The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-05
ODD DEFENDANTS CITED
DUMB ANIMALS n INANIMATE
THINGS ARE SUED.
Diamonds and Acres of Land. Photo
graphs and Shoes and other
Things-Monkey as "a Witness.

numerous freak suits against inanimate
things and dumb animals. These helpless
lawbreakers are held as defendants, just
as though they were human beings. They
are imprisoned in the custody of the court
and lawyers eloquently recite their mis-
deeds. for they are TENDERS in the I'M
spariIg eye of the law.
THE United States VS.. fourteen dia-
monds," is the title of the case which will
decide the status of the Philippine islands.
1t is pending before the Supreme Court Of
the United States The misdeeds of these
rings are so serious and the case against
them Is so complicated that the most
digniied judicial body of the land has de-
cided that 1t must scratch its wise head
over them during the summer vacation.
Uncle Sam made a snug fortune by suing
fifteen packages of diamonds smuggled last
June through Niagara. A few days ago
the Federal Court Of the western New York
district sentenced them to be sold. Thirty
one thousand dollars were poured into the
treasury as the result Of this auction. Uncle
Sam lately sued ''5Sl diamonds. cut. ETC.
suspected of having been smuggled into
Michigan, but the district court dismissed
the case, and they were liberated fzom the
custody of the United States marshal. 1.-The
United States VS.. one diamond and pearl
bracelet, one diamond and pearl brooch
with pendant. one pair diamond and pear!
earrings and one diamond brooch" was the
title of a case which lately went against
the aforesaid jewels in the District Court
or New Jersey. They were held guilty of
allowing themselves to be struggled and
were sent down TO the auctioneer.
Misbehaving cattle have troubled Uncle
Sam TO a serious degree of late. He has
arrested and tried no less than 1,023 with
In the mast two VaarC Thew vrara oil an-
cused of coming into the country in viola
ton or the quarantine laws. In these cases
1t was deemed impracticable to commit
the defendants to Jail, like common human
Offenders. or to lock them up in the mar
shal's safe, as the diamond rings were
treated. The government had to hire a pen
wherein they could be kept under constant
surveillance and out of the way of the en-
terprising journalistic interviewers. There
being no docks in the courts TO suitably
accommodate them. they were denied an
their cases entirely to their counsel. The
greater number were found guilty and SER
tepEed to pass under the hammer.
The United States VS.. LIS pounds adul-
terated asafoetida" was a sensational case
which lately called forth an eloquent and
profound opinion from the Circuit Court of
PENDANT when produced before the digni6ed
tribunal demonstrated so loudly that the
spectators saw fit to clear the court and
ord shows that the honorable court SEN
fenced the defendant TO condemnation and
destruction"
VESSELS PAINTED WHITE"
In the Federal Supreme Court is pending
the case of the United States VS.. certain
vessels painted white" held for violating
the law ~forbidding the importation of fire.
arms into Alaska. A similar case Tvs. one
certain vessel painted light drab' was
lately decided against the defendant, and
she was sentenced to forfeiture and sale"
But when Uncle Sam came to carry out the
decree of the court he found that she had
escaped from the custody of the authori-
ties. The government has sued numerous
schooners. tugs, steamboats, and other
water craft in recent years. Cases in which
a schooner and a tug are held as defend
ants are pending in the Supreme Court.
THE United States VS.. 4SS pairs of shoes"
is an important case now before the Dis
trict Court Of Porto Rico The defendants
are held for a violation of the customs
laws. The United States VS.. one new
double wagon" ponds in the District Court
of Eastern Michigan. The defendant vas
concealed and brought across the Canadian
border when liable TO seizure.
In New Jersey was recently tried a fed
eral case Tvs. one trunk containing five
metal belts. one puff box and other ar
%ticies,' seized for nonpayment of duty. and
another Tvs. one case Of five ladies' capes,
etc." held on a similar charge. The gov
eminent versus lone package Of artificial
Violet, one DdChdSc u hOW pC4luHlcly,
'.2SS packages of Merry World smoking
seed" fourteen bales of WOOL two
packages of glassware '149 schoolbooks'
bags are cases pending or recently dis
posed of in the federal courts. The United
States against lone distillery" is a recent
internal revenue case
Five photographs were recently sued in
California, twenty-one in New jersey and
"one lot in Porto Rico. All of these pic
t,,ro- onPICn6 nf inn mnr0lfV and
were sentenced TO destruction by fire."
lone gross of immoral articles" recent
defendants in a Porto Rican case, suffered
like punishment.
..Fifty-three boxes. each containing five
taels of prepared opium are held as de-
PENDANTS in a case now before the Supreme
Court. In California $50 tins of prepared
opium were lately sued. These cases re-
suit, of course, from smuggling.
Areas of land appear as defendants in
many. cases before the Federal Courts. In
the Circuit Court of Rhode Island was re-
Gently heard 1.-The United States VS.. GER
tain lands in jamestown" and Tvs. GER
tain lands at Boston Neck" These prop
critics were defendants in condemnation
proceedings, the government desiring their
use.
There are numerous cases wherein IMAM
innate things turn the tables and sue Uncle
Sam. For instance. there are prize cases
pending in the Southern District Court Of
Florida entitled 1.-The steamship Nenito
Estenger. appellant. VS.. the United
ldA0o aAA III bDVAe Ot0 u
VS.. the United States"
An entire town in New Mexico is suing
Uncle Sam. The title Of this case Is 1.-The
town of Rael de Dolores de- ORC VS.. the
United States
All of these suits wherein inanimaie
things and dumb animals are defendants
belong TO the civil category. There is no
record of a criminal suit against a brute
OF the lower biological classification or
against a scion of the vegetable or mineral
families. The greater number OF such de-
PENDANTS are held for forfeiture as a result
must be tried separately. IL tried ar all.
Some are held in default of payment OF
fines on the part of their owners. In all
such cases the goods alone can be sued.
there being no other defendant liable to
forfeiture.
OWNERS AS CLAIMANTS.
OF course. such defendants cannot defend
themselves. After their seizure the own
ers. if of the opinion that the forfeiture
would be unjust. can come forward and
defend them. In such a case the owner IL
added to the title of the suit. as Richard
Roe. claimant for instance. In the
fourteen diamond rings case is added til.
name "Pepke, claimant"
The procedure in such cases is according
TO a prescribed routine. After the seizure
of the articles by a federal official they arc
turned over 10 a United States marshal.
and are to all intents and purposes impris-
oned. Within a certain time the govern
ment's attorney moves the court that they
be sold or destroyed. as the case may be.
The sentence is carried out either by an
auctioneer. as in the case OF a sale. or ay
the marshal himself. as In the case OF de-
struction. Practically all confiscated arti-