Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1873-12-17
COURT PROCEEDINGS continued from
las. week.
QUARTER SESSIONS.

dictment-Fornlcation and Bastardy. |
Continued TIL February term.
Commonwealth VS.. j. English West,
George Fry asd David Muthersbaugh. !
Indictment-Arson. The history of
this case is as follows: John " inn. the
prosecutor, lives, and has lived for some
70 or 80 years, in Licking Creek Val
ley, between the Black Log mountain
and Black Oak ridge. The late Reu-
ben c. Hale claimed the land which
Winn resided on and claimed to hold
by virtue of "squatter sovereignty"
Several years. litigation took place be-
tween the two, for its possession. In
the meantime, Hale disposed of the
land, or his claim to 1t, In some way,
and few years ago, one of the defend
ants, j. English West, turned up iu
this country, representing himself as
the agent of Wheeler & West, and in
their name commenced proceedings In
ejectment against Winn, in Mifflin
county. Once or twice, Winn in the
legal tilt was was successful, but j.
English, with bull dog tenacity carried
the case to the Supreme Court, on ap-
peal, by which " inns judgment was
set aside, and on the last trial of the
case. in Mifliu county, j. English car
ried the day, and gained the verdict
VIM, though notified to leave, stub
tornly refused, and a writ of custer was
issued against him out of the Miffiin
county court, and Sheriff Muthers-
baugh, George Fry and j. English went
on the ground some time last summer,
to formally dispossess Vim. On that
occasion, after removing all Winn's
effects out of his house and stable,
" est Set fire to both, and they were
totally destroy ed. Winn, thereupon
made complaint against all three before
Esquire BARLEY, alleging that the
buildings were located in Junia:a
county. A warrant for their arrest was
issued, and the defendants arrested,
but liberated by Associated Judge
Troxell, of Mifflin county on Habeas
Corpus. on the ground that the build
ings were located IN Miffiin county, con-
sequently Squire BARLEY had no juris-
diction. Another complaint made be-
fore Justice Middagh, resulted in the
same manner. However. on a bill of
indictment having been laid before the
Grand Jury, at September term, true
bill was found. The Commonwealth
proved the burning Of the buildings,
but failed to locate them in Junlata.
Ii was proved, however, that under the
Act of 1881, providing for the bound
ary between Mifflin aud Juniata coun-
ties, the line should run on the summit
of the Black Log mountain, from the
Huntingdon county line to the river.
But fortunately for the defendants,
when the Commissioners ran the line in,
they started the line south of that
mountain, at the Huntingdon county
line, and followed Black Oak ridge,
down below Y INNS, and then crossed
over to tue Black Log mountain proper
and thence to the river, thus running
all the disputed land into Mifflin coun-
ty. While the Court was convinced OF
the mistake of the Commissioners, yet,
nevertheless, as both the Miffiin and
Juniata county authorities had recog
nized the line, SO mistakenly run, ever
since, it had to decide that it had no
jurisdiction in the premises, and hence
ordered the jury to acquit which it did.
This was great triumph for j. Eng
lish West, but very "melancholy" for
General John WInn, of Winn's Gap,
to have to answer such foolish questions
aud then be defeated.
Commonwealth VS.. John Shinelcff
Indictment-Perjmy. This case grew
out of the litigation prior to the Sep
tember court, and had been continued
from that term. On the case being
called, the District Attorney stated
that be had no case, upon which the
jury found Captain Jack not guilty. and
saddled the costs on the prosecutor,
stacker Campbell"
Commonwealth VS.. David Fink In
dictment - Aggravated Assault and
Battery.-This case grew out of an ar
gument between the prosecutor, Mitch
ell Varnes, and the defendant, as to
their respective merits as railroad en-
ployees. Prosecutor gave defendant
the lie who struck out with his g. right
duke" which prosecutor caught upon
bis sssmelIer." A tussle ensued with
little or no further damage. Prosecu-
ter proved his nose broken by first blow
After hearing evidence for Common
wealth, District Attorney entered a
nolle pros. as to aggravated assault, aud
the defendant then Piled guilty to the
simple assault and battery. Sentenced
to pay a fine of SIS and costs.
Commonwealth VS.. Thaddeus War
ner. Indictment-False Pretence. A.