The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-19
eASTOWS PENSION CASE.
IT'S TRIAL BEGUN IN THE UNITED
STATES COURT.

The Darien and sapeIO TOvvbOat
Company Libel Case Concluded
and Decision Observation-Disclosures
General Fraser Has "A Hard Time
i'm Getting Some Witnesses-A Me-
gro Convicted of a Second Theft
From the Same Ohice-severnI More
United States Citizens Made-Busi-
ness i'm the City Court.
The trial of A. II. CASTOR, charged with
pension frauds, or specifically with taking
from Visa Strickland more than the fee
allowed under the statutes in collecting
her pension money, was taken up in the
United States court yesterday, and the
trial went on the entire morning.
1t is claimed that CASTOR succeeded in
collecting about $4,000 of pension money
due Visa Strickland, her husband having
been a federal soldier, and that he took
about $500 of it, whereas the law allows
a pension agent or attorney to collect only
$25 for securing a pension.
CASTOR admits having received some
such sum as this from the pensioner, but
claims that in arranging for her to secure
the pension he was put to a great deal of
expense, in the way of securing witnesses
and evidence, besides paying out of his
own pocket the expenses of the Strick-
land woman and her family on several
occasions. He made statement in court
yesterday showing how various sums had
been paid out in working up the matter
to the point where the pension money
could be secured. The evidence had reach
ed this point yesterday, when Judge Speer
adjourned the court until 10 O. clock this
morning. CASTOR is being defended by
Mai. z. w. Meldrim and the United
States is represented by the district at
torney, Maj. W. T. Gary.
The arguments in the libel suit of the
Darien and Sapelo Towboat Company
against the steamship Decatur II. Miller,
for $500 damages to the tug John c. Ma
lonnee, were concluded before Judge Speer
yesterday. He has taken the matter un-
der advisement and reserved his decision.
The suit was for damages to the tug which
was struck by the Miller as she swung
out into stream from her wharf, so the
plaintiffs claim. The defendants, however,
state that the tug itself also swung out
into the stream, cOlliding with the steam
er, and would not have been struck or
hurt at all If it had remained fast to the
wharf
Solicitor General w. w. Fraser was very
much put out yesterday when the case
against Norman Simkin, charged with as
sault with intent to murder was called
and Charles Feeley, colored, one of the
important witnesses for the state failed
to appear. He first started TO have an at
| tachment issued against Feeley and have
him summary brought into court. but it
was found that he was at Tybee and
could not be reached at once. The case
was reassigned for trial Friday morning
| when Feeley will no doubt be given to UNI
derstand that he must be there when his
| summons call him.
John Brown was convicted in the SUI
! perior court of burglarizing the office of
| G. II. Medlock, from which he stole a lot
| of cigars the night of Oct. 15 He was
! recommended to be punished as for a mis-
demeanor and the court sentenced him to
| pay fine of 800 or spend twelve months
| on the chain-gang. queer feature of the
| case was that Brown was an ESCAPED con-
Wet at the time he committed the bur
| term on the chain-gang from the city
| court for larceny of property from the
office, of Mr. Medlock. AS soon as he es-
| capped he went right back to the same
| place, broke in and got the cigars. The
| cigars, he claimed sometime later. were
taken from him by another negro whom
| person. The latter however was ac-
| quilted. Browns first punishment did NOT
| appear to have cured him of stealing from
Mr.. Medlock's place.
Edward Carter was tried for assault
with intent to murder Joe Freeman and
James Williams. 1t was claimed he tried
to shoot them. The jury found him not
! guilty in both cases. He is also under in
dictment for carrying concealed weapons
ana VIII be held to answer that charge.
A rule nisi was granted on a petition for
foreclosure of a mortgage in favor of
Mrs. A. e. Ybanez against William Will
Jams, for $685.
In the city court Sarah Lewis and Henry
Hamilton, charged with forcible entry
and detainer of house and lot belonging
to Rev David Waters, colored, were found
guilty of the charge 1t is probable how
ever that they will be required ONLY to
pay the costs of the proceeding.
A mistrial was declared in the case of
w. H. Harvey against the Pullman Palace
Car Company. The plaintiff sued to re-
cover $1S5 for a diamond ring, alleged to
have been lost on a trip to Waycross
In the case of Charles A. Conklin against
the estate of L. l.. Hover, the Jury rem
dered a verdict by default against q
w. K. Sanders as principal and the estate
of Hover as surety for $500. This was for
a bill for a lot of tin which was furnished
on an order Endorsed by Hover before his
death.
The suit of Asel Meyer. Pfistel &, Co
against Wilder & Co. was dismissed
Five citizens were turned out yester-
day by the courts. Louis Goldberg, H
Lesser and P. Lesser all former subjects
of the Gar of Russia were granted ma
pers by Judge Norwood. William TAYLOR
formerly subject of the Queen of Eng
land and Samuel Bernstein, formerly OF
Russia were made citizens by Judge Fall
Hgant.