Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-06-15
Cases in Which Animals or Inanimate
Objects Figure.
ALL SORTS OF THINGS ARE SUED
As a General Rule Uncle Sam is
the Complainant.
A MONKEY AS A WITNESS

Uncle Sam Is busy, just now, prosecuting
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 offenders in the I'M
sparing eye of the law.
THE United States VS.. ii diamond
rings 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 dig
nified judicial body of the land has decided
that it must scratch it's wise hoad over
them during the summer vacation.
Uncle Sam made 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
Thlrty-one thousand dollars were poured
into the treasury as the result Of this auc-
ton. Uncle sam lately sued ISL dia-
monds. cut. ETC., suspected of having been
smuggied 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. 1
diamond and pearl bracelet 1 diamond
mond. and pearl earrings and 1 diamond
brooch" was the title of a case which
lately went against the aforesaid jewels in
the district court of New Jersey They
were held guilty of allowing themselves to
be smuggled and We're sent down to the
auctloneer
Animal Defendants
M1sbehaying cattle have troubled Uncle
Sam to a serious degree of late. He has
arrested and tried no less than O23 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 de-
PENDANTS to Jail, like common human Of
tenders, or to lock them up in the marshal's
safe, as the diamond rings We're treated
The government had to hire a pen wherein
they could be kept under constant suryait-
lance and out of the way of the enterprfs-
ing journalistic interviewers. There being
no docks in the courts to suitably accom-
modate them, they were denied an ear in
their own trials and had to intrust their
cases entirely to their counsel. The greater
number were found guilty and sentenced
to pass under the hammer
The United States VS.. 1,726 pounds adul-
terated asafoetida' was a sensational case
which lately called forth an eloquent and
profound opinion from the circuit court OF
the eastern district of Michigan. The de-
PENDANT when produced before the dignificd
tribunal demonstrated so loudly that the
spectators saw fit to clear the court and
take to the fresh air of heaven. The record
shows that the honorable court sentenced
the defendant to Condemnation and de-
Struction."
Against Vessels.
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 late
ly decided against the defendant, and she
was sentenced to forfeiture and sale" But
when Uncle Sam came to carry out the de-
cree of the court he found that she had es-
capped from the custody of the authorities.
The government has sued numerous schoon-
ers, tugs. Steamboats, and other water craft
In recent years. Cases in which a schooner
and tug are held as defendants are pend
ing in the Supreme Court
The United States VS.. 4SS pairs of
shoes is an important case now before the
district court of Porto Rico. The defend
ants held for violation of the GUS
toms laws. The United States VS.. one new
of eastern Michigan. The defendant was
concealed and brought across the Canadian
border when liable to seizure.
In New Jersey was recently tried a fed
metal belts. one puff box and other artf-
cles, seized for non-payment of duty, and
another VS.. one case of five ladies' capes,
etc. held similar charge The gov
violet, lone package of Row perfumery,"
2SS packages of Merry World smoking to-
bacco, two packages of early York Seed
fourteen bales of wool" two packages Of
glassware" "149 school books" and 'thir-
ty-four bales of empty grain bags are
cases pending or recently disposed of in
against lone distillery" is recent internal
revenue case.
Many Queer Cases.
"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 100 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 the United States agt GER
tain lands in Jamestown" and "agt. GER
tain lands at Boston Neck" These proper
ties were defendants in condemnation pro-
ceedings, the government desiring their
use.
There are numerous cases wherein mani
mate things turn the tables and sue Uncle
Sam. For instance, there are prize cases
pending in the southern district court Of
Florida entitled the steamship Venito
Estenger. appellant. agt: the United
agt. the United States
An entire town in New Mexico is suing
Uncle Sam. The title Of this case Is the
town of Rael de Dolores del Orc agt. the
United States"
In the Civil Category.
All Of these suits wherein inanimate
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 scion of the vegetable or mineral
families. The greater number of such de-
PENDANTS are held for forfeiture as a result
Of violations of law, for which their own
ers must be tried separately, if tried at
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,
~ Nh. III III