The times., 1901-04-01
IN THE DISTRICT COURTS
Hearing of the Reopened Potomac
Flats Cases Postponed.
Appeals of Boyd wallace toiore"'
Sentenced to Hang, ana james
rnnckton Convicted OF Null
sI,u-hter Trial of q. IL. Davis.

Sentenced ts Hang, and James
r,ncl.tou. Convicted of Man
slaughter Trial of q. IL. Davis
The hearing of the application OF DIS
trict Attorney Thomas Fl. Anderson iof
the reopeninE of what are known as INC
Potomac Flats cases. which was to have
been commenced before Justice Hagher'
presiding in the District Court, Wednes-
day next, has been postponed unth Aprtl
II. The delay is caused by the illness el
J,,s,ica Haguer, who was confined to ms
home several days last week. HIS co''ui.
ton was such as to make Il uncertain II
he would be able to attend to his judicial
duties during the coming week ana TOT
this reason Mr. Anderson asked that the
matter go over until the date named.
,rhe purpose of reopeuing the cases Is
to determine the value OF the WHAT
property on the District side of the Po-
| tomac River. According to the decision
| of the supreme Court of the Cnitea
States the land upon which all the I'M
! prOvemcnts along the river front were
| made belongs to the Government 1he
! wharf property. however. may be CON
| sidered as being In two parts. that which
/ lies over the water and that built upon
/ the land adjoining.
! The proceedings which will follow the
1
motion of District Attorney Anderson for
the reopening of the case, will he III the
nature of a rule to show cause issued
| against the occupants and those claim
| ing ownership of the wharf property re-
! quiring them to show why they should
| not surrender possession of the proper
| ~ TO the Government.
! A week or ten days ago, when District
Attorney Anderson decided to file mo-
ton asking for the reopening of the case,
he served copy of the following notice
I upon those in possession of or claiming
ownership in wharf property along the
river front:
BY the terms of section ] of the act of
| Congress- approved March g. 1899, entitled
An act relative to the control Of wharf
property and certain public spaces within
the District of Columbia it is provided
that the Commissioners of the District
| Of Columbia shall have the exclusive
| charge and control of all wharf property
| belonging to the United States or to the
District Of Columbia, within said Dis
trict including all wharves. piers, bulk
heads. and structures thereon, and water
adjacent thereto within the pier lines. and
all slips, basins, docks. water fronts, land
under water. and structures thereon, eH-
cept as to the wharf property, etc, along
J
ing from the north line of the Arsenal
grounds to the southern curb line Of n
Street south, which is placed under the
immediate jurisdiction and control Of the
Chief of Engineers.
"Other provisions of this act confer
upon said Commissioners and upon said
| Chief Of Engineers power and authority
! to make all needful rules and regula-
tiens FOR the government and proper care
Of all the property placed in their charge
and under their respective control by the
provisions Of section Of this act, anu
TO make and enforce rules and reGuia-
tions in regard to building and repairing
yyharNes, the rental thereof, and the rate
or Wharfage
Il am informed 10y the Commissioners
and b.- the Chief Of Engineers that since
the passage of this act you have made
no arrangement with them in regard to
the payment of rent for the wharf prop
ertN- on the Potomac River which has
been ia your possession and occupation,
and as IL was obviously the intention of
Congress that such possession and occu-
nation should be upon the basis OF pay
raent Of rental, / now beg leave to notify
l YOU that ia the proceedings 70 ne MO
under the act approved March :, ls'i
entitled An act relative to the SUIT IN
stituted for the protection or the lhleI-
= esfs of the United States in the Potomac
River Flats, | SHAH on the 90 ual
as soon thereafter as the same car
g be heard, make application to tn
o. court in the case OF the l iiiLSe
states VS. M F. Morris and others. in
Q ! stituted under the act OF Congress entl
! tied An act TO provide for protecting IN
j interests of the United States in the 20
1 toynac River fats approved August 5
= 1886 and recently remanded by the Su
Il preme Court OF the United states 70 Tn IN
= hla in order to carry out said mandat
q and also TO carry into full effect the pro
< visions of act of Congress approVc'
4 March 3, 1899. for rule upon you 10 shoV
IA cause why your said possession aud oc
( cupancy of said wharf property shall no
cease and terminate and the same b
. forthwith surrendered TO the Unite'
n You are also hereby notified that T.
5 the further proceeding to he had uide
= said act approved March ?. 1901, shal
q claim on behalf of the United States as
II offset to any finding in your favor for tn
+ value Of wharf structures and Improve
= nents the reasonable value Of the use an
n occupation which you nave had OF IN
n I property OF the United States from a
- least the date Of the passage OF said &C
! of Congress approved March 3. 1899. unit
| your said possession and occupancy q
said wharf property shall have been dul
! surrendered to the United States.
: THOMAS II. ANDERSON,
Attorney of the United States in and f.
= the District Of Columbia.
TWO appeals from the judgment Of th
Criminal Branch Of the Supreme Cour
- Of the District Will come up for hearin
= during the current week i'll the Court q
l- Appeals for the District one is the ap
, neal of Boyd Wallace. cOlOred, who
under sentence TO be hanged AT the Dis
trict iail for the murder of his half broth
ls er. Robert Stafford, also colOred. ia Al
-- gust last Wallace was convicted j
Criminal Court No. ! and sentenced TO l.
hanged Apri y. He took an appeal I
the higher court and 1t is expected tina
the matter viii come on for hearing tC
morrow or Wednesday.
. It is also expected that the appeal q
James IancktOn. convicted Of manslaugt
y ter and sentenced to Imprisonment in IN
y Uenitentiary for d period of eight years
= will come up for hearing during the LAT
y ter part OF the week. Lanckton was in
: dicted for the murder Of Mrs. Bette |
i. Wrenn, whom, it is alleged, he. Will
: drunk beat To ds1th with his fists on th
!, !, !, !, ]
he never
he was el1
/ counted 4
/ the nigh
fatal in.
| head or
Geora