Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-01-01
THE DISTRICTS YEAR
Continued from Fifth Page)


road was sold May % to Crosby and Lien.
A bill passed the House in May recurring
the lexington and Belt lines to adopt RAPID
transit. and the report of the conference
committee of both houses ordering the
same was adopted in June This Dill pro-
v1ded for experiments with compressed air
ments by the officials of the roads that
progress was being made toward trying
the motors. but delays occurred with equal
persistence until the roads went into the
hands of a receiver, September II, Mr.. w.
Kesley Schoepf being appointed receiver.
Receiver SChoepf filed a report October 3,
urzinS experiments with a compressed air
motor. and supplemented it November 10
with a recommendation In favor of using
the Hardie motor. Justice Cox denied the
receivers request November %. intima ting
that the logical outcome of the conditions
of the Belt and Eckirg ton roads seemed to
be decree for their sale.
In Jure the Metropolitan company dis
charged several employees. On the ground
that they had sought to influence legisia-
ton affecting the lead. The knights of
Labor took sides with the men. and the re-
suit that the company was placed or
the unfair list in July. The electric cars
began running on the F street line of the
Metropolitan July !. and the system was
as Immediately successful 1t had al
ready proven on 9th street. Mr.. Samuel l..
Phillips announced August IL his Intention
TO resign the presidency of the Metropoli-
tan. and October l., when the resignation
took effect. Mr.. George I'll. Harries was
elected to the vacancy. bill to extend the
line of the Metropolitan up Columbia road
to 18th street was passed by the House De-
cember Ia. and the same DAY the House
passed bill extending the time for air mo-
tor experiments on the Belt and lexington
roads.
The herdic line to Anacostia was aban-
doned early in the year. and during the
summer partially successful trial of a
gas motor designed for the propulsion of
street cars was made over the tracks of
the AuacOStia railroad.
IN THE COURTS.
In the history OF the Court of Appeals
and the Supreme Court OF the District the
year 1896 will be remembered as ore in
which mary important cases were tried,
and during which numerous POINTS of law
of interest and importance both to the
public and the legal profession, were de-
Cided Early in the year two of what are
known the street extension cases were
tried. the cases came before Judge Cox in
the District court, and. after he had de-
cided the law unconstitutional, that decis-
ion was reversed bv the Court of Appeals
which tribunal held tnat while no assess
mentS for benefits could be maintained, III
other respects the law is valid one From
that decision both sides appealed to the
United States Supreme Court, and that
court now has the whole law under con-
sideration, the cases having been argued
before IL a few weeks ago. Another inter-
esting case was that instituted by Mrs
Mary kemball Slack for the possession Of
OF Appeals. that court decided that she
was entitled to her little ones, decision
which the United States Supreme Court
deClired to reverse.
IL the case of Mr.. ElYerton r Chairman
who was convicted early in the year for re-
fusirg to answer certain inquiries pro-
poLrded by the Senate sugar trust inyes-
tigating committee, the Cour. of Appeals
ha la n iah Mr.
man was convicted. A writ of error was
sued cut to The United States Supreme
Court. which court dismissed the writ
holding that in all criminal cases arising
in the District of Columbia the Court of
Appeals is the court of last resort, and
that, too. whether there be a federal or
Con: titrtfcnal question involved or not
OF the two score more indictments
returned against alleged violators of the
ole0margarine laws, some twelve of the
cases were disposed of. In four of the
cases verdict of not guilty was returned,
IN 1cur verdict Of guilty was returned,
In one case the jury failed to agree in
two cases the defendants pleaded guilty.
and In another case the charge was nolle
United States Supreme Court on habeas
corpus proceedings.
Miss Elizabeth NJ. F1agler who was IL
dicted for manslaughter for shooting a
small colored boy, pleaded guilty to iuyoi-
untf ry mansiaughter, and was sentenced
by Judge Cox to pay a fine of 500 and De
imprisoned in Jail for three hours, which
sentence was carried into effect Irwin
Ford. colCred, was convicted of the murder
OF Elsie kreglo, and hanged the 18th Of
July, the culprit being captured. indicted,
tried and punished in the shortest period
krc wn In the history of the local courts
Benjamin H. Miliiken, charged with break
ing into the house of Judge Samuel F.
Phillips. was acquitted after an unusually
Interesting trial The mysterfously for
warded paper. alleged to have been the
WI! Of the late Judge Advocate General
Joseph Holt. was declared by a jury not
10 have been written or signed by him.
Judge Cole. in the case Of the United
States Electric Lighting Company against
the District Commissioners and the Poto-
mac Electric Power Company. refused to
enjoin the defendants from entering
east OF Rock creek. The Judge also re-
fused TO enJoin the Commissioners from
permitting the defendant company to oc-
cupy said territory. and the Court of APP
Judge Coles decision. In decisions by
Judge Cox and Judge Bradley it was held
that the trial by jury guaranteed by the
Constitution cannot be had before District
justices of the peace. 1t was also held
that the District Supreme Court can re-
View. on appeal cases tried by Justices of
the peace before juries. These decisions
are radical departures from those hitherto
prevailing.
During the year 1896 there were 1.512 law
suits filed. as against .725 filed during 1898.
1INAAHB 1870 tneTe were NO equity suits
filed. of which 221 were suits for divorce
while IN 1896 there were $50 equity suits
Iied, OF which pa were divorce cases The
number OF lunacy cases filed during 1895
was III. the number filed during 1896 be-
Ing lis During 1898 1872 criminal cases
were filed. and 46S during 1895 Some 80
CRIMINAL cases were tried during 1895 re-
suitins in 2+0 convictions 81 acaufttais
and . disagreements of the juries During
1926 80 criminal cases were tried result
ing In 81 convictions, 65 acquittais and 4
NisagFeements of the juries. While in 1885
a32I marriage licenses were issued. but
40 were issued during 1895. The number
OF mechanics liens filed durin., lssl5 was
lol, while the number in 1896 jumped to 316
DEATHS.
On the roll of the city's dead for the year
Is found the names of many who were use
1ul Citizens. and those places 1t will be diff
neuit TO NIL. Among those who died are
Dr. James Webb Rogers. Geo. w. Phil
lips. Cryptic PalToni. z. B. Wight, George
White. David W. Mahon. NJ. B. Brady. W.
W. Upton. John Tyler. .jr, Thomas =.
Morgan. DIR. Smith Townsend David Nc
Cleliand. Commander Geo n. Bache, L. s.
NJ Samuel Fowler. William b. Webb,