In the progress of the work, he has found it very laborious, and requiring patience and care to avoid serious errors. Where a doubt arose as to the propriety of reprinting a case, such doubt led to its rejection; though, but few opinions which have not been elsewhere reported have been omitted, for the reason that the editor did not always feel himself at liberty to determine the value of cases. No cases are here reported which are to be found in the State Reports or in Grant's first three volumes; nor are any decisions in the Courts below, which were afterwards reversed in the Supreme Court, or affirmed in the Supreme Court with the opinion of the Court below quoted by the reporter, or by the judge delivering the opinion of the Court above. Such at least has been the constant aim of the editor. It should be recollected that where concise statements of facts are not given with the cases reported, the editor had access to no material from which to make them up, except what was found in the numbers of the Journal used; and, also, that, in the parallel references added by way of notes, he intended only to lead to cases upon subject-matters the same, though not always establishing exactly the same principle. All the references to Pennsylvania authorities throughout the work, have been very carefully verified. As well have references to other authorities, when they were accessible. But many of the reports and text-writers, foreign to this State, were unfortunately beyond the editor's reach; and hence, inaccuracies of reference, if now and then found, the usual kindness of the Bar will please charge to the want of access to the large libraries. In the preparation of these volumes, the editor has received material assistance from his friend and brother JOHN W. DONNAN, Esq., to whom he is desirous of making this public acknowledgment. If it were thought that the legal mind could ever easily overlook imperfections in works of this nature, the editor would attempt to excuse them by stating that the time which he could possibly devote to these volumes was made up of only occasional hours widely separated from each other by the ordinary business of professional life. Attention is called to the note in the Table of Cases. WASHINGTON, PA., June 15, 1872. COURTS IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY. 1853-1859. UNITED STATES CIRCUIT COURT. JUDGES. HON. ROBERT C. GRIER, United States Supreme Court. UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT. JUDGES. HON. THOMAS IRWIN, to February, 1859. HON. WILSON MCCANDLESS, from February, 1859. DISTRICT COURT. HON. P. C. SHANNON, (to Dec. 1853,) President Judge. 66 HON. H. W. WILLIAMS, HON. MOSES HAMPTON, (from Dec. 1853,) 66 Assistant Judge. OYER AND TERMINER, QUARTER SESSIONS, ORPHANS' COURT, AND COURT OF COMMON PLEAS. HON. Wм. B. MCCLURE, . President Judge. For the list of the Justices of the Supreme Court and of the Judges of the various Subordinate Courts throughout the State, for the period covered by this volume, see Harris' and Casey's Reports. Changes occurred now and then which cannot be concisely indicated here. |