Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1884-09-30

There WAS . very large crowd OF spec
tators at the Munioipal Court last even
ing. to hear the trial Of Franklin Chap
man, the street preacaer, who was ar.
rested ut Eighth and Lombard streets
last Sunday by officer Sherer. The
preacher was accompanied by his wife,
and had q large family Bible with him,
tO which he slung tenaciously.
Judge CumminB asked him IL he had
any counsel, when he replied, "My
counsel Is the wonderful counsel, who
shal II judge the quick and the dead"
"Well, you're not dead yet, but you
are pretty quick, 70 you can cit down, "
said the Judge.
Officer Sherer was then sworn, and
testified that in consequence Of COM
plaint being made at the police station,
he went to Eighth and Lom bard streets,
where he found the prisoner preaching,
and making considerable noise. He
tQld him he would have to quit, as some
dH the residents In the vicinity had en-.
tered complaint.
Chapman then commenced quoting
scripture, and the witness took hold Of
him and led him short distance, when
he sat down and refused to 60 any fur
ther. The witness then pulled him along
on the pavement, when he got up and
walked, until he was on Eighth street
between French and Walnut streets,
where he again sat dow and when the
officer undertook to lift him up, he
struck at him and tried to bite him.
| The officer then struck him In the
face, and made his nose bleed, and
when he saw the blood he said: " Oh
the blood, the precious blood, shed by
an Outcas tot damnatiOn." There were
q number of citizens standing around,
but although the officer appealed Il
them to assist him, they all refused,
and finally the prisoner kicked him
th rec times, and he drew his black.
jack to strike him, but concluded moi
to do 1t, as he thought he was insane
Officer Mccormick then came, ard the
two took him 10 the hall after aviolent
struggle, during which McCormick't
coat was almost torn from his back.
When the officer finished his testi
mony, the Judge asked Chapman il hi
had any questions to ask the witness
and he replied In the negative. Tn,
evidence of Sergeant Zerby, and (
young man who was present at tn,
time wss also taken, and the prisone
was asked II he had any witnesses. H,
answered in loud voice: Z" have owe
twelve legions OF witnesses at m!
call"
"That will do, !" said the Judge " bu
! should like to know what you "a
down for"
"I sat down to make an appeal t
the people, who were anxious to know
why was arrested" he answered.
Have you license TO preach ?" in
quired the Judge.
have q licenee from the great God
replied the prisoner, as he wildly wave
his Bible around.
But have you o license from tn
Mayor" persisted the magistrate.
" No." thundered the prisoner,
don't need any"
Officer Sherer also preferred a charg
OF assault and battery, and the Judg
ordered the prisoner to furnish $40
bail for hearing on Wednesday morn
prevents my entering one cent bail"
He then commenced q speech, whicl
was cut short by the JgdRe orderin
Ch ief Mcconnell to take him from tn
room, and he went out, followed by hi
wife. AS soon as he was locked In th
corr ldor, he commenced to sing, Will
, h is W ife, who is evidently as much of
monomaniac as her her husband, bega
to exhort, and large crowd was 500
co elected in the hallway. The Chic
|. removed them to the rear corridor, an
after getting the people out, closed th
door.
:. Seine of the residents in the vicinit
of Eighth and Lombard streets wer
very indignant about his arrest, an
claimed that he had not created an
disturbance to warrant any one in mah
ing a complaint. Yesterday afternoo
. his wife called on Mayor Wales to In
tercede in behalf of her husband, whe
the Mayor told her that If he mus
preach on the street, he would have t
go where he would not disturb any one
She claimed that it was spirit of pei
secution that acttiated those v no order
ed his arrest, and the Mayor reminds
her that he had been arrested once o
twice before,a at the instance of the mem
bers of St. Paul's NJ. E. church, and sh
Ireplied that they were not christians
but were only professors.