THE RECORD OF JAN. 10.
United States Circuit Court.
NEW SUITS
     Charles Parker, of Boston, Mass, vs. Joseph W. Harmon and J. C. Caldwell.  Debt. $1,000.  Shorey & Shaffner, attys.
     In re. Louis Roman, a bankrupt.  Petition of Louis Roman for review of the orders of the District Court directing debtor to appear before Register Hibbard for examination, no adjudication having taken place.  Monroe & Leddy, attys.
     WIRE FENCE PATENTS. - The Washburn & Moen Manufacturing Company of Worcester, Mass., and George L. Ellwood, of DeKalb, Ill., brought a large number of suits yesterday in the United State Circuit Court against various parties for infringement of Wm. D. Hunt's original patent, and other patents for an improvement in wire fences, now assigned to them.  The suits are as follows against the following defendants: 
1. Amos N. Klinefelter and Ezra L. Spangler, of Joliet. 
2. Rheubin H. Pooler and Wm. T. Jones of LaSalle. 
3. Wm. G. Hibbard, F. F. Spencer, A. C. Bartlett, and A. D. Lamb, of Chicago.
4. Henry Wood, of Sycamore, DeKalb County.
5. Geo. W. Allen, of Creston, Ogle County.
6. Abram V. Wormley, of Oswego, Kendall County.
7. John O. Westlake, of Sycamore.
8. Hibbard, Spencer & Co., of Chicago
9. Henry Wood, of Sycamore.
10. Pooler & Jones, of Serena, Ill.
11. John O. Westlake, of Sycamore.
12. Joliet Man. Co.
13. Joliet Man. Co.
14. Klenefelter & Spangler, of Joliet
15. Timothy Hibbard, of Serena, Ill.
16. J. B. Harkness, F. K. Whittenmore, and Justin E. Page.
17. Aoram V. Wormley, of Oswego, Ill.
18. Harkness & Whittemore, of Sycamore, Ill.
19. William Butters, of Freedom Twp., LaSalle County, Ill.
20. William Butters, of Freedom Township
21. Timothy Hibbard, of Serena, Ill.
22. George W. Allen, of Creston, Ill.
The complainants claim that their patents, on which they have brought these suits, cover all the iron and steel barbs that are not on wire fences, and the various methods of attaching the barbs to the wire to make a barbed wire fence.  They do not claim that persons can make a plain wire fence and not infringe their patents, but that no one can fix a barb on a wire for a wire fence without infringing their patents.  They have commenced these suits against the makers, dealers, and users of the different kinds of barbs and barbed wire for fence, in order that they may obtain as soon as possible decisions determining the questions of the validity of their various patents, and whether these different makers are really infringers.  The farmers in many instances buy barbs and secure them to their plain wire fences, making a barbed fence of it.  Washburn & Moen Manf. Co. claim that they by so doing infringe their patents, and have here sued some farmers to test the question.  Coburn & Stricker of Chicago, are complainants' solicitors, and S. H. Dodge, of Worcester, of connsel.