The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1879-08-12
reported By cnas. H Smiley, Esq.

Reported by Ctas H. Smiley, Esq.
Annals of the Court.-An attentive OBJ
server of the current events transpiring
within our county would be justified in
expressing alarm at the fearful increase
of crime. OF late it would seem that the
sluice-gates of iniquity had been hoisted,
and adeluge of debauchery and dishones-
ty was rushing through, driving virtue
and integrity out upon its tide. From
murder down to petty thieving,th the cases
have crowded our criminal calendar, un-
til at last the limited time allowed to the
trial of our civil list, has been encroached
upon, and at the present time was en-
tirely consumed by the criminal court.
The large number of cases which
were returned to the District Attorney
since the last sessions made it very evil
dent that it would require whole week
to dispose of them, and in order to save
disappointment and cost to parties inter-
ested, Judge Junkin made an order in
the month of July that all civil cases
should go over to the next term, and ac-
cordingly the Court of Quarter Sessions,
and Oyer and Terminer and General
Jail Delivery were the only courts in
session during the whole week. In ac-
cordance, therefore, with the ancient and
time-honored proclamation of the Sher-
iff of the county, the court convened on
Monday, the 4th inst, at l O'Clock p.
M, with the President Judge and both
Associates on the Bench, and all the Of
ficers from the lawyers to the janitor
were in their places, ready for work.
The usual miscellaneous business was
disposed of rather earlier than usual and
jury was called to try case before ad-
journment on Monday evening. The
first case called was that of the Com
monwealth VS.. Amos Henderson. This
defendant has become so well known in
our own and adjoining counties that any
extended notice of him is unnecessary.
1t will be remembered that he was the
recognized leader of gang of marau-
ders whose headquarters were at the
foot of the Blue Mountains, in Carroll
township. Some time since the Consta-
ble of Carroll twp, with posse conlita-
tus, made search of their premises for
stolen goods. A very considerable guam
tity was found and duly recognized by
the owners. The result of this search
was the arrest of Nelson Mendenhall
and Martha Henderson, who were tried
at the April sessions, convicted of re-
ceiving stolen goods, and they are now
stopping in Philadelphia as guests of the
Commonwealth, having for their host
the Warden of the Eastern Penitentiary.
During this time, Amos Henderson, who
was brother of one of the convicts and
a brother-in-law of the other, was an
innocent abroad. AT last it was rumor-
ed that he was in Cumberland county,
and that an officer of the law named
May had put this august parsonage in
side the hospitable walls of the Carlisle
Jail. Our vigilant District Attorney in
short time had him in Castle GRAY,
A number of new bills were prepared
against him in addition to the indict-
ments that had been already found.
When he was brought into court he look
ed innocent as mule and In the seeming
consciousness of his integrity declined
to make choice of counsel for his defense
which privilege had been rendered him
by the court. AS no member of the bar
spoke first for the enviable distinction
his Honor Judge Juhkin, designated A.
nj. Markle Esq. as his counsel.
The first Indictment tried was con-
tanned in two counts, the first charging
him with stealing, and the second with
receiving stolen goods, which We're the