The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1914-12-11
COURT HOUSE NEWS.
uDEWATER PORTLAND CEMENT co.
Lose SUIT AGAINST THE TOWN OF
Union BRIDGE.
Transfers Of Real Estate, Marriage
Licenses, Etc.
Circuit Court.

Court was called on Tuesday morn
inc with Judge Forsythe on the bench.
Tba Detit jury was excused, subject to
call.
When the case of the State vs.. The
Tidpwater Portland Cement Company,
irdicted at the May term, 1918, for
maintaining nuisance, was called,
rbp defendant, by permission of the
Court, filed a plea of nolo contendere,
ne effect Of which was an admission
Of the charges contained in the in
dictment Testimony was heard on
Teusday and Wednesday to determine
the degree Of guilt and to arrive at
the facts upon which to base a just
penalty.
The court room was crowded by
residents of Union Bridge and others.
Many witnesses were examined on the
mart of the State, who testified as to
lie conditions prior to the Indictment,
and many samples of dust collected
from roofs, panes Of glass, marble fig
ures from the cemetery and fruit were
produced as exhibits to show the effect
Of the injuries wrought by the dust
which had poured from the stacks Of
the plant. Many well known citizens
Of Union Bridge, including number
Of ladies', testified that Notwithstanding
the fact that the dust arrester had
been installed, in their opinion condi-
tons had not improved.
On the part of the defendant. the
testimony of President Scott brought
out the facts that the capitalization OF
the company is $2,O0O,00O; the capacity
of the plant 100000 barrels Of ce-
ment per year; employing when work
ing at full capacity $50 men; now on
pay roll 1926; that its export in ton
mage is the largest in the State except
that Of the Maryland Steel Company
that its pay roll amounts to $25O,OOO
per year; that it is assessed at $475,-
900; pays taxes of about $4,000 per
annum; that citizens Of Carroll county
have invested in the plant about $780,
900, and citizens of Maryland about
$65O,0O0. He also related In detail
the experiments of the company and
told OF the large sums OF money eX-
pended in seeking a method to correct
the evil complained OF. The CHIEF
witness for the defense was Expert
Engineer Sparkman, under whose di-
rection the dust arrester was Installed
Among other things proved by him
was the fact that whereas prior to the
Indictment it required S03 pounds OF
the raw material taken from the quar-
ries to make a barrel of cement, now
that rester has been installed 1t re-
Quires only GAS, in other words thai
before the indictment rs per cent oi
the dried clay and stone poured Out
Of the stacks, was lost to the com
pany, increased cost of production, anc
injured the property of the town, now
only three per cent il lost
Upon the conclusion of the evidence
for the defense, States Attorney
Weant retired to one of the jury
rooms, with a number of the leading
citizens of Union Bridge, for consul
tation, and returning to the Cour1
room, announced that the State woulc
not ask for an order Of abatement
The matter was then submitted to tht
Court without argument, and Judge
Forsythe Immediately imposed a hnt
Of $50 and costs.
Judge Forsythe imposed the follow
ing sentences: Arthur Jackson, ALA:
Jack the Ripper" gambling, thirty
days in Jail.
Peter Paris, larceny; sixty days II
House of Correction.
Edgar Merryman, larceny; com
mitted to National Junior Republic IN
I'll tWenty-one years old.
Charles Henry Dotson, larceny
thirty days in jail.