood against Nicholas
keenan, for the larceny of one small boat.
of the value of four do.,srs and fifty cents.
Six witnesses for the Commonwealth were
sworn and testified that they knew moth
ing of either boat or ownership. all
these witnesses belong to one family and
were summoned by the prosecution. One
witness, John Turner Love, testified for the
opposite side. Love, il seems, had the boat
built by one of the before mentioned wit
nesses, of lumber and nails, which he claims
Mr.. Cawood gave him. The boat in ques-
ton was sold by Turner te keenan, for the
small sum of one dollar and fifty cents. Il
further appears that ,hn Turner Love is
minor and ward of Squire Cawood.
Therefore, our worthy Squire believing
himself to be sufficiently versed in Mary
land law, was under the impression that
he could recover his boat upon the ground
that the transactions of minors are null and
void. There seems to have been doubts as
to the real ownership OF the property; but
when we take in consideration that John
Turner Love belongs 10 his guardian, II
looks as If his boat should also belong 10
said guardian; but when we look at the
matter in the light of customs, agree with
the Court in its decision.
After hearing all the evidence in the
case and thoroughly balancing the scales
of justice, his Honor proceeded TO adjust
his glasses, summed up the evidence ON
both sides, and your correspondent will
sgree with the Court, that his Honor's de.
cision was q fair and impartial one-the
prisoner being discharged upon the ground
that larceny could not be sustained. The
principal point to arrive at was TO estab.
lish the true ownership of the property
which would have neeessitated writ Of
repleviE, the cost of which would have
possibly overbalanced the value of the
property, and we conclude that his digni.
fed Honor and landlord, after careful con-
sideration and no small amount of lamen.
tation, submitted TO the inevitable, but
should have been very glad to have the
discharged prisoner 10 return at least the
tackle supposed TO have been in the boat
at the time he purchased her, and he would
| have let the matter forever rest But, uu.
fortunately, so small an accession as this
was not granted. as the boat, IL seems, was
entirely unequipped, not even possessing
50 much as a paddle to propel her down
Chaptico stream. The Court and all lis
attendants returned TO their respective
homes at a. late hour with little concern
and no doubt wiser men. The matter was
discussed pro and con, however, for seve.
raj days afterwards. and I find that law
yers are Just as numerous in Maryland vii.
lagos as they are in Virginia. Y.