Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-01-18
THE BRIDGETON MURDER
Trial Of Hugh T. swesney-Full Report
Of the Evidence.

BRIDeKroN, N. j., January Is, 1872
At IL o'clock this morning the Cumber-
land County Court of Oyer and ferminer |
was convened for the trial Of Hugh II. |
Sweeney, for manslaughter, In causing the |
death Of George NJ. Davis, in August last, |
B. Vansyckel, presiding Judge, with asso-
ciate judges Harris, Doughty and Sheppard
on the bench.
Counsel for the State-Jas.R. Hoes gland,
ESQ. Prosecutor of the Pleas, and William
E. Potter, Esq, of this city.
For the prisoner-John O'Byrne, ESQ,
of Delaware, and John s. Mitchell, Esq,
of Bridgeton.
Long before the hour for opening the
Court every available space, both sitting
and standing, was occupied by eager
spectators.
The prisoner was placed at the bar.
Tho following gentlemen were empan-
neled to serve on the Jury -
William II. Mills, Of Mlllville VIM. r.
Thompson, of Brldgeton John L. stroup,
of Millvllle; Aaron Vannsman, of Mill
vile; Martin V. B. Bowel, of Bridgeton
Lewis NJ. Hires, of Hopewelli Daniel
Sites, of Fairfield; John Grlscom, of
Greenwich Geo II. Foster, of Millville
Walter s. Gof, Of Fairfield; THEODORE
Rogers, of Maurice River Enoch b. Carr
son, of Sioe Creek.
Mr. Hoagland, the prosecutor Of the
pleas, said, In addressing the jury In the
cause which you are to try II Ia your duty
to give all the facts due consideration, and
to give your verdict in accordance with
the facts. He recited what constituted
granddaughter in the eye Of the law. There
were two kinds of manslaughter-volun-
tary and involuntary. He would show in
this case that the prisoner at the bar was
engaged in the commission of an unlawful
act He reclted the facts of the excursion
Of the Fame Hose Company. While at
dinner at the hotel of c. o. Davis Il Son,
the prisoner got in an alteration with
George NJ. Davis, Who requested him to
leave the room. He would show that the
prisoner struck the deceased on the left
temple, and would prove by witnesses
that the prisoner struck the blow
James .. Rockwell, aflirmed-l reside
at Roadstown, Hopewell townships on the
18th of August last l resided at G. o.
Davis 4 Sons hotel there was an excur-
sion there that day from Wilmington
there were large number at the hotel
saw fracas between the prisoner and
Mr.. Davis while standing at the dining
room door saw the defendant strike Geo.
Davis heard no conversation whatever !
Davis was standing at the carving table
with knife 10 bis hand In the act of
carving meat he turned round as If he
was going to address the defendant, when
the defendant made step aud struck him
on the left side of the face just before he
struck him he smiled George Immediately
staggered and fell over on the carving
table; the next thing l saw was Charles
o. Davis taking hold Of the defendant by
the shoulder and the deceased also took hold
of him was then coming into the dining
room, and people were getting up from the
table, a young man was then coming In
with two ladies Charles was then struck
with something black, and he then let go
of the prisoner; the prisoner then struck
George second blow ] asked Charles
what he was struck with, and he said il
was a chair round ] said he had no black
chairs the effect Of the blow was TO cut
quite a severe cash in Charles forehead
the man who struck Charles had lady
leaning on his arm the man who STRUCK
him was a small man / might probably
recognize him again after the defendant
I struck George the second time George die
/ not let go Of him, and another man als'
took hold of the prisoner; the policeman
then came 10 and took hold of the priso
ner | turned my attention to Charlie
y then, for he was bleeding do not know
D the officers name; saw the defendan
when he was taken from the lookup Il
the Jail; stood on the porch to see If
d could Identify him.
IA Crosse xamlned-lt was near two OF loel
in the afternoon l had been stopping a
V Davis hotel since the 9th of March, 1870
Al left there the eth of October, 1872 wa
frf .,f az
" ceased | was standing on Laurel stree
between the dining room and the stree
- when the fracas occurred the dining ROOF
y was full Of persons there were persons
N the large dining room was watchin
a my part of the table, where / general
= sat II diagram of the dining room an
- table was exhibited to the witness IL
~ northern end of table was my part WI
or not first attracted by the smiling of Il
III prisoner he smiled as he struck the blo'
% did not hear any of the conversation
there were no persons standing when d
Oh blow was struck he was standing near
we to the table than Mr.. Davis was he stru
lot the blow with clinched fist the mi
n, had on blue shirt or jacket cannot
~ collect whether he had whiskefs Ct
or' recolect face or voice think he had
is light moustache; his face was distort
mt with anger and he was making viole
!. threats had no conversation with hin
luz he said " God d--n him, III mash him
mo next blow ! get at him !" that was j.
he Immediately before the police seized hir
when he was struck the first blow Char
took hold of him by the collar; abou
second interviewed before the second BIZ
was struck George was not standing
re. his feet when the second blow was struI
the first blow was struck on the left s.
lar of the head the second blow was made
nd the back of the head with the fist.
at By the State-George Davis was no
ing sweeney's left arm the blows did !
Get seem to have to have hurt him at the tin
NO. have no doubt In my mind that tue pr
II. oner Is the man who struck him.
mi. john 8. McGear, sworn-I reside
as Bridgeton am a furniture dealer and
dertaker; the draft shown me is corr
Mr.. as to the distances Of the window 8
,rd. table from the door on Laurel stree
re- the middle Of Commerce street, Is alb
sed one hundred feet.
far Mr.. Rockwell, recaled-I saw no
and standing with Mr.. Davis but Sweeney.
.ory BY the Court-My eye did not lose 81
nee of Sweeney from the time the first b
re- was struck until the second one was Civ
iary the crowd was then rising the crowd
lst, so dense that was compelled to edge
envy way round the table.
D us By MIR. Houghland.- parties
ings not get out of the range Of my Wis
the VIM. Willis, coIored, sworn. II
ence member the 18th Of August last |
that employed at Davis hotel as one of
vor- walters was standing that day along
of George, who asked Sweeney if he
his dinner lie told him yes George az
him If he would go out, as he had
more room than he wanted Swet
WING commenced cursing and swearing
Jun then hit George he called George
of b-h he struck him on the head
over his fat he fell backward over the c
ie to ing table he struck him again as he
0g q up, which knocked him over on the Ia
ly In he struck him the second time near W
9 ar he struck him frat saw Charles trie
nom- get George out saw the people rus
was out of the new dining-room, and saw I
and getting up in the old dining-room l
tary. went olt in the pantry think he
'lsla- struck In the temple both times, as ia
and could see was toward the pantry Y
cunt the blows were struck.
ross-examined-About a second ella
: the between the two blows do not
Ial'c whether Sweeney was taken out hefo
i'sn- went out there was quarrelling at
sne carving table there was a small 81
MN man with Sweeney at the time; |
efel' standing by the carving table after
last bow was struck | went out 10
Were kitchen for fear ] might get struck /;
esses George put the little man out of the re
Tue cannot tell how the prisoner was dr.
at the tiutps unVpr saw ha nriannar