The times., 1900-12-24
IN THE DISTRICT COURTS
A Review of the Work Done Dur
ing the Past Year.
Decisions in the Standard Oil and
the Potomac Telephone Company
four Murder Trials in the Criminal
Branch During Twelve Months.

The work of the Supreme Court of the
District for the year 1900 was practically
ended on Saturday. With the exception Of
Circuit Court No. q presided over by
Justice Bradley, there will be no regu-
lar sessions held in any OF the Dis
trict courts during the coming week.
In Circuit Court No. 2 suit for
damages for libel is on trial, and Justice
Bradley ordered that the hearing be pro-
ceeded with on Wednesday. In the other
branches of the court the Justices pre-
siding VIII sign such orders and DEGREES
as demand immediate consideration. The
offices of the Clerk Of Court, Register OF
Wills, Recorder of Deeds, and the United
States Marshal for the District will, how
ever, be open as usual every day except
Christmas.
During the year a great many important
cases have been disposed OF in the differ
ent branches Of the Supreme Court Of the
District Among these may be mentioned
the Standard OIL cases, which were con-
sidered by Justice Barnard. In these pro-
ceedings, It will be remembered that resi-
dents OF Southwest Washington petitioned
the court to restrain the Standard Oh
Company from maintaining its plant at its
present location on the ground that 1t was
dangerous to the safety of property in its
vicinity and unhealthful to residents Of
that neighborhood. The petition for in
junction was denied by the court. Another
matter in which the residents and business
men of the city are greatly interested is
the litigation instituted by large num-
Der OF the patrons of the Chesapeake and
Potomac Telephone Company against that
corporation TO compel it TO regulate its
rates for service according to the act OF
Congress of June 80, 1898. The act referred
to fixes the highest price to be charged
| for the use of d single telephone instru-
ment IN the District at $50 per annum
| This matter was considered by Justice
| Cole. presiding in Equity Court No. 2, who
denied the petition of the telephone sub
, scribers. Counsel for the patrons of the
| Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Com
pany filed notice of an appeal to the Court
| of Appeals for the District. The Godfrey
Dutton suit, involving the possession and
| ownership of valuable real estate on Con-
| necticut Avenue was heard by Justice
| Hagner, presiding in Circuit Court No. 2.
| The defendant, Dutton. IL was alleged, had
| obtained possession of the property in
| question through false pretences. He was
| indicted eriminally in the New York State
| courts and convicted and sentenced TO six
| years Imprisonment in the penitentary:
| In Cfrcnit Court No. ! Chief Justice
Bingham conducted the proceedings in
the suits of the Sir W. G. Armstrong
| Whitworth Co. Limited, of England,
| against certain officers of the American
| Navy for damages for the alleged In
| fringement of patent for trunnion
| bearings used in the construction OF
heavy guns. During the last years JUS
| tics Bradley has several times been call
| ed upon to decide questions of interes,
| in connection with proceedings for
habeas corpus. The most important OF
these was as to the right Of a local