Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-09-20
Nebraska
FIGHT ON MARRIAGE FEES
Lancaster County Board Allowed
$1,506 to a Former Judge.
WELDON PROTESTS AND APPEALS
NoTthwestern Railroad offers stub
born Resistance 60 Award of
a. Heavy Damages in Per-
sonaI Injury suit.
From a staff Correspondent.


LINCOLN, Neb., Sept. 19.-Charles o.
whedon Of this city is preparing to at
tack the action Of the county commits
sioners in allowing the 1896 claim Of
former County Judge c. NJ. Parker for
performing marriage ceremonies during
the time he was in office, from 1852 to
1857. inclusive. The claim was only re-
Gently allowed by the county board, after
having been in it's hands for several
months. At the time Of allowance there
was no protest.
The claim OF Judge Parker was based
on the case OF Vinsonshaler VS.. Douglas
county, in which action the plaintiff, who
was county judge performed marriage
ceremonies in that county. Vinsonshaler
claimed that a fee Of s. for each cere-
mony belonged 10 him and after fighting
the case through the supreme court, a
deciison in his favor was given by that
tribunal.
The investigation started by c. o.
whedon divulged the fact that the
county clerk or his assistants were I'M
able to find records, showing that Judge
Parker during his term Of office had paid
in more than $500 per year to the county
treasurer.
that he paid office expenses out Of his
fees. and then turned the balance over
70 the treasurer's office, have not been
substantiated by the archives at the
county offices.
Case May set n Precedent.
A crushed and battered hat, torn and
ragged suit of clothes. bedraggled with
wi
splotches of dry blood, were flourisheo
before. the eyes Of the supreme court to-
day as exhibits in the case Of Hoffman
VS.. the Northwestern railroad AN action
IN which the amount of recovery is the
largest ever obtained in any suit reach
ing that tribunal for settlement.
Attorneys in the case are Mike Har
rington of O'Neill. for the appellee. and
G. c. Wright of Chicago, for the ap
pellant; the latter general counsel for thu
CORPORATION and the former representing
the widow and children Of a forme
brakeman killed in the company's yard
at Chadron.
This is one of the first cases-and b!
far the largest in amount of damage
recoverable reach the supreme cour
since the passage by the legislature OF
law removing the 5000 limit for inturie
resulting in death and permitting tn
recovery of damages even though in
flicted by a fellow employe.
Charges of gross perjury were handle
by both attorneys, each asserting tina
the other side had bolstered up a wea
cause by false testimony. Harringto
averred that despite the fact that tn
ChadrOn yards are OF clay the railroa
compelled half dozen witnesses
swear that it was cinder covered, Will
Wright asserted thct the plaintiff ha
evolved out OF the realm OF fancy tw
witnesses, who swore that they had wi
messed the accident.
The action is one to recover damage
for the death of George v. Glover,
Northwestern brakeman. in the Chadro
yards on the night of November 10, 1sC
"CycIOne' Davis Coming.
Cyclone" Davis. the well known Tex
orator and whirlwind advocate of Il
principles OF populism in its palmy day
Is to pend some time in the Third CO
gressional district next month on
speechmaking tour in behalf Of the dem
cratic nominee for congress. Such is Il
information brought to Lincoln by Nil
Harrington OF O'Neill.
Veterans to Receive Taft.
Colonel c., ]. Bills will be graz
marshal of the day. October 2, whS
President Taft visit this city, accordiI
to action taken today by ex-senator J