Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-04-10
uNIriD srArEs COZ Rr.
Complaint Made About the sseanti.
ness of Accommodations.

were drawn as tie grand jury D.uiei
Hearn, foreman; Edward u tiragg,
Samuel Finley, arerse II Rab,nyor
John V. Christy, Thomas bowen, iJhi,
| W. Day, William Bra kin, Johu b.
Cooper, Charles Il. Denny, Francis NJ.
Dnnn, Robert Jump, Minos Conway,
Amos Cole, Silas Todd Jenkins, William
B. Berwick, Edward O. Raymond,
Edward l. Ross, Jemee Lsnk and Joseph
l., Black, Tfus bills were reported
against Laban Butler aud John Collins,
each on two indictments, fol- violating
the liquor laws.
| AT the afternoon session when the
grand jury roll WAS csllsd there were
| 40 absentees. While on the way to the
jury room Silss Todd Jenkins of Sussex
county stepped TO the clerks desk and
| qualified himself as a grand juror by
affirmation. Hs had been unavoidably
abstnt durirR the nlnrninp.
| Ia reply to JIGge Wales' inquiry as to
any business being ready for the court,
Distriot-Attorney Patterson stated that
the grand jury had found certain true
bills, some five or ak, but that In CASE the
petit jury happened TO be ready to try q
case, previous to the grand jury getting
|
actually no room or accommodation for
| 1t. There Is no room or apartment in
| this building, available for the courts,
that the jury can retire to, to consider its
verdict. There is the msrshal's office.
but that is usually crowded with a
variety Of business and individuals which
necessarily would interfere with thu
proper deliberations of such body as a
jury. Then Qaughingl7) there is your
own room, your honor, which would be
suitable to the ideas of the gentlemen OF
the jury, its modestly comfortable APP.
| pointmonts they would not disagree with,
but then warn your honor that petit
| jury is not the most eanly or delicate
body of individuals in the world (resy
smiles here broke over the pleasant
faces of the country gentlemen) they
are slightly addicted to the use of
! tobacco minus the triiling advantage of a
| spittoon. He would otf9r his own office,
| but it also is not in the building, being
two or three blocks off and therefore il
would not do There il room up in the
garnet for the jury, if all psi sies are
agreed to go there. Then, speaking with
some show Of indignation, he said there
is accommodation for the post office, but
not for the courts. All the defendants
are in custody at New Castle, therefore
not available here.
| Mr.. Patterson considered that exclusive
of yesterday two days more would finish
| all the court business. His honor seemed
to sympathize with, the district attorney
1 in his difficulties in reg ard to the soauti
ness OF accommodation afforded for Judi
cisl business, but did not suggest any
remedy. The SQUIRT then discharged the
petit inry until yesterday morning.
The United States district court for the dis
| trict of Delaware was convened yesterday
morning at 10 o'clock, Judge Wales sitting Dis
| trlct Attorney Patterson stated to the grand
| jury that the services of the grand jurors
could be- dispensed with and upon his sugges-
| ton they We're discharged by the court and
| paid by Marshal McAluLcn.
Before the discharge oil the grand jury the
| foreman presented IL Inc court the following
| report which was read aad certified copies
ordered By Judse Nai-s IL be forwarded to
senator's Ba!ald tt'- 'otuisGury add Repre-
| ,uutatlyo ECfG
The undersigned grand jHrymen for the
| United States couit for the district of Dela-
.saTe at its session this 9th day of April. A.
D., 1884, would most respectfully represent
that.
"WHEREAs. The United States court rooms
| in the city of Wilmington are totally unfit and
inadequate for the business of the court,
| therefore, be it
''iieSoiued. That our senator's and repre-
| sentatives i'll Congress be most respectfully
but earnestly requested to secure an appro-
priaton for the purpose of building suitable
buildings for the uses of said court.
The report was signed by all the grand
jurors.
