The Washington times., 1904-01-01

ward Franklin Bingham and Associate
Justice Alexander L. Hagner AS
against this loss, however, the court
counts among its gain the new Associate
Justices Jeter G. Pritchard and Dan
Thew Wright. In speaking of the new
members of the District bench it is not
out of place TO name Justice Ashley NJ
Gould among them. as. although nomi-
mated November, 1902, he did not under
take his judicial duties until January
1908
Justice Wright, who was only recently
appointed to the District bench, has al
ready sprung into prominence through
his connection with the Moss contempt
pl cceedings.
Despite the fact that from June 80 last
until about the middle OF last month the
vacancy on the District bench caused
blythe retirement of Justice Hagner, was
not filled. a great deal of work was done
by the members of the court not only
in that period, but also in the entire
year. An idea OF the amount OF work
may be gained by a casual reference to
the dockets in the different branches of
the court. Six hundred and ninety
nine causes have been begun in the
equity branch, and &c suits entered in
the law side.
sssesg Criminal Case Record.
Reference to the docl1ets in the crimi-
nal division Of the court shows 474 crirni-
nal prosecutions begun. Some of these
are what are known as original cases
aud others are those brought up from
inferior courts on preliminary proceed
ings. Most of these cases have already
been disposed OF in one or the other of
~ rY,frf al
OF the court. Besides the prosecutions
which originated during the year,
large number of others which had come
over or were brought over from the pre-
ceding year have also been disposed of
in the last twelve months.
There are still. however, a large num-
Der Of important cases on the dockets
in the different branches Of the court
which it was impossible TO dispose Of
last year. Among these are the larger
number Of criminal prosecutions grow
ing out Of the investigation conducted
by the Postoffice Department. Indian
land cases, involving the title to mil
lions of acres Of land in the West; a
large number of criminal cases. the
most important of which is that of Au-
gustus L. Shaffer. indicted for the muir
der Of his wife. Catherine l. Shaffer. in
August last, and a dozen or more causes
on the equity side OF the court. known
as postorfice second class mail matter
cases
On the law side Of the court a large
number OF suits for damages have been
entered The most important OF these,
at least, so far as the amount involved
Is concerned. is that Of Robert Burton
and George A Dubrueil against United
States Senator Stephen B. Elkins to
recover $4,000 for legal services said
TO have been given the defendant
In District Branch.
Another division Of the court. known
as the District branch. Is one in which
a great deal Of important matter is con-
sidered: in this branch all matters per =
tanning to bankruptcy and the condem-
nation OF lands for public and private
uses are considered. In the past year
hfty-ive petitions in bankruptcy have
been fled. The majority of them were
voluntary petitions.
great deal Of the time Of this branch
OF the court was taken up during the
summer and winter in considering the
applications for the condemnation Of
lands for the use OF the United States
as site for q building for committee
rooms OF the House OF Representatives
and the Washington Terminal Company
a. a site for the Union station and for
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Com
pany for the purpose OF extending its
freight facliIues.
While the branches of the District
Supreme Court mentioned have been
doing a good business all year there Is
Sill another department Of the court.
the clerks Office. in which there is al
ways great activity in the way Of issu-
ing marriage licenses. In the past twelve
months there have been issued more
than $3.50 which is an average of about
sixteen for each working day in the
year.
Many Criminal Cases.
Some of the cases disposed of in the
criminal branches of the court are
Marcellus Cole. convicted Of murder In
the second degree. sentenced 10 i'm
prisonment for life; Lawrence Norman,
convicted OF murder ia the second de-
gree and sentenced 10 Imprisonment
for life: Thomas n Joyce, muir
der IN the second degree. imprison-
ment IN the penitentiary for twenty
five years; George Howard. murder in
the second degree. imprisonment for
thirty-two years.
The only person convicted Of murder
IN the past year and hanged I'm the
District was benjamin G. Hill. He was
convicted Of the murder OF his wife
Carrie Theoda Hill. whom he shot 10
death az their home I'm Missouri Avenue
Elijah Chapman was hanged in the
District jail in January last He was
however, convicted or the crime IN the
latter part OF 1902
There is a prisoner I'm jail now under
sentence Of death. He is John w. Bur.
ley. a negro. who was convicted OF
criminal assault. The jury which found
him guilty also imposed the penalty OF
death. which It had authority to do IN
der the District code Andrew Holland
negro. who pleaded guilty 70 a SINH.
lar offense. was sentenced by Justice
Pntchard 10 twenty-five years in the
penitentiary. John c. Smith, the negro
who held up the cashier I'm an uptown
cafe and robbed him and then shot and
wounded Policeman Osburn. who at.
tempted TO arrest him, is serving 3
twenty-fve-years term OF Imprisonment
In the penitentiary. Smith pleaded gull
~ to two indictments for assault with
intent to Kill
jenkins Hart. convicted in April las
OF bad violation OF the law, is now
serving a term Of thirty years I'm IN,
penitentiary.
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