The daily gazette., 1877-11-26
Proceedings Of Court.

The TRIAL of Chambers and Collins
The Evidence In the Cdse-The Yer
dict OF the Jury.
NEW CASTLE, Del, Nov. "a, 1877.
The following are the concluding pro-
ceedings In the ease of State VS.. Cham
bers and Collins, the early portion of
which was published in late editions Of
Saturday: .r. .l
The balance Of the testimony of Mrs.
Smith went to show that she was sick be-
fore the event occurred and that the
man whom she supposed to be Collins,
(the prisoner) had shown her the road.
James Smith, sworn: Am the hus-
band of the lady who was on the stand
know the prisoners Chambers was the
man who got in the wagon; he stopped
me; asked me If 1 wanted work ; said
yes he asked me if my wife wanted
work; said yes; he said he knew where
we both could get work told him we
would wait under cedar tree till he
came back when he came back we
told me to go back told him "no !" he
started over the fields we got
"well, then take this, me
with whip-handle, cutting my head and
stunning me soon recovered, and started
to hunt for my wife thought l heard
some one cry as if in pleading tones !;
stopped to listen but heard no repetition
Of the cry; went ON then to hunt
policeman.
Cross-ex amined-Th If the man had
J no work he would give me something to
eat; was hunting for my wife through the
dark in the streets of Middletown; l was
all bloody people thought was drunk
and wouldn't listen to me at last found
her resting on the steps. s--.---,
Margaret Thomas, (col) sworn-Llvo
| at Middietown; know the prisoners ;
know Mr.. and Mrs. Smith; saw Chambers
| talking with them in the afternoon
heard Smith ask Chambers IL he knew
where he could get work didn't see
them have any conversation with any
body else. In the evening about nine
O'clock Mrs. Smith came to my house and
asked for a drink of water she then
asked me If saw any one go along with
her early In the evening told her yes !;
she asked me If I knew who 1t was ; l
told her 1t was Chambers she asked m
if there was a town hall at Middletown ;
told her yes didn't hear any outcries
that evening my house is very short
distance from where the affair happened.
VIM. B. Rothwell, sworn Am a con.
stable in st. Georges hundred on the
plaintiff making a complaint at the
'Squire's office was sent to the place
4 UOOk 11TSs Oullbu bWO OhASOAOt W
W. Cannon and q. McD, Roberts with
tme saw the prints under the cedar tree
| as if two persons had been setting down
followed the tracks across the field to the
orange hedge went into the cornhelu
it was Gov. Cochran's property followed
the footprints at last came to spot
where there had been a struggle the
corn was knocked down, and the stalks
broken there was blood on some OF the
blades ; it was where Smith had been
knocked down from that point found
only three persons tracks; found another
track very Irregular, as though the per-
son had staggered along; one OF the three
sets of tracks was that of woman's
Mrs. Smiths foot fitted right in them il
was about half mile from where Mar
garet Thomas lives. .-s.,.5
Court adjourned until o'clock this af
ternoon.
Afternoon Session.
| Court re assembled at 3 o'clock.
| The case of State VS.. Chambers and
Collins continued.
Wm. r.. Rothwell cross-examined by
the defence AT the trial she said Col
, Inns was not the man and said he WASN'T
tall enough arrested several different
, men was on the same night of the out
rage that arrested Chambers he worked
for man named Whitlock /; he was In
bed when went to arrest him F.; he sale
he was not the man.
ri q, McDonough Roberts sworn WA
police officer at the time ;went witt
r Roth we'll and saw footprints as described
: Gov, Cochran's house Is the neares
house. -...
VIM, Cannon corroborated the testi
+, mony of the preceding two gentlemen
James Gears sworn Saw Mrs. Smitf
/ that night in Middletown it was neal
!. 1.-The depot she asked where the hall " as
: my companion, Mr.. Jones, gave herit
, short answer she then asked me to fine
, her husband tor her as she didn't know
whether he was dead or alive l begar
/, then to take some interest see seemed
in dire distress.
James B. Naudain sworn Am Jus
t tice of the Peacein Middletown; Cham
} bers was before me charged with the
n crime Collins was a witness agains
, Chambers while there Collins was ar
n rested on suspicion the woman failed tt
identify him, and he was released lev
days later he was re-arrested; he made
: statement; 1 reduced it to writing III
8 signed the paper.
- AT the reuuest of the Attorney Genera
he produCei it. Mr.. Vallandigham ob
jected to It's being read. The matter wa
finally compromised by the defence agree
ing to state to the jury that George Collin
confessed to being with Cham bers on tina
n night. Mr.. Vallandigham admitted tina
= to be the purport of the paper, Dut dld no
|" admit of It's truth.
e Cross-examlned-Ne heard any threat
\ against Collins, but there was agatns
:, Chambers; was afraid he would be hung.
10 The State here rested the case.
" Mr.. Henry G. Turner opened for the de
ar fence, calling the attention of the jury
I, the solemnity of the occasion, and TO Tn
1t awful responsibility resting upon theI
of should they, when they return from thel
n deliberations with a verdict of guilty,
,r the means of sending an innocent soul Int
- eternity.
s. Robert G. Whitlock sworn-Live nes
II MiddletoWn; the prisoners lived with M
" knew Chambers for two years and Collin
y about five; always had good reputatio
III before this; was present at the arrest {
q. Chambers heard him say he was not tn
,e man; had some fifteen hands IN my en-
ploy; some of them resembled Chamber
had heard threats of hanging Chamber
didn't know whether Collins was alarme
or not.
:. Cross examined Had two teamster'
# those (the prisoners) were the two m M
place Is about u half a mile from where u