Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-05-17

State Us. Susan Moore, Indicted for lar
oeny Of rocking chair, value $500, the
property Of James McKenna. Arralgned,
plead mot guilty." and on trial II bling
shown by witnesses that prisoner was a
slmple-minded woman, she was acquit.
tsd. 5. A. MacallIster, Esq for the
State.
State vs James Collins, CO... Indicted
for larceny on Feb. II, 1879. of SO pounds
Of -four, the property Of John V. Rice.
Aualgned, plead "not guilty." tried and
convicted. Sentenced to pay o. .2S resti-
tuition money and costs, be whipped on
Saturday next with 20 lsshes, be impris.
oned for six months, ending Nov. 10,
1873, and for six months next thereafter
10 wear q convlct's Jacket. s. A. Naeal-
lister, Esq, for the State.
State vs.. Samuel l.. Bush, indicted for
knowingly buying and receiving stolen
goods, being 500 pounds OF scrap iron,
the property Of NJ. B. stotsenburg. Ar
raigned plead "not guilty. and was tried.
The jury after being out for about two
hOure, returned with verdict of "not
guilty." Attorney General Lore for the
State, l.. Q. Bird, ED, for prisoner
State W. Jacob Schultz and John Down
ing, indicted for the larceny on the 18th
Of January, 1873, Of one coat, one hand
kerchief and carpenters rule, property
Of Joseph X. vickers, arralgned, and
plead "not guilty"
State Us. william II. Byard, (ccl. In
dlcted for the larceny OF one watch, Of
the value Of $50, the property of Anna
Maria BlackstOn, on the oath OF February,
1879. Arralgued, and plead "not guilty."
State vs.. George Taylor, Anna Will
liams and Ella Moore, all colored, In.
dlcted for larceny on 18th Of last March
OF l pair mems slippers, property Of
Dennis Fennesse arraigned and plead
mot guilty." Nolls pros. was entered 10
this case, but the same parties were tried
in another case, for larceny on the same
day Of pair mems boots and 2 pairs Of
ladies' clippers, the property Of Edward
Donoho, and found guilty" Taylor
made an amusing speech to the Court
and the jury,appealing to their clemency,
and assigning a cause that he had al ways
worked for his living, had never had q
charge brought against him before "slnce
he was born into this world,p and If they
would only lot him OF this time be would
return tomorrow TO Richmond, where he
came from. He was sentenced to pay to
Edward Donoho, as restitution money,
$3.50, costs, 10 be whipped on Saturday
next with twenty lashes, be imprlsoy ed
six months, ending November 10th, 1873,
and TO wear a convict's jacket for six
months next thereafter. Anna Williams
and Ella Moore were each sentenced to
pay $3.50 restitution money, costs of
prosecution, and be imprisoned for six
months, ending 10th Of next November.
Attorney General Lore for the State.
State VS.. John Fergus and Elijah Far
gus. co'ored, iydicted for larceny on
April I'd, 1873, Of shirt, value of 81, the
property of Julius Dudeck, on trial, when
the Court adjourned till to morrow at 10
a. m.
THIRD DAY.
NEW CASTLE, May 18th, 1s7S.--The
Courts of Oyer and Terminer and General
Sessions of the Peace and Jail Delivery
opened this morning at the usual hour,
after the recess of yesterday evening
resuming the trial of John and Elijah
Fergus. for the larceny Of a shirt of the
value of one dollar, the property Of one
Julius Dudeck. The evidence on the
part Of the State was quite clear and
strong. The defence was that Of the
general good character OF the prisoners,
and non-exactness Of proof on the part
OF the prosecution. II was conducted by
James X. Booth, ESQ. The Jury rendered
verdict of equity" as 10 each of the
prisoners, who were sentenced to pay one
dollar as restitution money, and costs OF
prosecution, to be whipped next Saturday
with twenty lashes, to b. imprisoned six
months, eniing Nov. l6lh, 1873, and, fol
six months thereafter to wear convicts
jacket. Deputy General George II. Bates
for State.
The next case was that OF State Us
Mary Z. Meeteer (colored), indicted fol
the murder Of her Infant ron, Charles IL
Meeteer. After eleven peremptory chal
lenges, two for cause, AID two excused, 0
Jury was obtained.
The case was one of the clearest known
10 the law of murder. The prisoner
having made on several occasions, auc
to several credible witnesses voluntary
and full confession as to when, where
why, and how the deed was committed
and upon her arrangement bad plead
equity " which the Court did not choosi
to accept, but assigned W. r. Hodgson
| Esq., to conduct her defeuce and put be-
upou her trial. The following were th'
facts On Feb. II of this year the piis
oner left the house of Mrs. Lewis, he
other home, about 9p. IN. Taking will
her her child, a butcher knife and Il bucket
sire went into a garden attached to au IN
occupied house near by, when she tool
the knife and cut the throat OF her son
then pushing Il down as near as she coul
into this bucket covered the body witt
some brush and went over to the academ
at Newark TO the residence of Mr.. E. u
Po.t,r, where she had obtained place a
servant She told them she haa pa
the child to live with II stranger Tn
family (Lewis) having learned she di
not have the child with her, and ascel
tanning II was not at the place she said
was made the fact known. The constable
Mr.. ChOat, began search aud on Feb. 2
found tue body at the place above mer
toned. He then went IN search Of ID
prisoner and found her at.the house Of
neighbOing coloied pers on, aud arreste
/ her, took her before James II. Rag, ESQ
i, j. P, when she made the above coniei
! sion freely and voluntarily. She STATE
as her reason for the act, that Us the chill
+ was illpgitimate aud mot Of her color
she hated him he was disgrace to he
n | ana tNt NOulu NV keh a h0mN 40 w "
!. would take her and her child. Thu
= withou. friends or home she killed hin
After elicitiug the above facts, Il
State rested. The defence did not of
o any evidence. The Attorney Gener
!. then stated to the jury that from what
!. knew of the case and all of the attendai
/. circumstances (much Of which 1t WI
l. not necessary to place before the jury
n the State did not deem II necessary
n ask for verdict Of murder In the fir
q degree rs she stood indicted, but as und
a a Jaw of our State, they could render
# verdict OF murder in the second degr
Or manslaughter, the prosecution won
~ simply ask for verdict Of murder ia 4
10 second degree.
a. The defence having no ground to star
"A on, Joined In the same request.
az The Jury without charge from the Coz
a retired at about o'clock, and Ia abo
,e an hour returned verdict in accordan
al with the request.
m This verdict was coneurred in by all
M members Of the Bar, and many promine
ia citizens who were cognlzant Of all
nv surroundings, who thought that the en-
al of Justice were satisfied. Much SYM
m thy was felt for the unfortunate you
e. woman.
." state o.. David seeny, (colored), FRI
cd last Term Indicted fer the larceny OF
nm pair of buckskin mittens. The pr
IA was rather conflicting. Attorney Gene
e. Lore for the State, W. r. Hodgson, Es
he for defence. The jury retired and
10 not return up to @, pm.
RS State Vs. Andrew Drew and