Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1881-04-21

ward case was opened. It acouits the
defendants, John McCaferty and Harry
Witsil, the Democratic inspector and
assistant al the November election,
They were charged with illegally re-
lusihg the vote OF negro named Mat
thews Cwho did not know his front name.
rs he was never christened) on the ground
that he was not resident OF the ward.
The case of Jacob August, charged with
attacking the numerously assaulted
United States Deputy Marshal George P.
Wingate, ut the Fourth ward polls, on
the November election day, came up.
The assault is alleged to have taken
place, as everyone knows, at the polls at
Fifth and Spruce streets, aud the charge
is that it occurred during the same melee
Tor alleged participation in which
Weidenman and Kavanagh have been
acquitted. The evidence will therefore
be in the main rahash Of that given in
the above cases. At l0.45 District.
Attorney Patterson opened the case
for the prosecution.
The only variation SO far In the test-
mony, in the present case, from that
offered in the others is the admission by
witness for the defense that the idea Of
accusing August was an after considera-
ton. lie was forgotten in the former
cases.
During the empaneling of the jury on
Tuesday Henry Eckel was challenged
by the prosecution. Abraham Murray,
colored, was substituted. He is the only
eolored man on the jury, Mr.. EckeI
smiled satisfactorily when relieved.
AT 1890 the United States Court sd-
ourned until l.3O.
The afternoon was Occupied by the
Judge in delivering his charge.
In the court yesterday morning the
jury in the case Of United States VS..
Jacob August returned upon the asseinb-
ling ofthe court at ~ o'clock, with YER
dict OF ''not guilty"
The case oi United States VI. Thomas
Bridgeman was proceeded with. Bridge
man being accused of having assaulted
the negro James Matthews.
Henry +. Pickles was on the stand and
testified as to the row at the time. He
was in his wagon about 100 feet off some
10 or 100 men surrounded the negro,
grabbing at, hitting, cutting and kicking
him. Witness did not see Bridgeman
there and saw no assault made by Bridge
man.
Artemus Wilhelm was a very funny
witness and afforded considerable amuse-
ment to the audience. He gave the fol-
| lowing testimony in very intense way:
Was deputy marshal at tho Tenth
ward polling place on the I'd OF November
last. Saw Charles Shields, who was
| deputy police, seize the negro Matthews
by the shoulders from behind, rush him
| through the crowd and send him of with
a kick.
Here, upon Wilhelm's expressing a
desire to show Shields action by ex-
| ample, Mr.. Lore offered himself. The wit
ness grabbed him roughly by the
shoulders, rushed him across the room
until he brought up over the top of a
chair and table, where in bent-over
| condition a slight kick was administered
| to the learned counsel.
Mr.. Lore looked as if he thought it was
| pleasanter to learn from precept than by
example. Wilhelm said he did not see
| Bridgeman the defendant in the melee.
\ That when he saw Shields using the
negro 80 roughly he said TO him, That's
no way to treat a man, black or white"
| upon which Shields said sd d-m
| your soul, IN arrest you" and he carried
| his threat into execution.
Several times through the examination
the witness insisted with great earnest
| ness that the counsel should not put an
81" on to the end of his name, it being
| Wilhelm and not Wilhelm. The witness
was extremely accurate in giving the
distances, having it narrowed down to
the half inches. Other witnesses were
called but there was no evidence given
against Bridgeman.
II. C. Turner, Esq, opened for the
defense, saying they would prove that
the deputy marshals were acting outside
Of their instructions, and creating dis
turbance by transgressing their duty
when they We're arrested by the state
officers.
The defense called Thomas McCloskey
who did not see Bridgeman assault Mat
Matthews, although he could have seen
the assault had it taken place.
Charles Shields, on being called, con-
tradieted in toto the testimony given by
the man without an 81, saying he han
died Matthews gently and that Wilhelm
assaulted him (Shields) before he touched
| Wilhelm.
Officer Chambers corroborated Shields,
and said that although he had seen Will
helm, Smith and others standing around
the polls, urging and pushing Matthews
towards the polls after his vote was re-
fused, he did not see any United States
deputy marshal badges upon them until
after the arrests were made.