Bridgeton pioneer., 1889-07-11
A SPECIAL SESSION.
A SHORT SESSION OF COURT
TUESDAY MORNING.
Three Prisoners Sentenced. Two
Boys Must Go to Reform
School

The first session of Court under the
provision of the law enacted by our
State Legislature last winter, was held in
the Court House Tuesday morning, be-
ginning at ten o'clock, by application
OF Prosecutor VIM. A. Logue, to Judge
}. H. Hoagland. Under the provisions
OF the law, any prisoner in the county
Jail or any one under bail can apply
for trial at any time, they of course
being deprived of any jury. By this
session Tuesday it is estimated that
Cumberland County is saved an ex-
pense of more than $500 from the fact
that no grand jury, at SO per day per
member has to act upon the case, and
no petit jury is drawn.
When Crier Young opened court that
morning, Judges Hoagland and STRAIT
ton were on the bench A few persons
were scattered about the room inter-
ested in the proceedings. County
Clerk Mulford Ludlum sat at the big
desk in the court for the first time.
By his side sat Deputy T. B. Ogden,
who had much exL erience in court
business at the last term.
Sheriff Shaw brought in from the
County Jail the prisoners whose cases
were to be disposed of at that session.
They were Aleck Reed, John Acker-
man and Charles Goff.
Alexander Reed plead guilty to en-
tering and stealing money from the
butcher shop of Joseph Powell.
John Ackerman plead guilty to
petty thieving on the 1st of May.
Charles Goff plead guilty to stealing
watch from Robert Carman.
Addison s. Bateman, Alonzo Biz
zard, Ephraim Stevens, Walter West
colt and Peter Wilson, were called to
the bar by Prosecutor Logue, to an
swer a charge of malicious mischief
by entering a vessel on July Sd, of
Mahlon Harker, of Lawrence town
ship. All plead not guilty.
Capt. Harker was sworn by the
prosecution. He said his boat, at the
time it was broken open was lying at
a wharf in Cedarville. On the 4th of
July the witness had heard of some of
the boats being robbed, and he went
to examine his boat in company with
couple of gentlemen. He found
Alonzo Blizzard and Waller Westcott
in the boat, and had them arrested by
Constable Hogbin. The boat was
Scared up by beer keg. The floor
of the cabin was covered with all man
ner of filth. Addison Bateman con-
fessed to witness that he was one of
the parties.
Newell Dutch was with Capt. Har-
ker when the visit was made and he
corroborated the testimony of the cap
tain.
VIM. Bently also accompanied the
captain on his visit to the BOAT on the
Fourth, and testified substantially as
the two preceding witnesses. Here
the State rested.
There not being the slightest evi-
dence against Stevens or Wilson, on
motion of Mr.. VanSyckel they were
discharged by the court Mr.. Van
Syckel made further motions for the dis
charge of the other defendants, and the
court doubtful that the offence was an
indictable one, gave the prisoners the
benefit of the doubt and discharged
them.
There was no other business to come
before the court, and the following
sentences were announced before the
adjournment:
Charles Croft, / menth in county
jail without costs.
Alex Reed and John Alderman, to
be sent to Reform School.
EArrJt.Vn UAnnfIp