The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-29
RECORD OF THE COURTS

The jury in the case of c. W. Austin vs. F. G. Sheppard, on trial in the second division of the city court Judge c. C. lNesmith presiding, awarded the plaintiff $45O0 damages for libel yesterday morn ing, the verdict being one of the heaviest ever given in an Alabama court. MT. Austin entered suit against MT. Sheppard some three years ago for alleged islander, following some friction between the two, which attracted considerable attention at the time. Mr. Austin was at the time inspector for the Southeastern Tariff as sociaton and asserted that several houses owned by MT. Sheppard had defective tiues. After several alleged warnings MT. Sheppard was arrested for violating the city fire ordinances and the case was tried in the police court. MT. Sheppard, after the trial, Is alleged to have cir culated the remark that MT. Austin had not told the truth on the witness stand. This led to the suit It is understood that an appeal will be taken in the case.
 The case of Charles E. Rochester vs. Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company, in which the plaintiff sues for damages for an alleged wrongful assault by one of the defendant eompany's agents, is on trial before Judge Nesmith, in the second division of the city court.
 In the first division of the city court Judge Ferguson presiding, the case of Mrs. Alley Houser, ct al. xs. United Or der of the Golden Cross, is on trial.
 The jury in the case of Dealey Wooley vs. Southern Railway, which case was begun before Judge Sharpe in the third division of the city court Monday after noon, rendered verdict yesterday morn- ing in favor of the plaintiff for s250. The case of Phil Cole vs Western Union Tele- graph company resulted in verdict for $2 in favor of the plaintiff.
 The case of Joseph Brantley, pro ami, vs. St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad company is on trial before Judge Sharpe in the third division of the city court.
 Chancery Court Proceedings.
 In the chancery court petition for the removal of the disabilities of homage was filed yesterday in behalf of Leon TIhrman by w. w. Crawford, guardian.
 The following decrees were rendered in the chancery court yesterday: Rudolph < Richard, ct al, vs. Steiner Bros, com painant, allowed to amend his bill; Will liam E. Watson vs. William Watson, ct al, final decree dvestipg the title of certain real estate out of the defend- ants hand and placing it in complain- ants hands; Mayor and Aldermen of Birmingham vs A. H. Roebuck, bill dis missed without prejudice on complain ants motion; R. M. Jenkins vs. L. H. Holcombe. ct al., dismissed by complain- ants motion.
 In the Circuit Court
 In Judge Lanes division of the circuit court the jury in the case of F. A. Grad dock vs. Natiohal Printing company rem dered verdict in favor of the defend- ant. A consent judgment for s75 was rem dered in the case of w. J. Cartin vs City Delivery company.
 K. A. Gray has filed suit in the circuit court for s2O00 damages against Roberts x Sharpe for alleged injuries said to have been sustained near Ensley on Feb ruary 9. 1907.
 In the first division of the criminal court, Judge A. c. Howze presiding, the greater part of the docket set for trial yesterday was passed. In the second di- vision of the criminal court, Judge Weav- presiding, there was nothing of general interest on the docket.
 Criminal Court Docket.
 The following docket of non-capital fell ony cases is set for disposition in the first division of the criminal court today; T.