The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-17
IN THE DISTRICT COURTS.
Mnny Cases to Be Disposed of During
the Fall Term.

the Fall Term.
The grand jury drawn for the June term
of the Supreme Court of the District,
which took a recess in July last, will re-
sumo its work today, preparatory to the
opening OF the criminal branches of the
court on the first Monday in October
Since the jury filed its last report great
deal of work has accumulated, and from
now until the beginning OF the next term
CT the Supreme Court 1t will no doubt be
kept very busy.
There are four prisoners in Jail he'd on
charges of murder, whose cases will be
investigated by the grand jury during the
next two weeks. Besides, there are be-
tween twenty and twenty-five persons
held on charges of grand larceny, fifteen
charged with housebreaking. about the
same number charged with obtaining
goods ard receiving money under salse
pretences, and two are held for emtezzle-
ment. There are two persons charged
with violation OF the law of the age of
consent. three for attempting to assault
women, and two fer adultery. There are
also ten prisoners in jail on charges of
assault with intent to kill, and one for
highway robbery.
The investigation of these cases is likely
to keep the grand jury busy for the re-
mainder OF the June term of court Jurors
for the circuit and criminal branches of
the Supreme Court for the District will
be summoned to report on the first Tues
day in October, and at the same time a
new grand jury for the term will be
drawn. In the event that the present
grand jury does net complete the inves-
tigation of the cases which will be pre-
sented to 1t, the work will be continued by
the new jury without loss of time.
1t is customary at the beginning of a
term in the criminal branches of the Su-
preme Court of the District, to set some
of the cases of minor Importance for trial
during the first few days of the week.
This custom will no doubt prevail during
the coming term, except in Criminal Court
No. l, where, according to an agreement
reached prior to the taking of recess, last
July, it was determined by Justice Cla-
baugh that as soon as practicable upon
the conyening of the court in October.
James Lanckton, who is charged with the
murder of Mrs. Bette Wrenn In March
last, should be put on trial. An effort
was made during the closing weeks OF the
June term of Criminal Court No. l to
bring this case to trial, but postpone
ment was granted at the request of coun-
sci for the defence on the ground that the
presence of witnesses material to the
proper defence of the prisoner could not
be secured at that time. When the mo-
tion for delay was first submitted to the
court the time was extended for a week.
but at the end of that period the same
reason was submitted as ground for fur
ther delay. The request was granted by
Justice Clabaugh, with the distinct under
standing with counsel for the defendant
that Lanckton would be called to trial
as early as possible after the convening
of the October term of the court. Lanck-
ton is charged with having assaulted Mrs.
Wrenn on March Il, last, and from the
wounds and bruises inflicted it is alleged
that she died some days later. The cause
of the assault is said to have been Mrs.
Wrenn's refusal to marry Lanckton
While 1t has not been stated exactly
what will be the line of the defence, 1t
was intimated when the case was under
discussion in court last summer that
Lanckton would probably make plea of
insanity.
1t is also expected that the case OF
Orlan Clyde Cullen. who is charged with
libel Of Adjutant General Corbin. will be
called to trial during ihe early part of
the coming tern of court. The charge
against Patrick Mann of maintaining
nuisance near Giesboro Point will proba-
bly, come up for trial during the month
of November.
In the equity branches of the court the
two most important matters which will
be disposed of are the Standard Oil Com
pany case and the Brown eourt-martial
case The former was argued before JUS
tice Barnard in the early part of the
summer and it is expected that he will
announce his decision during the first
week of the October term of the court
The litigation against the Standard Oil
Company was at the instance of Messrs.
Oeser and Downing, who asked the court
to enjon the defendant from using GER
tain oil tank built upon its premises in
South Washington for the purpose of
storing oils on the ground that it was
dangerous to property in the vicinity and
injurious to the health of the residents
of that section of the city.