Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1885-02-26
Justice I'm lDeiaw nre.

Under the above caption Taggart's g
Philadelphia Sunday Times, February
90, coatains the following On the eth
Of December last the summer residen &C
Of Colone! John II. Taggart, at Gruob's
Landing, on the p, w. & Is. Railroad
eight miles north OF Wilmington, was
broken into in broad daylight, and
ransacked from top 10 bottom by a
burglar named Philip Crane, who was
caught In the act by Colonel T's gard.
ener and taken to Wilmington, wher.
Crane was committed by Magistrate
Berrolette to New Castle Jail, TO await
trial At the February term Of the New
Castle County court. There being un-
usual delay In bringing the burglar to
trial, Col. Taggart went to Wilmington
| to see about 1t and learned, to his surprise
and indignation, that the prisoner had
been discharged on the 18th of February,
by order of court, without being brought
TO trial. The commitment was made
| out in proper form, and the witnesses
| to the mans acts were within an hours
reach from Wilmington, but they were
never summoned, not even TO appear
before the Grand Jury, 10 testify. At
torney General George Gray gives The
following explanation Of the matter
WILMINGToN, Del, Feb. IA, 1885
JOHN II. TAGGART, ESQ -DEAR
Sir Il made inquiry yesterday as tC
the case of Philip Crane, which you
brought to my attention on Thursday
afternon. find that the commitment
was duly returned by Justice Bertolette
and that the Deputy Attorney General
Cooper, duly ordered subI9nas for the
witnesses " hose names appeared there
IA, II
mon eat inventus" by the Sheriff, and
as the Sheriff said he had no knowl
edge OF the persons or their residence
Mr.. Cooper supposed that the partie,
did not wish to take the trouble u
prosecute Gas is often the case) anC
passed the ca 30 TO the list Of those " no
prosecuted for the want OF evidence
Whereupon Crane, with others on tn,
list, was. after the adjournment of tn,
Grand Jury, discharged by the Court.
| have no reason to think that ther,
was any " design" on the part of tn,
Sheriff's officers Indeed, there could
not have been, as the names of tn,
Witnesses were unknown to them.
| very much regret the escape of thil
rascal from the whipping post.
Yours Respectfully,
| GEORGE GRAY, Attorney General
Philadelphians having coupGry sesn
near the boundary line between Della
ware and Pennsy lvania are almost q
the mercy of gangs OF tramps, wht
invest the public roads and railroad
and demand food ahd shelter, often IL
the most imperative manner. This mar
Crane was one of this class, and as h,
has been allowed to 60 UNPUBLISHED
there is no security for life and proper
lty from such marauders. Only few
J days ago, a thief broke into the summe
} residence Of General Isaac j. Wistar, in
the vicinity of Colonel Taggart's place
and after stealing some of the General
clothing. escaped with his booty. A
this happened the day after Crane wa
disc charged, 1t is very probable that h
was the burglar, as he knew the neigh
borhood, and stole clothing from Col
Taggarts's house, AZ was done from
General Wistar. In summer, thes
IdepredatioDs are rare, as the houses ar
occupied. and the hired men well sup
Iplied with firearms.