Delaware gazette and state journal., 1884-02-07
FEBRUARY COURT.

WoOtfen Still unWell, Hut VIII
~, I'm the Water Commission Cas-,
on Monday.
The February term Of the court Of gen
sral sessions opened Monday at To-
oIclook with the Chief Justice and Asso
o,at. Justioe Houston on the bench
Jndqe Wootten was not present, al
although his health 10 somewhat i'm
nroyed, It is not probable that he will b,
abls to attend this court. Judge Houstor
said that he Thought Judg,
Wootten would bo able to be present a
the court Of errors and appeals, whiol
meets at Dover next Monday to heal
argument in the water commission oase
As soon as court opened, Clerk Cooh
ran called the names OF the grand juror
who, after being sworn, retired to theil
chamber. The names OF the petit Jurors
we're also called and except two answered
There are a number OF applicants fol
license. to sell liquor, and after the
grand Jury retired, Clerk Cochran i'm
proved the time in swearing them on
their applications.
The CASE Of Charles W. Dennis,
charged with assault with intent to kill,
was settled, aud the witnesses discharged
from further attendance.
There was lull in the proceedings
while the grand jury were absent, and
when they returned at 1890 o'clock they
were discharged until 3 O'clock in the
afternoon.
Bzekisl Wright, oolored, WAS srrsigned
and pleaded guilty to two indictments
one charging him with carrying CON-
cesled deadly weapon, and the other with
breaking into the store OF Leonard Heiss,
No. 4 Bast Third street, with intent to
commit q larceny.
William Morris, pleaded guilty to an
indictment charging him with the lar
cenY Of a watch.
Edward James, oolored, pleaded not
guilty to charge of larceny.
Ezekiel Wright was sentenced to pay
the costs Of the prosecution, stand one
hour in the pillory and reoeive 20 lashes
next Saturday, and be imprisoned one
year.
William Morris was sentenced to pay
the cost OF prosecution, $25 restitution
money, receive five lashes next Saturday
and be imprisoned three months.
Court Adjourned at O'Clock until in the
afternoon.
Monday afternoons session of court
opened al 3 O'Clock and Immediately
afterwards the grand jurymen retired to
their onamber. A jury was drawn, and
the case OF Benjamin James, cOlored, in
dlcted Tor larceny was taken up for trial,
with Harry Sharpless, Bsq., for the State
aud Walter 5. Hayes and Walter Bacon,
Kru3 for ths defense
The case was opened by Mr.. Sharpley,
who briefly addressed the jury and stated
that the prisoner was charged with the
larceny OF pooketbook containing four
25cent pieces and other change amount
ing altogether to $1.50, from Carrie b.
Andrews on Decem Der 2lst.
Carrie b Andrews upon being sworn
testified that on Friday, December 2lst
as she was in King street market with
her mother, she had the po,ketbook in
the side pocket of her coat and just before
reaching Fourth street she heard noise
aud souflling in the rear, aud upon look
ing around saw the prisoner struggling
with man and found that her pocket
book was gone from her pocket; she WAS
not aware when he took it. She recovered
1t afterwards at the police station.
Alfred Richardson was sworn and testi-
isd that he is engaged in the meat bust
uess on King street between Fifth and
Sixth; on the 2lst of December he saw
the complainant and her mother pass
along about 4 O'Clock in the afternoon,
and noticing that the prisoner was close
behind them, the witness laid off his
apron spd followed them. Just before
they reached Fourth street the prisoner
snatched the pooketbook from Miss
Andrews pocket and turned to run,
when the witness seized him.
In the scufie that ensued the prisoner
dropped the book, and as the witness
tried to pick 1t up he was pushed over by
James, who ran between two wagons and
Was not reeaptured until after he had
gone quite distance.
Two other witnesses were examined,
but their evidence WAS not material, and
MIR. Sharplsy said the State would rest.
Walter S. Hayes, Bsq., asked that the
Indictment he qusshed, on the ground
that IL charged that tina the prisoner had
stole. a poeketbook, whereas the article
produced in court and identified by the
prosecuting witness as the article taken,
was a satchel. This motion was over
ruled, and the court in charging the jury
called attention to the fact that the
indictment also charged the larceny of a
certain amount of money, and il the jury
believed from the testimony, that the
prisoner had taken it, verdict Of guilty
must be rendered.
Without leaving the box the jury reh-
dsred verdict of guilty and the ohiei
justice immediately sentenced him to pay
the costs of prosecution, $1.50 restitution
money, on Saturday next receive 2C
La hes, aid be imprisoned six months.
This case WAS concluded about 4
O'Clock, and no other business was trans
acted until O'Clock, when the grand
iurymen came in and reported on several
bills, after which they and the petit
Jurors were discharged until 10 O'Clock
Tuesday morning.
Several prisoners, against whom true
bills had been found, we're then brought
in and George Little alias George Wilson,
was arrsigued on an indictment charging
hlm with feloniously breaking into and
entering house on the 9th OF December
aud stealing several articles OF clothing
the property OF James Derry. He was
also indicted for the larceny OF an over
coat and pair of gloves, the property o.
Peter Wilson, and pleaded not guilty tC
both charges.
Samuel Resrdon was arraigned AND
pleaded not guilty to an indictment
charging him with committing an assault
with intent to kill Dennis Lynch, on th'
night of January 9th. Upon beinl
asked II he was ready for his trial, he re
piled that he was, and had engaged
willard Salisbury, Jr., ESQ.,, as counsel
tfeerge Rhosds and James johnson, botf
colored, pleaded not guilty to charge o
carrying concealed deadly weapons, ant
a. a,3u O'Clock court adjourned until II
O'Clock Tuesday morning.
Chief Justice Comegys and Judg
Houston occupied the bench at Tuesds.
mornings session OF court which opened
At lu O'Clock.
Levi Bird, ESD, attorney for Edwar'
Adams, moved for Judgment agains
Love 4 Son late sub oortr actors on
section of the new Baltimore & Philadel
phis railroad in Mill Creek hundred.
The name OF James Elliott, the colore
man who was turned out of New Castl
jail by the sheriff while awaiting trial
was called by the clerk, and upon tn
sttorney-general explaining to the cour
mat he was released on account of havin
lhe smallpox, the chief justice remarke
That he did not think the court wapte
anything to do with him.
Roderick Gillian, charged with assault
ing Matthew Macklem, and carrying
concealed deadly weapon, WAS permitte
TO plead guilty to the latter charge, an
sentenced TO pay dne of &25 and costs