The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1901-10-11
SOME FREAK CASES.
PECULIAR SUITS U. s. HAS TAKEN
INTO COURT.


BY following his rigid rule Of for
ever standing up for his rights, Uncle
Sam becomes involved in some peculiar
cases. on numerous occasions, for in
stance, he has sued inanimate objects
and dumb animals, and as a result the
treasury is greatly benefited. He is
busy, just now, prosecuting numerous
freak suits against inanimate things
and animals. These helpless lawbreak
breakers are held as defendants, just
as though they were human beings.
They are imprisoned in the custody Of
the court. and lawyers eloquently re-
cite their miodeeds, for they are Of
tenders In the u~nsparing eye Of the
law.
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 we're poured into the treasury
as the result Of this auction. Uncle
Sam lately sued 1881 diamonds, cut,
etc" suspected Of having been snug
gled into Michigan. but the District
court dismissed the case, and they
were liberated from the custody Of the
United States marshal. "The United
States VS.. one diamond and pearl
bracelet, one diamond and pearl brooch
with pendant, one pair diamond and
pearl earrings and one diamond
brooch" was the title Of a case which
lately went against the aforesaid jew
els in the district court Of New Jer-
sey. They we're held guilty for allow
ing 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 within the past two years. They
were all accused of coming into the
country in violation Of the quarantine
laws. In these cases it was deemed
impracticable to commit the defend
ants to Jail, like common human Of
tenders, or to lock them up In the
marshal'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 enterprising jour
nalistic interviewers. There being nc
docks in the courts to suitably accom-
modate them, they were denied an ear
in their own trials and had to entrusI
their cases entirely to their counsel
The greater number we're found guilty
and sentenced to pass under the ham
mer. THE United States VS.. 1.73t
pounds adulterated a~ssafoetida" was q
sensational case which lately called
forth an eloquent and profound opin.
ion from the circuit court of the east
ern division Of Michigan. The defend
ant when produced before the digniheC
tribunal demonstrated so loudly tina
the spectators saw fit to clear the
court and take to the fresh air Of hea,
ven. The records show that the hon.
orable court sentenced the defendan
ito condemnation and destruction" II
the federal supreme court is pending
the case of the United States VS.. Ger
tain vessels painted white held 70.
violating the law forbidding the impor
tation Of firearms into Alaska. 4
similar case Tvs. one certain vesse
painted light drab," was lately decid
ed against the defendant, and she wa.
sentenced to forfeiture and sale" Blu
when Uncle Sam came to carry GU
the decree of the court he found tina
she had escaped from the custody o
the authorities. The government ha
sued numerous %schooners, tugs, steam
boats and other water craft in recen
years. Cases in which a schooner an
a tug are held as defendants are pend
ing in the supreme court. Five photo
graphs were recently sued in Califor
mia, t%wenty-one in New Jersey an
zone lot" in Porto Rico. All of thes
pictures are accused of immortality, an
were sentenced to destruction b
fire" "One gross Of immoral articles,
recently defendants in a Porto Rica
case, suffered like punishment.
Areas of land appear as defendant
in many cases before the federi
courts. In the circuit court Of Rhod
Island was recently heard the Unite
States against certain lands in James
town" and against certain lands !
Boston Neck" These properties weI
defendants in condemnation proceed
ings, the government desiring the.
use.