The first case called WAS that of George W.
| 1al,p rb., y,Iaodud 20 ha nt
ment of selling liquor without a LICENSE.
District Attorney Patterson stated to the
court that defendant had been in prison
since September 18th that he had been
entitled to trial ut the past January term, his
incarceration since that time was equivalent
to fine representing the amount upon All
ORR inal sentence in proper course, and added
that johnson WAS poor man and entitled fol
these reasons to the consideration of the
court A nolle prasequi was entered. On Il
second count johnson was sentenced to pay
costs, 500 fine and to imprisonment 30 day.
from date.
In the case of Salie Il. Kennard, against
whom there were three indictments, aud WHIT
pleaded guilty 10 selling liquor without {
license, the district attorney stated that de
fendAnt kept one of the worst rookeries ii
tho city Complaint after complaint had beer
made Of her the locality, No. II Market
street. where she lived, was seed bed OF
vice still the prosecutor would wish to il
form the jury that the defendant was acting
under the influence of Burt Spencer who wal
under arrest.
The sentence of the court upon the frs
two indictments was 800 and costs and i'm
prisonment for three months from date ant
ON the third indictment, 500 tine and 81
days confinement to begin Oh termination Of
imprisonment of the first sentence. TIL,
district attorney stated that he would in dut
| tnt 81 nnlln rpfnrnupa ID
the last indictment.
Burt Spencer of this city, a cOlored man o.
Lad character was indicted for the sale o.
liquor without the payment of aispeclal tax
He pleaded not guilty. The district attorne!
stated that the defendant mad repeatedly allt
continuously broken the revenue laws.
Isaac l. Adkins, deputy collector of inter
hal revenue, testified that defendant had nj
license The act of selling liquor was proved
by various witnesses. The Jury, withou
leaving their seats, found HIM guilty Ill
indicted. He was sentenced to pay costs
800 fine, and Imprisonment for four months
There was second indictment against thu
same party, specifying the names Of certain
parties who were recipients of the goods
me Indictment WAS satisfactorily proved t.
the Jury, who handed in verdict OF guilty
The court pronounced the following
sentence To pay costs 800 fine and b.
imprisoned for two months, the latter t.
, | commence NJ lGlu VI nISl HbulbltGt.
,, John Collins, colored, indicted for sellIni
liquor without a license pleaded guilty. II
had also been in jul three months on accoun
of the death of Judge bradford and Their
being no January term of the district cour
. held. for this reason the district attorne
said he would not be adverse to considcra
tons Of the court on defendants behalf. Tn
court sentenced the prisoner to pay costs o
prosecution, 800 fine and be imprisoned TO
wo months from date.
Laban Butler, white, Of Sockum. nea
, | Farmiugtop, an old man of extreme de
crepitude and physical attenuation, with hi
, clothing in rags, was indicted for liquor sellin
/, without license He had but one hand an
was a picture of human distress and poverty
,, A plea OF not guilty to heindictment was re
recorded.
The district attorney stated that the dc
! PENDANT had persistently infringed on til
! revenue laws. There were two indictment
= = for which verdicts of guilty We're returned
The sentences for each offense were similar
costs, 800 fine. and 80 days imprisonment.
Mr. Patterson stated that this case tinishe
all he had ready for the action of a jury
- ! There We're two cases outstanding sine
= January 9th, 1SS3-one against a man name
= Mclaughlin, + violation of election law
! | the defendant Is across the line, i'll Philade
. phia the second is that of James Mcdonald
an election casealso. In the latter case til
;, clerk was ordered to enter Il nolle prosequ
!, In conclusion. the petit jury and wltuessI
a We're discharged, and court adjourned unit
10 O'clock tomorrow morning
= During the session Of less than three houl
:. this morning, the court acted upon II indie
= ments, and convicted and sentenced the pr
: soners which is about the quickest work r.
!, corded OF United States tribunal. III
- unique feature of the proceedings was thi
all the prisoners tried were convicted withol
L.. H.