Bridgeton pioneer., 1884-10-16


prosecution.
The Judge briefly charged the iurv,
and reviewed the evidence impartiallv,
favoring neither side.
The next case called was that OF
Edward Fry, for having committed an
assault upon Mr. Joseph Harris, the
owner of Harris Grove, the Goth of
last May
Mr. Harris was sworn and gave the
circumstances of the assault.
Mary Winters was called, and sub
stantiated Mr.. Harris evidence.
Mr.. NanSyckel finished stating what
he intended to prove, when Court ad-
journed until $50 o'clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Court convened at 9. 80 o'clock. The
jury in the case of the State VS.. VIM.
III. Jones returned a verdict of Not
guilty" The case of Harris vs. Fry
was then resumed Edward Fry, the
defendant, was called and said that he
hit Mr.. Harris in self defense; that Mr..
Harris used forcible means to eject
him from the grove; that he (Fry) had
a sore arm at the time which Mr.. Har-
ris injured This was about all of his
testimony.
Edward Borden testified substanti-
ally as did Fry. He said Mr.. Harris
was very angry because of name
which had been called out and that he
took hold of Fry to put him out.
Mr.. Harris was recalled to deny
statements made by Fry and Borden,
and did so. He said it was common
thing to be insulted by frequenters of
the grove.
Mr.. VanSyckel in summing up the
case said that Mr.. Harris was very
sensitive to being called Joseph
Lases," and he was very angry when
ever it was mentioned. He claimed
that the young man acted in self de-
fense.
Mr.. Hoagland summed up for the
prosecution. The case was then given
to the jury with instructions from
the judge to bring in verdict of
guilty. He didn't say so in just so
many words but he meant it.
After retirement of about half an
hour the jury in this case brought in
verdict of guilty.
Frederick Riddle, of Lands town
ship, having been indicted for keeping
disorderly house, plead guilty
The next case was that of the State
vs. Pierce. Mr.. VanSyckel, of counsel
for defense asked the Court to post
pone the case until Wednesday (to-
day. on account of the absence of two
principal witnesses. The Court hest
tated, but finally concluded to let it
go over if Mr.. VanSyckel would make
an affidavit in which the burden of
the evidence he expected to produce
should be given. The affidavit was
made out; then the Court asked Mr..
VanSyckel if he had any objection to
going on with the case as far as they
could without those witnesses. Mr..
VanSyckel said he had no objection,
and the case was ordered on.
Pierce was brought into Court look
ing defiant, and was given seat di-
rectly in front of the girl he is said to
have committed an assault upon. The
mother and sister of the girl sat by her
side. The sister looked worried and
sad.
When Mr.. Hoagland read the bill as
returned by the Grand Jury, Pierce
looked steadily at him, his countenance
never changing and not a tremor be-
ing noticeable.
Victoria Regina Pierce, a young
looking, slender girl, took the stand
and told her sickening story in a
straightforward manner. She went
into every detail, and while she was
giving her testimony Pierce once in a
while looked up, but the most of the
time his eyes were bent toward the
floor. When he did look up, he looked
like a startled deer. The damaging
cNlucuCe WiICAl GLc SlIl gave llhu Tile
effect of impressing both the specta-
tors and the jury with it's sincerity.
On the cross-examination the witness
made some admissions which caused a
smile to play around Pierce's mouth
Despite Mr.. VanSyckels best endeav-
ors, he couldn't get any damaging con-
tradictions from the girl. For a girl
who can neither read nor write her
testimony was remarkably well given
The mother of Victoria was sworn
Francis A. Pierce-and testified to
having sent her daughter to Edward
Pierce's house on the morning of Sun
day, August Gath. Her testimony was
given in a very vigorous and amusing
manner. Her quaint sayings even
made His Honor smile and the specta-
tors laughed outright. She got off the
following at one stage of her evidence
circumstances alters different cases. y