Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1881-05-12

oTaHulslleu MS razor at Harris, who re-
taliated by throwing a brickbat through
the window.
About quarter of an hour later the two
met again on the pavement ut Lambson's
Corner, and Startling again assaulted
Harris with the razor, cutting his coat
sleeve and grazing one of his knuckles.
Harris cinched with Starting and, catch
Ing him firmly by the right wrist. pre-
vented him from using the razor. While
thus tusslng Harris struck against a
stone and fell on his back dragging
Starting with him. lie soon turned
Startling, however, who was constantly
threatening aud endeavOring To omt
Harris, and held him down so that he
could not use his weapon. Harris then
ordered him several times to drop the
razor, and, as Startling did not comply,
began punching him in the face with his
free list. A crowd soon gathered and
separated the combatants and Startling
sun brandishing his razor and swearing
vengeance. went in one direction while
Harris went in another. A white man
named John II. OTIS picked up II loaded
revolver IRON the pavement Just before
the men were separated The revolver
belonged to Startling, but the ownership
was not brought out in the evidence.
Without concluding this case, the
conrt adjourned until Wednesday.
Upon the reassembling of court yesterday
the trial OF tho eolored man. Joseph Star
ling, indicted FOR assaulting William Harris,
waH resumed.
The defense introduced additional evidence
that Harris commenced the ARRAY by striking
Startling and throwing II brickbat at him.
Thomas Davis, ESQ, then argued the case
for the prisoner, claiming that he acted in
justiiablc self-defense.
l.. Q. Nandegrift ESQ. replied briefly.
The Court laid down the law that, in case
OF assault, the defense mlistbe proportional
to the attnck. Where one attacks another
with his fist, the person attacked has no night
to defend himself with II razor. If We does
lie becomes the nggressor in his turn.
The Jury, after a deliberatiOn of IL min
utos, rendered verdict of equity. SEN
fenced to pay fine OF $40 and costs and be
imprisoned two months.
Upon application Of the Attorney General
the Court directed that William Duify, con
victed at the last term of court of recklessly
driving over an old man named Isaiah West,
at the corner OF Front and Washington
streets, one evening last summer, and sen
fenced to six months imprisonment 1.-TWO
months Of which We're taken oil by the Gov
ernor), be discharged from custody.
The Guthrie case was then taken uI.
The trial of William c. Guthrie is the first
Of any special interest thus far at this term
of court. He stands indicted for committing
All Indecent assault OH Annie Bell Davidson,
Il little girl of between eight and nine years.
in the house OF a uoighbor, Mrs. Bartlett, at
sixth and Church streets. The assault was
committed on the evening OF the I'd of last
November.
Guthrie fled the same night and succeeded
ii, reaching Chicago, where he dropped his
last name and called himself William Crosby.
4 reward of -20l was offered by the state
for Guthrie's apprehension. Patrolmon
Charles Brickle succeeded in getting oil his
track and he was arrested by the Chicago
authorities on receipt of dispatch from
Chief Maxwell on January 23d, and detained
until the Chief arrived with u requisition for
him. Chief Maxwell left Chicago with his
prisoner on Sunday afternoon, January 3Oth.
and reached Wilmington the following day.
Guthrie is II rather good looking man of
about 10 years, almost entirely bald with
heavy dark brown moIlstache and goatee. He
has followed for years the occupation of con-
tractor and builder in this city.
Tho following jurors were empanolled
James Curlett, Charles Paschall. Thomas
O'Neill. Arthur Jackson. Albert Lyman,
William II. Green, Samuel Culbort, Edward
g. Morley Merritt n. Willis. Thomas ID.
Lyman, .Iehu W. Davis. Isaac N. Morrison.
Attorney General Gray and Deputy Cooper
conducted the prosecution Charles Il. Lore
and Harry Sharpey, Esqs., the defense.
Little Annie Bell Davidson was the first
witness called. She is an interesting child,
barely . years old and small for her years
with dark brown curly hair and fair com
plcxion. Her answers to the questions pro-
pounded eylnccd the intelligence that M
observer instinctiyely couples with child Of
her size which is about that of an average
little girl of or years.
After being questioned by the Chief Justice
ns to her competency as a witness little Annie
was sworn and told her story in Il straightfor-
ward manner as far as she clearly understood
the questions of counsel She had gone,
about O'Clock i'll the evening" to the house of
Mrs BARTLETT who lived next door bnt one to
her mother, dressed to accompany her
daughter, Miss Josephine Bartlett, young
woman of Is years, to church.
In the front room Of Mira. Bartlotts house,
Guthrie and man named Irwin were sitting
In this room Mrs. Bartlett carried on II pr
waite school for small children, and the room
was lifted up with benches for that use.
Little Annie was one of the pupils.
Soon after Annie entered the room Guthrie
went over to where she was sitting and took
her on his knee. She sat there u little while,
and then he put her down. The little girl
then took tin cup and went ont to the
lNdrant for n drink.
when she re-entered tho house, Guthcric
was in the kitchen. She passed through the
kitchen and had started to ga up
stairs where the ladies were getting ready
for church, when Guthrie caught her by the
arm with his left hand. clutchod her throat
with his right hand 40 that she could make
no noise and furcibly violated her person. lie
then threatened to kill her il she ever told
anyone and gave her IL Decent piece, through
| which he punched a hole with fork, telling
her TO put n string through it aud wear it
| around her neck.
The little girl was soon after found by Miss
Josephine standing by the kitchen door
crying. She refused to tell hel or Mrs. Bart
lett what was the matter 50 her mother was
| sent for, to whom she related the whole story.
| Armies mother. Mrs. Eliza Davidson, testi-
| lied thai Guthrie came to the house shortly
| after the deed was committed and offered her
| 400 to say nothing about 1t.
Mrs. Davidson replied, ~ don't want your
money will make You smoke for this"
Guthrie replied that she had better take the
| money as she could do nothing with him, and
then turned away. After going few steps
| lie came back and said, Il will give yon s50O
| if you will settle 1t.
| Mrs. Davidson replied 81 won't sell my
child's character in that Way and Guthrie
| left.
She then took Annie over to Sergeant
| Jones house and told HIM what had trans
pred. and the pursuit OF Guthrie began. lie
eludod the officers, however, aud made hit
way that night to Camden n. j.
RSuirering from the treatment she had eX-
pericnccd the little girl grew feyerish and
derious al the evening advanced and lr
Keables was finally called in.
Guthrie was indicted for assault with intent
to commit rape. He was not indicted for the
actual crime, because the extreme youth oil
the witness made it doubtful that testimony
OF the complete character necessary to con
yiction could he obtained.
THE GRAND JURY DISCHARGED.
At l245 the grand Jury came down ant
reported some trne bills aud a resolution call
ing npou the Levy Court to furnish thei
room with suitable and safe receptacle TO
private books and papers.
Tho Court took charge Of the resolution 70
submission to the Levy Court.
There being no further business beror'
them. the grand jurors were then discharge,
for the term. .
Court at o'clock took IL recess till p. m
ARREST or ANDERSON.
I