The Legal Important Litigation United States Attorney Henry A. Wise of New York sailed for Europe on June 30 to be fresent at the examination of witnesses in aris in the Panama Canal purchase libel case by John D. Lindsay, of counsel for the Press Publishing Company, publishers of The World, which has been indicted for ar ticles regarding the canal negotiations printed in October. Mrs. Eleanor Griffiths, wife of Henry W. Griffiths of New York City, was deserted by him some years ago. She tried to sue him for non-support in New York City when she learned that he had married again. When the case came up in court Griffiths pleaded a Dakota divorce. Mrs. Griffiths asserted she had never heard of this or been served, and successfully made application to the court for alimony. Justice Greenbaum of the Supreme Court granted her a decree of abso lute divorce in June, applying for the first time in New York county the principle laid down by the United States Supreme Court, that a Dakota divorce is not valid if the re spondent is not living in the jurisdiction of the Dakota courts. Sanford Robinson, of F. A. Heinze's per sonal counsel, was convicted June 24 of the charge of obstructing justice and fined $250, after a trial before Judge Ray in the United Circuit Court at New York City. The case against Robinson developed out of the disap pearance of a witness needed by United States Attorney Wise in his investigation of the doings of F. A. Heinzein the Mercantile National Bank. The indictment charged Robinson with ad vising this witness, Tracy Buckingham, to se crete himself from a United States deputy marshal who was outside with a subpoena on the afternoon of May 21, when Robinson, Buckingham and others were in the offices of the United Copper Company. Arthur P. Heinze, who was indicted on similar charges of obstructing justice, was also found guilty, largely in consequence of testimony wrung from Buckingham by rigorous examination, sentence being suspended until October 11, by which time the Court thought he might be induced to bring about the restoration of the missing books. Concluding the greatest issue in the history of San Francisco graft scandal, the case of Patrick Calhoun, millionaire president of the United Railroads, charged with bribery, a case which dates back to January 12, 1909, ended June 20 with ten men determined on acquittal and two resolved on conviction.
World
One hundred and ten days were devoted to court sessions. In this respect the case out strips the record established in the case of Abraham Ruef, who was convicted after seventy-six days actual court procedure. "I am ready to try this case again, and I will go ahead tomorrow, if necessary, "said Prosecutor Heney after the adjournment. Mr. Calhoun said: "Of course I am disappointed at the failure of the jury to acquit me of the unjust charges against me. I should have liked my vindication by the jury to be absolute. The judge was hostile, the assistant district attor ney bribed and the administration of the crim inal law of this State disgraced. I purpose at the proper time and in a proper manner to submit formal charges against Assistant District Attorney Francis J. Heney for re ceiving bribes as a public officer, and against Rudolph Spreckles and James D. Phelan, who financed the prosecution, for having paid them." The government has appealed from the decision of Justice Stafford of the District of Columbia Supreme Court, holding that the Juvenile Court has no jurisdiction in a case of nonsupport where there are no chil dren. Justice Stafford's decision was ren dered June 18 in the case of Leo S. West. He said: "Nowhere in the act is any jurisdiction conferred upon the Juvenile Court to adjudge as to rights and duties between husband and wife. It is given jurisdiction of certain of fenses of children and certain offenses against children, and is given power to enforce certain duties which parents and guardians owe to their children or their wards." The appeal will be heard in the autumn by the Court of Appeals of the district. The Supreme Court of the United States will have to pass upon the validity of life gasses, which have been pending ever since the [epburn Law was passed and interpreted by the Interstate Commerce Commission as prohibiting any form of free transportation. The MotQy case, originating in Kentucky, will come before the court. In 1871 the Louisville & Nashville made a contract under which, in lieu of damages for injuries in an accident, E. L. Motley and Annie E. Motley, his wife, were given a life pass over the entire system. Mr. and Mrs. Motley went to law to compel compliance with the contract. They won their case in the Federal Circuit Court and Federal Court of Appeals. In New York State, moreover, a similar action has been brought, and this second case will come before the session of the Supreme Court convening at Ithaca in September. Mrs. Martha J. Robertson sues the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company for the specific performance of covenants whereby the company agreed in
