Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-11-19
nrn NornmnrR oonRr.
Opening OF the General sessions'
FERN -rsrciiu,iunry PrOceedtnRs.

Opening OF the General Sessions
FERN -prciiu,inary Proceedings.
AT 10. 20 o'clock Monday morning, Crier
Smith formally opened the November
term of the court of general sessions of
the peace and Jail delivery Mt the court
house in this city. Chiet Justice Comegys
and Judge Houston were OH the bench,
and Acknowledgement Paynter was pre-
sent. Foreman William r. Bright and
the other members of the grand jury
| were duly sworn or affirmed, and the jury
| retired, after which the roll of the general
| jury was called.
The clerk of the peace then began talk
ing the affidayits of applicants for liquor
| licenses, which business occupied the
tune until nearly 10 o'clock.
At LBS O'Clock the grand jury came
| into court with several true bills, aud was
discharged until O'Clock in the after
noon.
A true bill of indictment was found
against Charles Robinson. the negro who
was arrested and held for committing nm
outrageous assault upon Mrs. Orson Gard
ner, near Clayton. about month ago. The
case will probably be tried at the present
| term of court.
In the case of William Swiggett, col
ored, charged with stealing $40 note
from little colored boy, in municipal
court about twoweeks ago, the indictment
was ignored by the grand jury.
The following prisoners were arraigned:
William Turner, colored, indicted for the
larceny of watch worth $5 and chain
worth $4 from Lewis Lee, on September
28th, pleaded guilty, and was sentenced
to pay $50 restitution money and costs, be
whipped with five lashes on Saturday
| next and be imprisoned three months.
Charles Laws, colored, indicted for
burglariously entering the house of James
H. Harmon, in Wilmington, on Septem-
Der Gath, and stealing coat worth 30,
| and o shirt valued rs cents. Pleaded not
guilty.
David Mahan, boy who was charged
with larceny, but was committed to the
| care of his grandfather, was discharged
| from the custody of the court on the ap-
plication of Harry Sharpley, ESD.
At 1915 court took q recess until 3
O'Clock, p. M.
At the reassembling of court, at 8
O'Clock in the afternoon, Judge Wootten
| Joined his associates on the bench.
The grand jury again retired to con-
slider indictments, and at O'Clock re-
turned with number of true bills, after
which they were discharged until 10
o'clock Tuesday morning.
| At 4.35 o'clock the general jury was dis
charged until 10 O'Clock Tue day morning,
and Clerk Cochran announced that the
| witnesses in the capital cases of Charles
Robinson, colored, Lewis @. Davis and
Frederick Becker were discharged until
10 o'clock, a. M, on Monday, November
Both. The reason for this was mistake
in the Gull for the court of oyer and
terminer, before which they will be tried.
The precept issued by the chief justice
called the court for Monday morning
ut 10 o'clock, and directed the
special jury for service ut this
court only 10 be summoned for we'd
nesday, November 18th. The sheriff's
proclamation, however, announced the
session for the 18th. In view of this dis
crepancy n new precept was issued Mon
day afternoon, for n session of oyer
and terminer on Monday, November
Both, and new jury will be drawn for
service at that time.
The case of Samuel Scwell, the little
negro thief who was committed from the
city court on the charge of stealing
chickens and butter from parties in the
Madison street market, by representing
that he was buying them for other plrtie,
was not sent before the grand jury, the
State holding that the charge of larceny,
under the circumstances, could not be
sustained.
Court opened at 10 o'clock Tuesday
morning, Chief Justice Comegys and
Judges Wootten and Houston on the
bench. The roll of the grand and genera
juries was called, and the former retired
State VS.. Thomas Galloway, colored
for carrying concealed deadly weapons
The accused pleaded guilty, and hi
counsel, Harry Sharpley, Esq, made {
statement as to his general good char
acter. He was sentenced to 10 days i'm
prisonment and the costs of prosecution
The George Behrenback, who was ar
, rested in 1884 for violation of tn,
liquor law, pleading as defense his mis-
! Interpretation of its provisions, pleade,
, guilty ON condition that other indictment
against him would be nolle pressed.
' Harry Sharpley, ESQ, called attention
to the imprisonment of Charles Copeley
Q who has completed years sentence TO
n stealing horse and wagon and an orgal
q at Claymont. The attorney stated tim
4 Copeley was without funds and unable t
1 pay the fine and costs, and asked for hi
/ release.
/ Attorney-G General Paynter stated to til
a court that the Pennsylvania authorize
were hero Monday after Copeley, want
n ing him TO answer the organ theft. Th
\ court decided that Copeley should be hel
h 90 days, awaiting a requisition from til
4 Pennsylvania authorities.
George Crawford, colored, pleaded nj
n guilty to the indictment charging hill
n with assault and intent to kill George
! Howard.
At 1880 O'Clock court took It reco'
h until o'clock.
a Upon the reassembling of court in I'll
/, afternoon the attorney general state
y that in the case of Charles Law
a colored, indicted for burglary, he ha
4 determined to enter nolle pros, Q
d account of the lack of proof, whereupo
!. the prisoner was discharged.
n Frederick Brown and William Hami
# ton, colored lads respectively 0 and
x years, pleaded not guilty to an indictmei
charging them with feloniously enterir
the house of George Coats on Saturdu
last and stealing household goods Their
at from The court instructed Walt
~ Hayes, Esq, to take charge of the ca
a and he asked, on account of the youth
1, the accused, that the case be continue
n until the February term in order to allo
AZ him an opportunity to have them col
u mitted to the Ferris Reform Schot
" which he said, would be in operation
m that time.
-. Samuel Sewell, Tillie Hamilton, Bare
ca Iona Bass and John Callahan, all color
N and charged with assault and batter
he were discharged, the attorney-genei
"A stating that he had decided not to prese
"a any bills against them.
To At 4.05 o'clock the grand jury cal
re- into court and, after reporting VII
nd indictments it had in hand, was discharg
N until Monday, November Both, when t
court of oyer and terminer, for the tr
> of the capital cases, will be opened.
,;s Henry Fields pleaded not guilty to
hs charge of the larceny of shawl, valu
i i at Se3, from Sarah NJ. Jervis, as did NJ
" William II. Morris, Ambrose Wilson,Jo
Oh Manlove and james Lewis, all colort
I Il. l. -, II