The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-11-17
YESTERDAY IN THE COURTS
OFSTEBMAN FRANZ T. LANE AP- PEALS TO UNITED STATES COURT,

His Case Heard Before Commissioner
 Wright esterday--Insurance Company
 Sues Mrs. Nellie Morrill, of This City
 Common Pleas Criminal Cases-lwo
 Assignments in Probate Court Yesterday
 Frank T, Lane, an oysterman at City Point, was before United States Commissioner Wright yesterday charg- ed with obstructing the nayigable wa ters of the harbor by driving piles for a new pier in channel recently im- proved by the Smith brothers, rival oystermen, also of City Point,
 The harbor commissioners had given Lane permission to build pier but afterwards hearing that the proposed pier would obstruct channel which the Smith brothers intended to deepen and widen, the commissioners revoked the permission given Lane.
 To avoid an injunction which Lane had threatened the Smith brothers be- gan the work of digging the channel at midnight and the work was well under way before Lane discovered them.
 A shoct time after Lane began lIiv- ing piles, ignoring the harbor conlmls- sioners. Attorney w. H. Ely, as coun- sel for smith brothers, made complaint, and Lane was arrested last week on a warrant issued by District Attorney Comstock. Attorney Ely and District Attorney yesterday, and ex-Judge Henry Stdd- dard for the defence.
 Judge Stoddard entered a general de- murrer. It was overruled by Commits sioner Wright and then Stoddard promptly appealed to the United States court Lane was released on $1W0 bonds, furnished by ex-Judge Stodda"l, Superior Court-Civii side-Judge shum- The suit of the Hartford Life and Annuity Insurance company against
 Mrs. Nellie Morrill, of this city, will come up in the superior court in few days. The claim is made that Mrs.
 Morrill,, with her husband, Daniel Nor Till, signed away policy for $1,0O0 on the life of MT. Morrill, to their daugh-
 ter, Mrs. Ada Nichols of Danbury, the latter agreeing to keep up the pay ments during her fathers life, and at his death to bear his funeral expenses. MT. Merrill died recently and his daughter bore the expenses as stipu- lated. Her mother now claims that as MT. Morrill, himself attached both his own signature and her to the transfer of the policy, and that it is illegal, alleging that she should have signed it persor ally
 The law firm of Arvine & Hubbard of this city have charge of the inter- ests of Mrs. Nichols.
 HEARING BEFORE APPRAISERS
 The hearing upon the condemnation
 proceedings instituted by the New England Railroad company to abolish a grade crossing at Bristol began in tie superior court room yesterday The company wishes to abandon the double crossing at Main street in that place
 and by doing that it is alleged tha property ir two business blocks will be l badly damaged. The owners are ask ing that they be allowed about $50,o0( | for property.
 The appraisers who are hearing the | case are John w. Alling, Judge F. B l Gager of Birmingham, and Judge w | C. Moves of New London This com
 mittee has previously held two hear | ings in Bristol, and owing to the fact
 that two members of the committee l lived near here it was continued here | yesterday.
 | Court of Common Pleas-ACriminal Side