Middletown transcript., 1875-12-04
Proceedings Of Court.
Nsw Castle, Nov. 23

The trial of Patrick Ahern and Geo. Welt
for the murder Of an unknown tramp, ne'
Townsend, was taken up A!torney-Gener
Pennington represented the State and Wn
c. Spruance and Benz Nields the accused.
The following jury was empanneled: Davi
Mccoy, (foreman), John Way, John Beal
William p. Forrest, Phillip G. Flunkett, Ja
R. HoffecKer. John Wayne, John H. Rey ybolf
Richard G.. Alexander, James Ward, jaime
Ridgaway. George W. Ely.
The Attorney General opened the case o
behalf Of the State.
The first witness called was VIM. Bedwel
who testified substantially as follows: Al
% years Of age and live near Blackbir
station; know Ahern but never saw Weitt
before the night of the occurrence, Angus
10th young man named Barlow and
were going up to Townsend, that evening
think about Z or o'clock Barlow joine
me at his house about Is yards above Bar
lows Bridge we two started up the Railroad
| track; Ahern overlook us between Conway
house and Barlow's crossing; Weiiel Joine'
| US a quarter of q mile further on; wheI
Ahern FIRST came up he asked me IT wa
going to Townsend replied "yes," be sail
be was going up there to hunt man whit
had been cursing his father, and if be fount
him be would bit him; Ahern had no Goa
on and had nothing in hands were joined
then by Weitel; saw Wei.el once before q
sandown by the freight train, and recognized
him; don't know how he was dressed; Wei
tel said nothing to US; we kept on towards
Townsend; Ahern and l ON the lead part o.
the time; met man about 200 yards from
Townsend sitting on the left hand rail on the
side track; Ahern. and Weitel did not go on
TO Townsend but went up towards the man
Ahern asked If he was the man who had just
come up the road; the tramp rising to his
feet answered something did not UNDER
stand; was a little behind Ahern when he
accosted the tramp; Weitel was on the side
line when Ahern spoke; as passed by Ahern
came out on the main track, picked up some
thing and flung it at the tramp; AherA flung
three times saw him stoop twice; two Of
the shots struck the grass, and one struck
something pretty hard; did not see Weilet
do anything left Weitle and Ahern stand
ing there and went on to Townsend where
we staid from an hour, to an hour and half /;
returning saw the tramp lying where Ahern
had been thowing at him; told Mr.. Barlow !;
Mr.. Barlow, Mr.. Jester and went back to
Townsend; the man was lying in the same
place; / told at Townsend Mr. Reed. Jas. G.
Townsend and others; we then went back
again in body; found the body in the same
place; it was examined, but not by me; don't
know if the man was dead when Barlow and
repassed him the first time or not; there
had been a shower of rain just before in the
evening; evening train had passed down be-
fore saw the man first time when Atern and
Weitel were with us; saw no other train pass
up or down between that time and last time
we went to Townsend
The Grand Jury came into Court this after
noon and made the following report, after
which they were discharged:
To the Honorable Judges Of the General &ssions
efMe Peace and Jail Delivery:
The Grand Inquest for the body of New
Castle County respectfully make report that
at the present term, they have acted on 3O5
bills, Of which 25a were found true and 50
ignored. OF the true bills, IS were for felon-
les, and 220 were for misdemeanors of the
latter l46 were for violations of the liquor
laws, and SO were for violations of the reve-
nue. laws.
The attention of the Grand Inquest was
drawn by the Court at the May term 10 the
deplorabls increase of crime in this county,
to the alarming crimes Of arson,
burglary and highway robbery, and, although.
the calendar at the present time is very large,
it is some enjoyment to good citizens to be
able to state that no bills for arson, burglary
or highway robbery-and but one for house
breaking-have been laid before us, which re-
suit may be ascribed to the speedy arrest and
punishment Of the perpetrators of these
crimes.
But 1t is matter Of very serious regret that
the Court was compelled at the present term
to again call our attention to the great num-
Der of criminal charges; and that of those,
in the history Of
the county-were ofthe highest grades known
10 the law. 1t is to be hoped that this state
Of affairs will not continue ana when con-
sideration is given to the fact that during the
summer months, hundreds, perhaps thou
sands, Of unemployed persons, not citizens Of
The state or county, comprising among their
number great many intemperate, and de.
praved persons gathered from all the large
cities near US were wandering over the coun-
try, the community may perhaps be thankful
that greater number of serious crimes were
not committed.
In visit to the Jail the Grand Inquest
were struck with its crowded condition. They
would suggest that this could be alleviated
10 some measure, if committing magistrates
would dispose finally Of small misdemeanors,
instead Of sending the accused person to Jail,
which latter course in many cases works in
ustice, besides considerable expense TO tie
county and all parties concerned. Despite
he crowded state of the Jail it was found
very clean and in excellent order; and the
prisoners in very good health
A committee of the Grand Inquest visited
he Almshouse during the month of October.
The committee report that the institution is
managed that the inmates are
healthy and well cared for in every respect
and that the grounds and buildings are in
good order except the apartment for colored
persons, which the committee recommend
should be- put in proper repair at once. The
badly lighted and i'll ventilated
Court House, and the cramped condition of
The county Offices, force themselves upon the
notice of the Grand Inquest, yet they cannot
any expenditures whatever for
The erection of the new county buildings, nor
or the alteration or repair Of the old ones,
nor for the enlargement of The iail. while the