Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1881-04-14
LOCAL NEWS
United STATES DISTRICT Court.
seyeral Election Cases Caiied-4t
.NolIs Pros" Entered - Louis
WED uWnn-

several Election Case~ Caiied-A
.NolIs Pros" Entered - Louis
Wfsdsnman-
Tbs April term Of the United States District
Court convened Tuesday at 10 O'Clock, a. III.
Tbs courtroom Was packed with people who
rad gathered In anticipation Of the ELECTION
cases. postponed from last term.
All the traverse jury were present except
Ebe Tunnel. Henry II. Richardson, George
n. Knott and Thomas ]. Craven. Ebe Tul-
nell was excused on account of having the
small. poy in his district, Henry II. Richard
son on account of having the French measles,
while Thomas J. Craven and George W. Knott
had moved out Of the district.
Charles B. Lore, Harry G. Turner and
Harry Sharpley, Esqs., represented the
defendants. District Attorney Patterson first
TOOK up the cases OF the United States VI.
Duncan and the United States W.. Reynolds.
He said IN substance that while the defend
ants had taken votes illegally it seems that
there had been an understanding between the
leaders OF both political parties that under
certain circumstances the ballots of certain
persons should be received. This agreement
bad been adhered to and under the peculiar
circumstances Of these cases he would enter
nolle proseqia as to them, though he wanted
il understood that his action in regard to
these cases should not be taken as precedent
IN the future. The Jury was then drawn TO
try the case of United States VI. Wiedenmnn
There Is one negro, Abraham Murray by
name, on the Jury panel. Murray Is large
man and thoroughly black.
Number Of witnesses were called to show
that one McCowhan had tried to vote in the
Fourth ward and on being refused went to
the Eighth ward to vote. Wingate followed
him to the Fourth ward and there challenged
bis vote that scutfle ensued upon Wingate's
irving to arrest McCowhan ;Wingate was the
Il ....l.r 4l.-Au
man struck him. Others were eye witnesses
to the row, but none saw Wiedenman strike
wingate.
"Blubber" Davis was on the stand, and
refused to answer the questions az to his
character, which tended to discredit him as II
witness. He displayed good deal of anger
under the unpleasant cross examination as to
how many times he had been convicted of
larceny.
At l2.35 the court took recess until lis
The District Court met at LIS. Marshal
flcMullen was the only witness called in the
afternoon session in the case OF the United
States va. Wiedenman.
At the close of the NIarshal's Testimony,
Mr.. Lore opened for the defense lie spoke
for about 10 minutes outlining the defense.
Several witnesses were called by the de-
tense, the substance OF the testimony being
in entire refutation of the testimony produced
by the Government.
The witnesses all said that the best order
prevailed at the Fourth ward polls all day
until George =. Wingate came rushing down
Fifth street, elbowing his way through the
crowd pushing the people IN every direction.
He called out not to let the s-n of q b-h
vote. Wiedenman tapped Wlngate on tho
shoulder and told him if he did not keep
quiet he would arrest him.
A number OF witnesses said that Wingate
was not struck: that his lip was not swollen
and bloody az was testified to in the
morning.
Officer Kane, who was the regular police
man in charge on that day, said that, although
he took Wingatein charge, he saw no evidence
OF his having been hit. 1t was generally
testified by the defense that Wingate acted in
violent manner, some saying they thought
he had been drinking.
Counsel agreed to submit the case to the
Jury without argument or charge.
The jury Withdrew at 2.35, returning at
sos with verdict of mot guilty.
The United States Va. Kayanagh was the
next case for which jury was drawn. The
only negro, Abraham Murray on the panel
was drawn to serve in this case. kavanagh
was also indicted for assaulting Wingate.
The testimony was precisely the same as in
the previous case and Just AZ contradictory.
The Government closed the case for the
prosecution at 4.lO, when the court adjourned
until Wednesday at 10 o'clock.
CouriImet promptly at 10 O'Clock, yesterday
morning. The defense in the case of the
United States vs.. Kavanagh opened to the
jury The evidence producedl was exactly the
same as was given yesterday in the defense OF
Wiedenman, the witnesses all testifyng that
Wingate, the deputy marshal. was the one
who created the disturbance at the Fourth
ward by the violent manner in which he came
rushing down calling out not to let the s-Of
4 b. (McKeown) vote,
Officer Kane who took Wingate in charge
said he did 30 because he considered him the
one stirring up the dlstur bance and 1t was his
duty to preserve order that he did not hear
Wingate use profane language
District-Attorney Patterson argued the case
TO the jury III one hour speech.
He was followed by Harry Sharpey, ESD,
for the defense. who presented that side OF
the case in an able and forcble manner in
twenty-minutes' address. Charles b. Lore
Esq, as the senior counsel for the defense
then spoke for another twenty minutes, when
the court ut l2.45 took recess until 1880 p
u.