Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-05-13
hands, were discharged from any further


Court met at 10 O'Clock yesterday,
/ Chief Justice Comegys and Judges
Wootten and Houston on the bench.
! Governor Stockley was also present aud
, took seat on the bench.
The case Of Lewis Morris, John
Nicholas and George Robinson, colored,
indicted for the larceny Of 80 chickens
from Mccoy Yearaley of Mill Greek hun
bred, was submitted to the jury without
| argument. The jury after deliberating
Is minutes, returned a verdict of guilty.
Each was sentenced to pay $38 restitu-
ton money and costs, be whipped with
20 lashes 90 Saturday next and be i'm
prisoned for six months.
State VS.. William Rollins and James e.
. Groome, colored, for highway robbery
and larceny, in attacking Theodore
White, colored, on the highway and rob-
bling him of coat, cap anil $40 in
money. Willard salisbury, Jr., ESD,
for the State, and John X. Bradford,
Esq, for the defence.
Theodore White testified that he came
to Wilmington from Georgetown, Sussex
county, where he resides, as witness
before the United States court, on the
18th of April. He went to the depot to
take the train for home and at the depot
was met by Rollins and Groome, who
told him not to stand around there or the
"cops would arrest linn They then
took him across bridge and assaulted
him, one striking him with club while
the other held him. He was knocked in
sensible, and when herecoyered he missed
his cap, coat and 800 in money. He
thought from what he afterwards learned
that the robbery was committed over
Third street bridge.
Officer Cannon of the police force testi-
fed to finding Theodore White lying in
yard over Third street bridge badly
beaten up. He took him in charge and
then went into the house where he was
found and arrested Rollins and Groome,
who were there. He found coat in the
room, which White, the next morning,
identified as his. Officer O'Hara testified
to bringing White to the police station.
He was without his undercoat and was
badly beaten up. He had evidently been
drinking. Witness also helped to arrest
Rollins and Groome, and recovered
Whites coat at their house on A street
next morning.
Solomon Bantum, colored, saw Rollins
and Groome carrying White across lot
near A street, one, ms he said, having
"his heels and 'tother his head" He next
saw White lying in the back yard of the
house occupied by Rollins and Groome,
unconscious and evidently suffering. He
sent word to the police station. William
Walker, colored, also saw Rollins and
Groome carrying White across the lot and |
into Groomes house. He next saw White |
| lying in Groome's back yard, evidently |
badly hurt and bleeding freely. Alfred |
Harmon, colored, saw Groome pull |
White out OF the back door of his house |
and leave him lying in the yard. White |
appeared to be badly hurt.
The State here closed and Mr.. Bradford |
said the Indictment alleges that the rob. |
berry was committed near highway,
while the proof is that it was in house or |
the yard of house, which could only be |
reached through the house. Only one |
man was proved to be connected with the |
robbery, and while the proof was that the |
offence was committed near A street, the |
State had submitted no proof that A |
street is highway. The objection was
overruled by the court.
The case was then argued by counsel |
on both sides, and after a brief charge |
by the court the jury 11.45 o'clock re.
| tired.
At 1890 o'clock the jury returned with
| a verdict of guilty.
State vs.. Michael McCloskey, for the
larceny of bag of potatoes fgom the |
wagon of Thomas S. Vandever in the /
Wilmington market. j. Frank Biggs, |
/ Esq, for the State.
Thomas S. Vandever testified to the |
potatoes being stolen from his wagon aud |
to recovering them at the police station |
next morning. Edward Stroud said he
saw MeCloskey fooling around Wanderers |
| wagon. Another man was with McCloskey |
and each of them took away bag of po-
tatoes. Afterwards saw McCloskey at |
the police station. Janitor Meacham tes-
titled to arresting McCloskey.
The case was submitted without argu-
ment, and the jury,after consulting n few |
minutes, returned verdict of guilty.
State VS.. William Hancock, for the |
larceny of an overooat from Hugh John
SON. Deputy Attorney General Biggs for
the State. Hugh johnson testified to see
ing Hancock around Simmons lumber
yard, where witness was working, and to
| missing the coat soon afterwards. He |
pursued him, recovered the coat, and
handed him over to the police. Officer
| Dennis S. Shields testified to arTesting
the man at Johnson's request.
Hancock said he was drunk at the time
and changed his overcoat for Johnson's
| by mistake, while fixing his pants, with
out knowing what he was doing He said
| he had never before been accused of |
theft, could give good recommendations,
and if convicted of this crime would be
ruined. His plea was very earnest and
effective. The jury retired and in few
minutes returned with verdict of not
| guilty. The prisoner was discharged.
State VS.. Joseph Dixon, colored, for
| assault and battery upon James Sewell,
| colored, with intent TO kill. Deputy
Attorney General Biggs for the State and
Walter Bacon, Esq, for the defence.
| This is the case of fight between the
two men, in a house at Eighth and Locust
| streets, as result of which Sewell
was SO severely cut in the abdo-
men that for several days his life was
despaired Of Sewell detailed the story of
the assault, which he said was made upon
him without the slightest provocation.
DR.. George W. Mann testified to the
serious character of Sewell's wound, from
which he was in critical condition for
| two or three days. DIR. Patterson also
testified to Sewell's critical condition.
For the defence, Joanna Jones, colored, |
testified that Sewell came to the |
|
tered despite her protest Witnesses had
been summoned to prove the prisoners |
good character, but they were not present |
and the State admitted what was sought |
to be proven by them. The case was
then argued, the jury was charged by |
Chief Justice Comegys, and at g. 10 O'Clock |
| the jury retired.
The following sentences were imposed: |
James Jones, for keeping a gambling |
table, fine of 800 and costs, or in de- |
fault thereof imprisonment for six |
months.
| William Rollins and James e. Groome, |
colored, for highway robbery, committed |
upon Theodore White, 5000 fine and |
costs, one hour in the pillory and 30 |
lashes ON Saturday next, and imprison-
ment for two years.
Michael McCloskey for the larceny Of
bag of potatoes, eight cents restitution
money and costs, 10 lashes on Saturday
next and three months imprisonment.
AT 2.30 o'clock the Dixon jury was still
out. 1t being the last criminal case,
court will adjourn until next Monday
when it is concluded.
THE PRISON PAN IN USE.
A strong Vehicle weighing Il Ton
and "A QuavIer.
The new prison, van built by ]. Beggs'
Sons, Philadelphia, upon order of the levy
court, was brought into service for the