Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1886-02-08

this city on w euncsuhy, anu ~ 10 ptopeuic
will be arraigpcd and bis trial commence
at once. Senator and ex-Attorney Cen
eral Gray, with Levi G. Bird, Esq, nave
been retained for the defense, and make
as strong team as is possible 10 Dc
obtained. Both these gentlemen nave
had considerable experience In homicide
cases; the frat as prosecuting oineer Q,
the State, while the latter has obtatueu
considerable celebrity from the very able
manner ia which he has handled the
MANY cases OF that nature that have been
confided to his care. Attorney General
Paynter, with his very able Deputy Biggs,
will no doubt strenuously urge for nothing
less than verdict of murder OF the second
degree, and there Is no doubt but the case
will be one of the most exciting ana
Interesting that has been tried In this CITY
| for yeats.
The case Of Davis, for the murder OF
officer Andrew Peterson last June, VIII
not be tried until the May term, SO that
he will have an entire new panel OF Jurors
| from which to select the twelve men VINO
shall act as his country.
4 While the reporter was In the AL ne
thad conversation with the colored man ,
Charles Robinson, who Is sentenced 10 be
hung nine weeks from next Friday, Tor
Icommitting a felonious assault upon Mrs.
Ella +. Gardner. A calico curtain was
ldrawn across the grated door of his cell,
but in answer to the call OF the Sheriff he
lpulled 1t aside at one corner, when the
Reporter asked:
"Well, how do you feel Charley p
"p pse feelln pretty good sar," he replied
81 suppose you realize that your tint
here is growing shorter every DAY =
Yes, and I'm preparing for it the best
can but never done what they said
Ibid. Some of the witnesses told lies, bu
the Lord will pay 'em for It,"
"But, Charley, don't you remempe
. what you said that you were drunk tina
!. afternoon and you didn't know what yo'
! did - asked the reporter. =,
81 never said dat. l said ! was drunk
but knowed what | was doing, and
/, never seed dat woman till | seed her at
hIf you are guilty, Charley, there's n
use of denying 1t now, for am frank
! = saying that don't think there is any mop
3 for you" ,,,. .,r. y.
o got to die for 1t, but IL won't hurt me
much as 1t will dem dat testihed agi
> me"
81 In answer to the question, he said thu
The had wife but no children. They ha
y 1.-TWO, but both are dead. He also informe
=. the reporter that he is frequently yisite
p by the colored ministers of New Castle
y Iwho spend considerable time In singinl
!, praying and reading the scriptures
u him. Upon being asked II he wante
(. anything he replied that he needed sotl
H tobacco, and 1t was given to him.
"Big Frank occupies the cell immed
~ ~ ately adjoining that Of Robinson, but
~ kept the curtain tightly drawn over u
~ door, and prevented curious eyes fro
10 peering within. The Lists also kept the
40 curtain closely drawn and were not see
- but Jerry Harrigan stood at his doc
i, smiling as he recognized one after anoth
OF his visitors.
The jail is very clean, and the eel
n show evidence of being frequently whit
~ Iwashed. There is an entire absence
% the disagreeahle smell so common
70 penal institutions, while the prisone
- - seem as happy as 1t is possible for men
- be under the circumstances. They spel
y, their time In various ways, some beil
~ very industrious and constantly engag
~ In making some little fancy or usei
m n, article, while others pass the weary hou
~ In reading almost anything they can 2
ar hold of, and still others, especially amo
NO the colored prisoners, do little else
NJ eat and sleep. There is no doubt but I
N Jail, In some instances at least, psrforl
~ its mission as reform institutio
he as q man, whose term Of two years c
IN pired some time ago, is now In a city l
IN great distance from Wilmington, cal
I'M ing an honest living, and showing by
Nv. lpresent actions that he intends to retire
sir his character and live an honest life.
aw Some OF The cells have been mic
re fitted up by friends of the prisoners, a
'o one especially shows the devotion o
,as loving, trusting wife, who, notwithstaI
ort ing all that others have said or may 81
L. still believes there has been some terri
NE mistake, and that her husband is innoc
tni OF the crime for which he was convict
N For the sake of such q wife, q man, e'
nv If in the past he has erred, would ind
ent ant be hardened in crime, II when he
ntv released he should fall to show that
om Iconfdence has not been misplaced,
h a, that he intends to lead an honest life,
nd try in measure to repay her consta
to to him.