Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-08-13
TIE Mills oAsE.
mr.. Higgins Pleads that the Court
Hemcinbcr n Civil Suit has Been
Instituted - City Solicitor Turner
RepIies-S4O and Costs.

mr.. Higgins Pleads that the Cour
Hemcmber n Civil suit has Beer
instituted - City Solicitor Turner
RepIies-s40 and Costs.
An unusually large crowd attended til,
municipal court hearings Monday morn
ing, interested in the trial Of John Mills fo
assault and battery upon Jordan A
Wilson. Anthony Higgins, ESQ.,, cam,
into court with the defendant and sale
that when he entered plea of guilty fol
his client he meant that the defendant
did not want to contend against the State
He would admit the fact, but let the cour
judge from the evidence the nature o.
the assault.
Jordan A. Wilson was called and testi
fed that on the morning of July 18th he
hewas returning from Enoch Moore's ant
near the railroad he almost ran against
Mills, who caught him around the necl
and beat him with his fists. He ran into the
railroad yard and Mills followed him
threw him down and beat him again until
he was afraid he would be killed. He
cried for help, and citizens came to his
assistance. lie was confined IN the house
two or three weeks, and then, under the
advice of his physician, he went away foI
regeneration.
When asked by the court the reason fol
the trouble, the witness rehearsed the
trouble near Jacob Stuck's about the
Mills boy, land stated that lie (the witness)
said the boy was bad one. Mills called
him hummer and Mr.. Wilson told him
he was liar. He met him several days
afterward and the accused cursed him,
beat himself on the chest and said he had
a big heart and wanted him to go down
the street with him. Mr.. Wilson told him
he wanted to have nothing TO do with him.
On s-examination, he said that
Mills beat him most in the temple, and
that Mills used his fists in administering
the beating that it hurt him to shut his
teeth together for several days and that
his eyelid was cut, causing him pain and
Inconvenience. He admitted that he said
Mills boy was the "ornriest white boy" in
town.
DIR. David w. Maui testified that Mr.
Wilson's injuries consisted of Commissions
of the forehead and temple. The force of
the blows was expended on the forehead
and left temple. The eye was infiamed
and injected. His nervous system was
considerably shocked. He attended the
patient regularly from the 18th of July to
the Goth, and then advised him TO 90
away. The injuries were very painful
though not dangerous.
William f. johnson testified that Mills
followed Mr.. Wilson into the rnilroad
yard that Wilson fell and Mills Jumped
on him and struck him about 20 times.
Mr.. Wilson looked badly used up.
Mr.. Higgins, in his plea for the prisoner,
begged the court to remember that civil
proceedings had been entered against
Mills and with that fact in view he
thought the municipal court should only
deal with the case us far ms breach of
the pence is concerned. He said there
seemed TO have been no malice iu the
case and il did not rise above the degree
of a case of assault and battery.
City Solicitor Turner said that the
court was not called upon to thank Mills
for not killing Mr.. Wilson; That Mills
was waiting his chance TO pominel Mr.
Wilson had been proved; that the court
could take no cognizance of the civil pro-
ceedings; that the assault was by no
means n brave one, and he hoped Mills
would be punished sufficiently to deter
repetitions of such oifenses.
The court said there seemed TO have
been no Irovocation for the assault. In
some such cases imprisonment WIS in
tlictcd but That he did not consider il
necessary this time. He then fined Mills
$40 and costs, which will amount TO
nearly $50.