The daily gazette., 1880-11-18
THE COUNTY COURTS.
FEW JURY TRIALS WIND UP THE
cRIMINAL BUSINESS.
Specially reported for the GAZETTE.

NEW CASTLE, Nov. II.
Just previous to noon adjournment,
to-day, the Grand Jury came dowr
with number of tue bills and afte,
receiving the thanks of the Court were
discharged from further attendance al
this term of Court.
Among their indictments were sew
eral against Wilmington business men
Tor failure to take out a license some
Of the lawyers also narrowly escaped
indictment for this offense.
The Collectors of county taxes and
all witnesses in liquor cases were dis
charged from further attendance at
this term Of Court.
Margaret Gooden, negro girl, was
arraigned for the larceny of a black
silk dress worth $40 and an under
shirt valued at 81, from Chas. B.
Woodward, Wilmington, and pleaded
mot guilty"
VIM. Gunkle, boy of about IA
years, WAS arraigned for the larceny Of
gold watch and chain from Rachel
Chambers, IN Wilmington, on Nov. 8.
de is the lad who was captured in
New York by Chief Maxwell. He
pleaded mot guilty" and Counsellor
Turner kindly volunteered to defend
him.
Curtis Coffman, COL. was arraigned
for assault and battery upon Millie
Roy, colored, also pleaded "not gull
ty."
Court then adjourned until o'clock
p. m.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Court reassembled at o'clock,
judges Houston and Wootten on the
bench.
1t is understood that Chief Justice
Comegy's absence to day 10 the result
Of slight illness.
On application of Counsellor Turner
the case OF VIM. Gunkle, the boy
charged with the larceny of a watch
and chain from Rachel Chambers,
was continued until the February
term.
State VS.. Margaret Gooden, col, for
the larceny of dress and underskirt
belonging to Miss Mary odward, of
Wilmington, on the 18th inst. Harry
r. Pennington, Rsq., for the State, and
II. c. Turner, Esq, for the defense.
The proof was that Margaret Good
en- was employed as q domestic in the
Woodward family, and that Miss
Woodward missed the dress aud skirt
on Saturday night, and that during the
morning Miss Lille Throp, who lives
next door, saw Margaret Gooden cross
ing the street at Eighth and Madison,
with bundle under her arm, from
which hung the sleeve Of silk dress.
which she recognized as Miss Wood
wards.
Counsellor Turner rigidly GROSS ex-
amined Miss Throp in regard to iden-
tifying the dress from seeing the sleeve
while half square away (she having
been on Eighth street, below Windsor
when she saw Margaret Gooden CROSS
ing Madison street, but she remained
firm and positive in her statement.
Mrs. Woodward testified that she
sent the girl to scrub the front steps,
ON Saturday morning, but instead OF
doing SO she went up stairs and then
left the house. Mrs. Woodward then
went up stairs and found that the
dress and skirt were missing.
Sergeant Whelan testified that Mar
garet Gooden, after her arrest, told
him the goods were at Yves Blacks
house, on Newport Pike. He went
there ana found them.
The case was submitted without ar
eument, and the jury, without leaving
he box, returned q verdict OF guilty.
The prisoner was sentenced to pay $44
restitution money and costs, and to an
Imprisonment of 6 months.
The next jury trial was that of Cur.
tis Coffman, colored, for assault and
battery ON Millie Roy, COL, II. G. Tur.
ner. ESQ, for the State, and the offsnst
was alleged to have been committed IL
Red Lion Hundred, on October 17th
Millie testified that she was walking
along the railroad, near Delaware
City, when Curtis called her, and ss
she turned around he struck her aorosl
the face with stick, knocking hel
down, and breaking her right jaw
bone. He then choked her and tori
her clothes, after which he ran away
The witness was still suffering from
the effects Of the injury, and coult
scarcely open her mouth.
Curtis made speech in his own be
half. the burden Of which was tha
Mile would not "pay any tenshuns t.
de ehillun," and had too many men,
He admitted the assault, but said h'
only hit her over the head with an ap
ple tree branch, when she grabbed
him. and he flung her down upon th'
railroad ties. The prisoners stale
ments in relation to the misdoings O
his wife we're decidedly humorous
though they would hardly look well il
!, print. However, his statements wer'
, SO convincing as to cause tho jury .
doubt the truth Of Millie Roy's testi
t mony, and they retired for oonsuita
. ton.
Coffman, during his address to the
iury. stood in front of the box, just a
if he was a lawyer. His speech caus
ed great amusemsnt throughout tn
: court room.
The jury, after a brief absence, re
/: turned verdict of guilty" Win
] recommendation Of the prisoner to IN
:. mercy of the Court. He was senten
: oed to a fine of $50 and one month
imprisonment. hr.i
ness of the present term and Court ao
4 iourned until Monday morning mex
. At 10 o'clock, whom the SuperlorCoui
will be convened.
nuu ADIES, FAIR,