The daily gazette., 1878-02-25
SECOND EDITION
The Colored Outrage Case.
HEARING BEFORE JUDGE WALES ON SAT-
uRDAY EVENING-THE PRISONERS
DISCHARGED.

@-f '1i ihb fHlSONERS
DISCHARGED.
The two colored men, Manuel anil
Onas Brown, who were committed ia
New Castle Jail on the morning of Feb
9th, on the charge of committing an out,
rage ON Cornelia Craig, col, were given
a nearing before Hon. Leonard l.. Wales
one of the Judges of the Superior Court,
at the police office on Saturday evening,
commencing at 730 o'clock and lastino
until 10. The room was densely packed
the office.
II. Il. Pennington, ESQ, represented
the State, and the prisoners were with
out counsel. The testimony was of such
a, nature that it is unfit for publication.
The first witness called was Cornelia
Craig, upon whom the alleged outrage
was committed She said that she recop-
nized the prisoners; on the 9th of the
present month she went to the house of
manuel Brown, on Tatnall street above
lith, ana when she arrived there she
round the prisoners and Annie Patton in
the room. She had not been there long
before Manuel committed the outrage
upon her. She endeavored to resist but
III was OF no use. Called to Annie Pat
ton to assist her but she did not paw any
attention to her cries. When she went
home Informed her mother of what had
occurred, who had them arrested. Often
went to the prisoners house and was
friendly with both of them.
Amelia Craig testified that she did not
know anothing about what transpired at
the house of the prisoners, but when she
arrived home, her daughter, Cornelia,
told her what had occurred. She seemed
TO De worried about something. Had
often warned her not to go to the house.
because she thought it was not good
place for young girls to go to. Onas had
been In the habit of going with Cornelia
Annie Patton who was in the room at
the time testified that she saw the par
ties on the day in question. CorneIia
came to the house in an intoxicated con-
dition, and said to her, "Oh Annie, you
ought to have been to HedgAville, 1 had
all the whisky l could drink" She then
commenced to slap Onas in the face and
ne told her to go away and not bother
MN. There was no outrage committed,
and Cornelia did not scream.
Other witnesses were examined but
their testimony was unimportant. At
the conclusion of the examination of wit
nesses, Mr.. Pennington stated that he
had been requested to repre- sent the
state, as it was inconvenient for the
States Attorney to be present. The
charge upon which the prisoners were
arralgned was serious one, and should
be carefully examined into He was of
the opinion, from the testimony received,
that there was no case. The testimony
OF the prosecuting witness was of a con-
hlcting nature. She acknowledges that
she was notinjured in any way, and he
did not believe there was grand jury
anywhere that would find a true bill
against the prisoners. Under the circum-
stances he could not ask the Judge to
hold them.
The Judge said that he agreed with the
gentleman that there was no case, and
therefore he would discharge the accused.
The decision was hailed with cheers, and
as the two men stepped out upon the
pavement they were soon surrounded by
their friends who warmly congratulated
them.