Milford chronicle., 1883-11-02
THE DOVER RIOT.

On Tuesday, the Jury on the riot
case, brought in a verdict of Guilty
in manner and form indicted as to
Thomas G. Denney and William
Smith, and not guilty as to the Others" !"
There was considerable excitement
over the result. Smith is the only one
that can be found.
Those indicted, were: Thomas G.
Denney, William Smith, William
Houey, Charles Butler. Charles Ferris,
Edward Ferris, Daniel TOmlinsOn,
Frank Pyle, Edward Cammack.
This case has cost Kent county ST.
800 of the tax payers money, and the
disgrace cast upon the young men of
Dover will be as lasting as the lives of
the participants Judge COmPgys de-
livered the charge to the Jury. He
said: THAI unless parties who were
disposed to create riots and tumults in
Dover were brought to punishment
the town would have but little prOtec-
tiOn in the future. Persons who would
not wait for the law to take its course,
but took such matters in their own
hands, must abide by the consequences.
Any community is in more danger
from riot than from murder itself, be-
cause the latter crime affects only sim
gle individuals. Three offences pun
ishable as misdemeanors were riot,
rout aud unlawful assemblies. All
people have right to gather peacea-
bly,, but not in violent and turbulent
manner. In order to create a riot it
is necessary that three or more persons |
should meet together; next, that they |
should have the intention of commit |
ting some unlawful act, and lastly |
that the act should actually be COM |
mitted. In the present instance the |
act of the man who shot Henderson is |
to be taken as the act of all those ell
gagged in the affair. The testimony of
n. Is. Smithers, Jr., who had seen the
crowd grow more excited "a the wag-
Dns approached, was important, be-
cause that was an evidence of precOn-
cert of action. The expression of
Wen give them hell with bricks"
was evidence of precOncert of action
md a determination to do something
Unlawful. In speaking of the law of
the Chief Justice said Tat
he party assailed should get out of the
way if he could conveniently do so.
fhe jury should look into the question
IS to whether or not the man who shot
was in any danger at all of ,
icing killed by i'm. 1t was no eX-
use for the defendants that the show :
nen Fired first or that they used threat
ming expressions. Those gathered
n the Bayard House corner armed 4
yith guns and bats had no business
here, and selEdefense will not apply.
t cannot be considered in any other
ght than as an act of aggression on
he part of those collected on the cor
er. No proof has been offered of
henderson being in concert with the
lOwmen who did the firing. 1t is
cry singular that no one in the Dover
rOwd was injured. Two men were
lown to have had guns and one to
lrOW bricks. 1.-THE testimony offered
Y the State be believed then at least
emmy and Smith can be found guilty.
he importance of punishing the riot
s was strongly urged, the court stat
lg that with a good police force and a
erdict of guilty the State may have
, fear of more disturbances of this
lture. If the minds of the jury inn
Lnneled in this case be free from rea-
nable doubts then a verdict of guilty
Ould be found against the parties.
ne charge was read from manuscript,
e reading lasting for three-quarters
an hOur