Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-10-28
FIRST EDITION..
the KENT COUNTY COURTS.

A LIVELY OPENING IN CROWDED ROOM - THE
LIQUOR LIcENsEs-THE WEST TRIAL.
Correspondence of the eommercial
DOVER. DEL, October 81.
The Court is being beld in the Levy Court
room. In this little, crowded enclosure, with no
ventilation, entirely destitute of all comfort for
the Judges, the Bar, or the spectators, dlubled
up In portion that would have done credit to
signor Wambold, anxiousy awaited the arrival
OF the Judges. Owing to the license GASES, and
the approaching trial Of DIR. West for arson,
there vas great tbrong Of spectators in the
Court room which was OF entirely too limited
dimensions. By the way, l am told that the
Smyrna Town Commissioners offered the use OF
the Town Hall at Smyrna for the accommodation
OF the Court, and it Is a matter Of great regret
to me at least that the Judges did not take it.
At 8 O'Clock the Honorable Judges Wootten,
Wales. and Houston arrived, aud Court was
opened, Judge wpotten presiding in the absence
OF the Chief Justice.
The first case which came before the court
was the State ps Robt, Wilson. This was
charge OF assault and battery. The Witnesses
for The prosecution made out very touching
story Of abuse and the defendant then told his
version Of the affair. 1t all ended In Mr. Wilson
being directed to pay $40 90 fine and costs and
told to ''go and sin no more"
After hearing motion for rule to show
cause, ETC.. and some other business OF minor
importance, the Court proceeded to the consid-
GRAFTON of applications fer Liquor Licenses.
The first application, MIR Fountans) called
forth considerable interest remonstTaDce
was Immediately read by OK Judge Layton and
this began the war. Judge Layton raised the
question as TO whether married woman hold
ing property in her own right could become a
competent signer under the laws. Judge Lay
ton held she could not, and consequently the
application then having but eleven sghers,
could not be granted
MIR. Ridgey, for the applicant, coutroverted
the opinion of the ex-Judge, and the court held
1t over for their consideration. The applications
OF Justus Lowery, Amos Cole, Edwin O Shaw,
Charles Il Foywell. Tobias b. MERIT, came up
in the same order and to each one Of them lex
cept Foxwelre) remonstrances were offered by
], Alexander Fulton and Judge Layt IN, OF
various grounds, and in the case OF Shaw, most
especially inpeaching the moral character Of the
applicant, Messrs. Rldgely, Oomegys, Massey
and Pennington appeared ON behalf Of the ap-
plicants.
The Judges held all the olses over until to-
morrow morning, and at O'Clock the court ad-
tourned until tomorrow morning at 10 O'Clock.
The judges show decided inclination to hold
to the rigid letter of the law, and the interest
excited is intense Bx-Judge Layton is using
all his ability to void the efforts of the tavern
keepers, and he and Mr. Fulton are likely to be
very troublesome people to the seekers fer IL
oens0. On the other hand, stands equal ability
combating every objection with prompttude
The temperance men are very sangqlne. and all
parties await the morrow with considerable anx-
iety
The jury is summoned for the West trial on
Tuesday TO morrow but it is doubtful il it will
be reached before Wednesday, and perhaps not
before Thursday. There is a wide diversity of
opinion but the indications seem TO me to be an
acquitta However it is hard to say, and while
almost all doubt his self defence or insanity
theories, all are not 30 equally agreed in the
opinion that West will be convicted. II will
give you all the details of interest ns they arise.
Tho term OF court promises to be short, there
being no civil cises to be tried, but what little
la to be done in the criminal and liquor line is
likely to be OF very lively character. II. O. T.