Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-10-07
EtKTOy


of Mnnnon, for the murder OF "Iill, the
Jokcr.n Junius Goffney, colore |, the
States witness, testified as il, the ease of
Read yesterday. The difference toinF
| that he said Mlnuon had eoute 70 him in
| Jail, and told him that there was , hope
! for him unless he conIh break his
4 (Goffnoy's) oath aud that his father would
| pay the witness $50 if he would allow
them TO do this. He also conttadiated
Reads statement that be (Gofney) had
on the time they went to rob BILLY the
Joker" told Read TO strike him and that
he afterwards said that he had not the
heart of chicken and inquired what
kind of fellow Mannon was.
John Earle, colored, of Elkton, vino
has been in Jail of late, testified that he
heard Mannon tell GOffuey that he was
bis only hope, and it would be $50 in his
| pocket If he would swear to the same at
the trial as he had al tho hearing and
then allow his counsel to break him down.
Henney Goffney, wife OF James, re-
mombered Mannon calling to see Gofney
| at Edwards.
Alexander Colnan of Chesapeake City
testified thst lie saw two Inen, one eol:red
and the other white, passing through the
streets of Chesapeake City at ao oarly
hour Thursday morning. This would
make il appear that the murder was on
Wednesday night and not on Tuesday.
The prisoner was called to tue stand by
| his counsel. He denied lll the Statements
of Read and Goffney about Conversations
between them in regard to robbipg or
killing t'the Joker. He said Read came
| to hun on the day of the murder and
asked for the loan of one of his fathers
Il taotna 20 r,n tr, GhauanaaGa 1itu Ha did
not get it. They agreed to walk to Cl,esa-
peake. On the road he stumbled over a
stone mason's hammer, which Head
picked up with the intention of finding
| the owner. He described the scenes in
''the Joker's" cabin. How he was look
| ing down and suddenly saw the lam
mer in the hands of Read, descend
| on "Billy's" head. Read struck two
| more blows in succession. Witness had
only gone there to obtain whisky and was
so frightened that he started to run strik-
ing his head against the top of tho door,
which was low. He ran for good dis
tance. Read caught up to him and they
walked home together. In the woods
| near Chesapeake City Read said II have
done - bad thing that may cause ME
to go to Virginia." Witness replied ''yuu
have done o - thing" Witness
was so nervous that he did not sleep that
night. He acknowledged accepting tie
| present of watch from Read. which he
thought was in acknowledgement of favors
rendered. He did not know il was "I'he
Joker's." Afterwards, ut Reads instance,
he threw 1t away. Ho left some weeks
| afterwards for Norfolk. His motive WIS
fear of Read, who had pointed a pistol at
him. He admitted telling his Sister md
George and viii Travers about having
| Witnessed the murder.
Alfred Mannon, the prisoners father
said his son told him that he was going
away on account of iisagreeable relations
with his step-m0ther. When he heard
of his sons connection with the murdor
he sent his brother George to find him. He
did not find him, however, and he came
home of his own accord. The prisoners
mother died of insanity and several of
her relatives he regarded as not right.
DIR. Hardcastle, the family physician,
had treated Georges mother. She had
suicidal mania. He thought George had
acted strangely in his presence and
thought there was something very pecu-
liar about him. He was not like other
boys of his age.
John Edwards testified that Read told
him he could make Mannon do anything.
He contradicted Goffney in M important
| particular. Charles Jones, colored, con-
tradioted Reads statement that that wit
ness had told Read that Mannon told him
he killed "The Joker" DR.. j. V. Wallace
thought the wounds could have been in
ficted either with the right or left hand
Al the night session Sheriff Mackey, to
whom Mannon told his story when he
went to Jail, said ii did not agree with
that told on the stand in two essential
particulars. At night about 20 residents
Of the First district testified that Man
mons reputation was good. Evidence en-
both sides having closed court adjourned
until tomorrow morning when the case
will be argued.
ELKToN, Oct. 1.-George Mannon, the
youth who for several days past has been
on trial in the Cecil county court for the
murder of William Green, alias BILLY
| the Joker" walked out of the audience
room of the Odd Fellows Hall, which is
being used as q courtroom, at ii O'Clock
last night free man, having been
declared not guilty.
When court convened yesterday morn
ing argument was at once begun. States
ing address for the prosecution. He re
viewed the testimony and asked for
verdict of guilty of murder in the first
degree. William Il. Warburton, Esq,
made mastery argument for his client,
and was followed by Albert Constable,
Esq. who addressed the jury in very able
manner for three hours in the prisoners
favor.
The court adjourned at o'clock until
s, when ex-States Attorney, Charles @.
Crothers made the closing address for the
prosecution. His address WIS u powerful
one and the best he ever made The case
was given to the jury at o'clock, The
court does not charge the jury in criminal
cases in Maryland US they do in all other
states in the union. The jurors are judges
OF both the law and the evidence. The
prevailing opinion was that the Jury would
either acquit the prisoner or disagree, and
many thought that they would be out all
night.
At 10.40 O'Clock Judges Robinson and
Stump entered the room, where the Jury
having decided on their verdict were
waiting. Mnnnon was brought into court
by an officer. He was very cool and took
fresh chew of tobacco There were less
than 25 PERSONS in the court room ut tho
time but about as many more arrived be-
fore either OF the counsel for the prisoner
entered tho ROOM The jury appeared
grave. The foreman, who is somewhat
deaf, replied not guilty in M indistinct
voice when asked if they had agreed upon
their verdict When tho proper question
was asked hO replied i'll u distinct voice
not guilty.
Several young friends OF the prisoner
appauded vigorously. Judge RobinBon
said to the bnilif and sheriff arrest those
men. This was not done us il could not
be ascertained who had Rpplauded and
who had not. The judge made the fore
man repeat the verdict and told the bail
ifIs to arrest any who applRuded. Judge
Robinson about the time of the applause
made remark which was the cause Of
mnch comment and dispute. Some
thought he said this verdict liz ap outrage
on all decent people; others thought he
spoke of the applause being an Outrage,
and not the verdict. Your correspondent
visited Judge Robinson at his hotel; he
said he referred to the applause and not
to the verdict.
The jury stood on the first ballot six
for acquittal and six for conviction.
They afterwards changed to eight for
acquittal and four for first degree, They
stood that way for an hour and half,
and then changed to tenfor scquittal and
two blanks. They agreed on the next
ballot. Mannon was surrounded by his
friends and congratulated.
IT.