El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-07-19
From Various Exch anges.
Dumping Gas Unlawful.
XANS<~ANX/<N%O

The supreme court of Iadiana hand
ed down q decisi n OF unusual impOr t.
ance one day last week. II decides
that the use of pumps to increase the
flow of natural gas from wells is unlsw-
full and must be discou tiuued imme-
diately. 1t holds that the natural gas
is contained In common subterranean
reservoir; that all the owners OF the
soil everything this reservoir have equal
rights in It's contents: and that no one OF
them may rightfully do anything 10
acquire an undue proportion OF the
common stock of gas, to the detr1ment
of the others.1' 1t Is supposed that the
question will go up to the supreme
court of the United States on appeal.
The indianapolis News: evidently
thinks it ought to. The effect" re-
marks that very Intelligent contempo-
rary. "of the decision If it shall be sus-
tained-and If it means all that it seems
to mean-will be practically to limit
the use Of natural gas to the people 1V-
Ing In the gas field.
Rights of WheeIman.
Probably, in time, the status and
rights of the wheelman in city streets
and on country roads will be definitely
determined. Until then he must pcs
sess his soul in patience and wary
vigilance. If recent New York and
Pennsylvania decisions have encour-
aged him, here is Massachusetts, one
that will make him cit up. The
supreme ldicial court OF the common
wealth just north of US says
that in the contemplation of Mas
saohusetts law u bicycle is machine
and not q carriage. 1T is," remark
the learned Justices, "because ordinary
roads are not considered suitable for
bicycles that cities and towns are given
the power by thestatutes of 1898. chap.
351, to lay out, construct and msintatn
paths for bicycles. And the statute of
1899, chap. 484, makes it a misdemean-
or to trespass upon cycle path by
driving thereon with horse or other
animal, except to cross the same.'
A Judicial Precedent
Twenty-four years ago John B.
Sharpe, citizsn of South Carolina.
married wife. Six years ago she left
him, going to Utan. Soon after, John
applied to Utah court for divorce
q vinculo matrimonii, and got it. Then
John, still in Georgia, married Maggie
O'Brien. Abouta year ago he returned
to his old home in South Carolina, his
new wife accompanying him. They were
indicted for adultery, and last week
Circuit Judge Clough quashed the 10
utCbheub ne says tudk Ine ACL OI GlS
Utah court in granting the divorce is
binding upon the South Carolina
courts. This is said to be the first jul
dicisl recognition of the validity of a
divorce SO obtained outside the limits
of the state-whose boast has been
that her laws make no provision for
the dissolution OF the marriage bond
In South Cardinals history.
Juries of Less Than Six Men
The trial OF a case in Justice court
before jury of less than six persons
has been held by the supreme court
of Michigan not to be in violation of
the law. The court said that the
constitution of the State provides
that jury in a court OF record may
consist of less than twelve man, and
that the defendant might entirely
waive trial by jury and hence could
consent TO trial oy less than six men.
This was case charging the defendant