The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-01-15
IN AND ABOUT THE COURTS
YESTERDAY VAS A BIG DAT IN
 ALL THE COURTS.
Denton, Shay and Sykes Go to Prison Stay of Execution Against Samuel
 Shore-An Unusual Order by Judge Elmer-Matters in the Common Pleas

Elmer-Matters in the Common Pleas
 and City Courts.
 Notices of two actions brought ill ad- miralty to recover damages from the city of New Haven for alleged delay and detaining of two tugs a steam canal boat, and two canal boats by reason of the failure of the city Co op- crate the drawbridge over Mill river at Chapel street in February and May last were served upon City Clerk Nor ris yesterday by Deputy United States Marshal Bowen.
 The actions are brought by Attorney James D. Dewell, proctor for the libel- lants, Charles H. Castle of Brooklyn, N. r., owner of the steam canal boat c. l.. Haines, and the canal boats 'Buf- falo Inquirer" and "Warner-Miller Company" and for the New Haven Towing company, owner of the steam tugs J. P. Henderson and James H. Hogan.
 The complaint set up that respond ent the city. was bound to keep the drawbridge in proper repair and to so maintain and operate the Chapel street drawbridge as to afford at all times free passage for vessels through the same in either direction but that the city wilfully and negligently failed to properly maintain, operate and repair the same and wilfully and negligently permitted it to be out of repair by reason whereof the draw could not be operated and opened on February 22, 1900, and on May 2S, "A, 25 and 26, 1901, thereby obstructing the river and pre- venting the passage of vessels through the drawbridge in either direction.
 In the complaint for the owners of the tugs Henderson and Hogan it is alleged that the Henderson was de- tained for about twelve hours on Feb ruary 22 1900, and that the Hogan was so delayed from 4 o'clock in the after noon of May 23, 1901. to about 10 o'clock in the forenoon of May 26, 1901, and that the captains of the tugs were informed by the bridge tender that the draw could not be opened because of some defects in the gear wheels and that the captain of the Hogan on each of the days during which that boat was delayed signalled the bridge tender
 
 through the drawbridge but was at all such times informed that the draw was out of order and could not be opened. For the delay of the Henderson and the Hogan $275 Is alleged as the amount of damages
 The complaint for the owner of the steam canal boat c. s. Haines and the canal boats Buffalo Inquirer and Warner Miller Company alleges that the Haines was detained below the drawbridge May 24 25 26 1901 and that because of the libelants being un- able to get through the draw with the tseam canal boat Haines he was un- able to unload the canal boats "Buf- flo- Inquirer and Warner Miller l Company and that because of such in- 1 ability the canal boats were delayed be- | low the bridge May 24, 25 and 26. By | reason of this delay the libellant all | eges that he suffered special pecuniary damages to the amount of s225.
 The libellant asks that a monition ! may issue against the city and that it may be cited to appear and answer the 1 
 Before Judge Elmer in the criminal | superior court yesterday the three young men, William H. Sykes, James Denton and Thomas F. Shea, pleaded guilty to charges of theft of sealskin from Brooks St Co.
 The attorneys, Fitzgerald for Shea, and O'Connor for Sykes, md P w. Chase for Denton, each ap- 1ealed for mercy for their clients.
 The condition of Shea, a consumptive, vas dwelt upon especially in the ar ,uments.
 Judge Elmer imposed the following entences: Sykes not more than three IT less than one year; Denton, not more han four years or less than two, and Shea not more than three or less than me year, all to be served in the state ,rison
 The convicted men were surrounded y their friends who were in the court n legions.