Bridgeton pioneer., 1884-10-16


Court. The accused entered into his
own recognizance for his appearance
at Court.
Hon. James L. Nixon, as counsel for
J. l.. Van Syckel addressed the Court
and stated that Mr. Van Syckel wished
to withdraw his plea of mot guilty.
to having committed an assault and
battery upon John Cheesman and
plead guilty instead.
The Prosecutor said he had no OBJ
lection to allowing the plea to be en-
tered. The Court said he would think
about it-so it will be decided one way
or the other this week.
The Prosecutor then called the case
of the State VS.. VIM. H Jones, for lar
ceny. The prisoner is a young man
who doesn't look as though he would
be guilty of stealing. The amount
stolen was $15.
Chas. G. Diament, farmer who
lives on Jones' Island, near Cedarville,
being sworn said: "Wm. H. Jones had
lived with me a long time. l had
missed money on several occasions.
On the 10Th of August last. | placed
SIS in silver in one of the bureau
drawers at my house and marked one
of the pieces. | visited Sea Breeze
that day. When l returned home the
money was gone. l found the money
in the young mans trunk. l made
complaint before Mayor Smalley and
had him arrested"
The money was produced in court.
The other evidence further deduced
for the prosecution was unimportant.
On cross-examination by J. L. Van
Syckel, the witness was rather tart in
his replies to the pert questions asked
by counsel The Judge cautioned the
witness to be respectful. In reply to
the question why did you mark the
money! the witness said Because I
wanted to-" The witness further
stated that he had punished his young
est son for stealing money from him.
He said he believed Jones to be guilty
for he knew that he (Jones) had been
spending more money than he had re-
ceived from him. When Mr.. Van
Syckel alluded to a letter which he
had written to witness, Mr. Diament
said he believed "he had received
about half log from him." Mr.. Van
Syckel then said, You received it in
an envelope, did your" The Judge
here again cautioned the witness to
answer questions, and not to indulge
in generalities. A few further ques-
tions of minor Importance were asked
and the witness took his place beside
Prosecutor Hoagland.
Mrs. Diament was then called and
testified that Jones had said when ac-
cused of stealing the money: "You can
keep the money if you will go no
further with it,
Here the prosecution rested.
j. L. VanSyckel, ESQ.,, in stating
what he intended to prove, was very
eloquent, and said among other things
that this young man bore a good rep
utation in his neighborhood, and he
arraigned his accuser for trumping up
a charge against him.
Mr.. Jones was called, and testified
in his own behalf. He told straight
forward story, and denied IN toto the
charge brought against him. He said
that the amount of SIS belonged to
him; that it was money he had saved
up in small dribs for three months pre-
vious. When he referred to the state
ment he had made to Mr.. Diament:
Keep the money!" he said he had
made it supposing he had no friends,
and that he wouldn't get it back if he
made any effort to do so. When he
alluded to the fact that he had not as
many friends as Mr. Diament, tears
stood in the accused's eyes, and he
came very near breaking down.
Prosecutor Hoagland cross-examined
the witness very severely, but failed
to elicit any damaging self evidence.
The young man stuck to his story,
kept cool, and made good impression
upon the court and jury-seemingly,
of course.
The tears were frequently seen to
gather in the young mans eyes.
John Duffield dcorroborated the Young
mans testimony in regard to livery
hire, and testified to his honesty. He
also testified that Mr.. Diament in
speaking of this case, had said in reply
to a question from Mr.. Duffield that
the money was not marked.
George Hepner, gray haired and
pleasant looking gentleman, testified
to the honesty and good character of
Mr.. Jones, and substantiated Mr.. Duff
field in regard to the statement that
the money hadn't been marked.
Captain Josias M. Cobb and Robert
Whitaker also testified to the good
character of the young man and his
reputation for honesty. The Prose-