The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1897-04-16
Circuit Court.

>''e>N
have been tried since our last report:
On Thursday the attachment case OF
Joseph B. Bailey. Claimant of land at
tached, VS.. r. B. B. Chew, Jr., was tried
before the Court, and decided in favor OF
the claimant Jos. S. Wilson and P. W
Chew for Chew, and Duckett & Dent for
Bailey
On Friday the Court heard the case OF
Max Lansburg VS.. George T. Donaldson,
action for debt 1t was tried before the
Court and verdict rendered for the
plaintiff. Rogers and Wilson for plain
tiff, and Beall and Brandt for defendant.
There was full Bench here on Satur-
day and the following appeal cases were
tried:
Appeal No. T. John L. Harley VS.. John
). Harley; action for debt; tried before
s,e Court and judgment rendered for plain
ilf. Richard E. Brandt for plaintiff and
Joseph S. Wilson for defendant.
Appeal No I. Ella J. Brown, appel
liant, VS.. Arthur Booth, appellee; action
for debt; tried before jury and verdict
for appellant Joseph S. Wilson for APP
pellant and D. E. Graves for appellee.
The Court opened on Monday with a
full Bench; number of prisoners were
brought in and arraigned, among them
Isaac Tippett indicted for setting fire to
the Jail. The remainder of the session
was occupied in trying the case Of the
State VS.. John T. Boles colored, indicted
for indecent exposure of person. Tried
before jury, found guilty and fined So
and COSTS Bells for State, Rogers for
prisoner.
State VS. same, indicted for indecent as
sault Plea of not guilty confessed by the
State.
Tuesday in the case of the State VS.. Ed
ward Nj. Woods, indicted for assault with
intent to kill; the plea of not guilty on the
first count was confessed by the State and
on the second count, that of simple as
sault, Mr.. Brandt, as counsel for the pris-
oner, plead guilty, and the Court imposed
fine of IS and costs.
State VS.. Isaac Tippett, indicted for
burning the county Jail. Mr.. Brandt.
counsel for prisoner, demurred to the first
count of the Indictment that the word
"malicious' had been omitted before the
word burning; the Court overruled the de-
murrer. Tried before jury and acquitted
on account of insanity.
State vs. Edward McNey, Sr., indict-
;eI,a io1
before jury and adiudged not guilty.
Bells for State, Brandt for traverscr
State VS. Edwin Latimer, Indictment for
assault with intent to KILL tried before
Jury and found guilty of simple assault.
Sentenced to pay fine of $50 and costs.
Bells for State, Brandt for Latimer.
State VS. Edwin Latimer; Indictment for
resisting an officer in discharge of his
duty Indictment quashed on demurrer.
Bells for State, Brandt for Latimer.
State vs. Thomas Wheeler, Indictment
for house-breaking, found guilty of
larceny by the court and sentenced to the
House of Correction for 2 years. Bells
for State. Brandt for prisoner.
After session of eight days the Grand
Ju'y was discharged on Tuesday, after
making the following report:
The Honorable, the Judges Of the Circuit
Court Of Prince Geo'ge's Comfy
GENTLEMEN:-The GrandJ ury beg leave
to offer the following as their report of
business transacted during the April term,
1897, of this Court.
We have been in session days, have
examined 20 witnesses and found 90 true
bills. Several cases brought to our notice
we're of such trivial character they were
promptly dismissed. 1t is source of re-
.yret to the Grand Jury that so many such
;ases find their way to the Grand Jury
Dom. A magistrates trial is all sufficient
and would save the county much expense.
The Constaoles of the several districts
in our county were prompt in putting in
their appearance and as a rule report quiet
and good order prevailing. Unfortunate
ly for the good Of our county infractions
of law in the various districts, such as
selling spirituous liquors on the Sabbath,
or doing business without license rarely
ever comes to the knowledge of Consta-
BILE whose sworn duty it is to know and
report such offenses but have to be fer
reted out, many times at great expense to
the county. We believe the difficulty
could be obviated if we had a law maxim g
: It penal offense for any officer not to
know of such infractions of law as above
stated, punishable by fine in every case
happening III his own district unless he
could give conclusive evidence that he had
used due diligence in detecting the offend
er of such laws.
There are various reasons why an officer
will 90 out of his way in oruer that he may
he ignorant of certain infractions of law
but If such ignorance were made punish
able by fine would obyiate such difficulties
and create IA much more wholesome con-
diton of affairs in our county. Wethere-
fore recommend that if there be no such
law applicable upon our statutes in such
cases there be such a law enacted by the
next General Assembly.
1t is in evidence that our roads are grow
ing gradually better as the years go by.
Still there is great room for improve
ment in this respect and we cannot too
earnestly recommend to the Honorable
County Commissioners the great necessity
of appointing the very best men available
as Supervisors and their giving them every
dollar that can be spared from other le-
gltimate expenses of the courts to be used
In lettering the condition of our public
highways, believing AS we do that no one
thing has Il tendency to enhance the value
of property, encourage the improvement
of our lands and induce men with either
great or small amount of capital to invest
in our midst
From the recent assessment of our lands
it seems To be self evident that the great
majority of our taxpayers will have at
least ~ per cent. heavier taxes to pay than
before, and, therefore. we respectfully
submit that an additional 10 per cent be
added to the amount heretofore expended
upon our roads and bridges
Having heard complaints from Petit Ju
Tors of having no conveniences for hats Oh
Goats in the Court House, we respectfully
suggest that such conyeniences be pro
vided
The Grand Jury in body visited til,
jail-what we will designate our Jail in
ruins it was in evidence. however, from
what remains of the building that it ha.
been kept scrupuiously clean and neat
and reflects great credit upon the officials
connected Herewith. The prisoners were
I.