The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-05-22
CASES BEFORE.
JUDGEJ0 JOHN P AU.L.
The Cumberland Gap Tunnel Cases
Settled Out of Court.
CRIMINAL TERM REDu cED
Reform in Matter of sum,noning Petit
Jurors-Col. Fulkerson Surprises
His Friends by Rapid Re
turn to Health.
CRIMINAL TERM REDU CED !.

ABINGDON, VA, May 2l-Speciai.-
The May term of the United States Court
for Abingdon closed for the term on sat
urday last Some impor tant ciVli BUSINESS
was transacted. The cases !nvotNii'S ti'ie
to the great Cumberland Gap runner nav
ing been settled on private terms between
the parties, were dismissed. each party
paying its own costs.
The suit of the executor OF the lale
Hobart Miller, of Coeburn, against the
Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance COM
pany OF Milwaukee, Wis., was oecloeu
IN favor OF the defendant, but VIII .'foo-
ably be appealed. 1t involved me cottec-
ton OF a 5000 life policy which was -'et-
fected and approved By the locai aren't
of the company, but rejected by nome
officers of the company. Mr.. Miller having
died between his payment OF tae premium
to the local agent ard the action OF the
home company.
The action between the Douglas Com
pany ana the State of Virginia over an
Injunction stopping the sale OF large lot
of timber for the collection OF some $l.2oO
of back taxes by Stone, late treasurer OF
Snyth county, was argued and submitted,
and a decision will nat likely be rendered
before the October term
CRIMINAL TERM REDUCED.
Heretofore the first seven days Of the
court were devoted 20 the grand jury
and the trial of criminal cases. This was
by order of the court reduced to the !irst
five days of the term.
The court also decided to cause here
after enough OF petit jurors to be SIM
moned to each term to provide for any
probable vacancies caused by absenteeism.
This VIII uproot the practice of filling
vacancies of the kind after the court has
opened Hereafter all jurors will be regu-
lary drawn from the box and none sum
lnoned otherwise.
AT the opening of the term there were
seventy-thrce cases on the criminal
docket. The grand jury, with Hon. j. d.
Honaker, as foreman returned seventy
six new indictments. making tota! Of
149 cases. Under the able and energetic
action Of the United States Attorney,
Judge T. NJ. Anderson, the docket has
been reducted to eishty-four, sixty-f1ve
cases having been disposed of. OF this
number forty-nine plead guilty, and five
were convicted by juries. Nine cases were
nolle pressed and six were acquitted by
juries. Total, fifty convictions. and only
fifteen acquittals. Which is a most credit
able exhibit for the United States Attor-
ney.
JUDGE PAUL.
Judge Jaul was in fine physical condi-
ton, despite the grip, and dispatched work
with a rapidly which has given him
quite a reputation among the members of
the bar
The condition of Colonel Abram Fulker-
son, of Bristol. is such as to have aston
ished his physician and friends he being
now able to get about with fair facility.
and having recovered from any mental
trouble.
Work on the Damascus Railroad is be-
ing prosecuted with great vigor.
am told the Abingdon Electric Light
and Water Company Will go to sale in a
few days, leading to reorganization on
a more efficient basis.
There promises now to- be a great fruit
crop in this section of the country ard
a remarkable crop Of beverage known as
apple jack.
The wheat crop never looked or prom
ised better.