The Daily Dispatch: December 18, 1865., [Electronic resource]

The Courts.

‘ J. P. Oliver, one of the men sent on to the Hustings Court to answer an indictment for playing "keno," was permitted to renew his bail, his original surety having declined to stand longer in that capacity. He gave Jesse Talbott as his surety.

’ Adam McClellan was charged with being drunk and disorderly, riding in a hack, breaking the glass, and refusing to pay his fare. The Mayor discharged him with the understanding that he would settle the matter with the owner of the hack.

Eli Ferguson, charged with breaking into the house of T. B. Fletcher, in the night time, breaking the lock of the money drawer, and taking therefrom a sum of money — amount not stated. It will be remembered that the Mayor decided a complicated case between these parties on Friday, in which Fletcher was sent on to the Hustings Court for an assault upon Ferguson.

Mr. Chastain White, who appeared for Ferguson, said this was an aggravated matter on the part of the complainant. Fletcher was bound over on Friday for an assault upon Ferguson, and immediately afterwards went and broke into the house himself; and he now turns round and has Ferguson arrested for breaking into his own house. The arrest was made at a late hour, and his client had no opportunity of getting his witnesses. He therefore hoped that the case would be continued, and Ferguson permitted to give bail for his appearance.

Mr. John S. Caskie, counsel for Fletcher, opposed the motion for a continuance. He believed that an investigation would show that Fletcher was the aggrieved party.

Mr. White reviewed the testimony elicited on Friday, and claimed for his client the right of possession in the house aforesaid.

Mr. A. Judson Crane, who also appeared for Fletcher, suggested that his Honor first settle the question in his own mind as to the ownership of the property. Of course his Honor could not so settle the question as to affect the claims of either; but unless he concluded the matter in his own mind he could not give an intelligent decision.

Mr. White claimed that he had fully established Ferguson's claim to the house on the previous day, and that Fletcher was merely employed there; that he made nightly returns to Ferguson of the business of the day, and that the employees had agreed to sue Ferguson on Friday night for their salaries. He ought, then, to ask that he be discharged; but he would not do so, and only asked that he be bailed to appear on Monday.

His Honor afterwards decided to continue the case, until half-past 3 o'clock in the afternoon, and admitted Fletcher & Ferguson to bail in the sum of two hundred dollars each.

Mayor Saunders, who held possession of the keys of the house, was requested to give them up to Ferguson by his counsel. To this the counsel for Fletcher strenuously objected, both claiming for their clients the ownership of the house. His Honor decided to retain the keys in his own possession.

Lewis Bromm, charged with making an assault upon Thomas A. Goodman. The latter is considerably the larger and stouter of the two. The affair took place last Friday night at the bakery of Hundley & Cance, on Broad street, where the parties are employed, and originated in a dispute about work. Bromm, who is foreman of the establishment, is reported to have struck Goodman on the right arm with a stick, producing a severe contusion, and followed it up with a blow on the left temple with a bar of iron, causing an ugly gash; and the consequence was that Goodman appeared the next day with his head bound up, as if in chancery. The Mayor decided to continue the case until Monday, and held the accused to bail in the sum of five hundred dollars for his appearance. Joseph Cance became his surety. Colonel S. T. Bayly appeared as counsel for Bromm.

At half-past 2 o'clock the Mayor resumed his seat, and proceeded with the investigation of the complicated case of Fletcher against Ferguson. It seems that Ferguson brought a counter charge, of breaking into the house, against Fletcher, and at the evening session of his Court his Honor heard both, with a repetition of the arguments of counsel pro and con. The Mayor finally decided to discharge both parties and to dismiss the case. He declined to settle the question of ownership, which is a matter beyond his jurisdiction. The house in question is a roughly-built shanty, standing on Broad, between Ninth and Tenth streets, and from its outward appearance we should not think the whole concern was worth such a controversy as has been made over it.