Smyrna times., 1889-11-06
Kent COuntV Court.

AOnJ OOuubJ OOuI'
Court convened at Dover on Monday
2Sth ult. and has been in session since,
Chief Justice COmegys and his asso-
ciates on the bench.
Judge Grubb took up the recogni-
Zance cases, and the Crier called for the
different persons who had been bound |
over for their appearance at Court.
The great body of them did not an
swer and the cases were dropped.
Once in awhile parties would answer.
Stephen Minner, from near KentOn,
and his neighbOr had trouble over a
ditch, and the Court heard the story
and continued the recognizances.
Louis Clark and Henry Johnson,
cOlored, had trouble over the former
keeping company with the latter's
daughter. The Court held Clark to
keep the peace, and stay away from
Johnson.
Manlove Wharton and a lady Of
color next appeared before the Court.
The hearing was spicy and created
much amusement in the court.
So it went all day long, case after
case being called, occupying the at
teLtion of the Court until after 5 |
o'clock. Over one hundred Of such
recOgnizances were called. and the |
cost to the county, says the Sentinel, |
will not be less than 81 600 The only |
way to stop these petty quarrels will |
be for the Attorney General to sue the |
bail bonds. They are given indiscrim-
inately, as it is well understood that !
no action will be taken, whether the
parties appear or not. Very few pay
| any attention to them after they are
given.
The desertion case Of Mrs. Beulah
Creadick against her husband, John c.
Creadick, after long hearing was dis
missed.
TRIAL OF GEORGE S. DILL.
The Dill case has occupied the at
tention of the court, since, until
to-day, and the witnesses in the case
occupied pretty much all Of the avail
able space in the court room There
were some seventy summoned on both
sides. Briefly the case is: On the
morning of the 9th of March, 1889,
James I. Porter, an old and well
known farmer of Delaware went out
to feed his stock, when he was shot in
the face by some one hidden in the
wagon shed. The would be assassin
disappeared Immediately after firing
the shot, but chain of circumstantial
evidence has led to the Indictment of
George 5. Dill for the crime. The
motive without doubt was robbery.
Dill Is well known, and the case is
watched with interest. The Hon.
James l.. WolcOtt and Edward Ridgely,
Esq, were the attorneys for the de
fence AttOrneyGeneral Biggs and
Deputy Davis for the State. Friday,
Hezekiah Sapp was among the first
witnesses called. A correspondent of
the ECeAjHg Journal says Hezekiah
was apparently specially put forth to
swear as to the size of the tracks made
by the gum boots, which Dill wore,
ard it was soon evident that he was
= posted to u fraction as to the length
and breadth of the impression that
: resulted when Mr.. Dill planted his
gum boots i'll pliable ground. Twelve
and three-quarter inches was the
length, this Mr.. Sapp was certain of.
, As the tracks left by the assassin who
shot Farmer Porter were very mate
rial point, the witness was closely
examined and just as closely cross.
examined. While in Mr.. Biggs' hands
Mr. Sapp was asked when and where
. he had made the last examination OF
tracks" made by Dill's gum boots
and then the rather startling fact that
Dill had been taken from the Jail late
on Thursday night and promenaded
! around on moist ground so that HeZe
kiah Sapp, who was to be next day a
witness for the defence, might make {
measurement of these tracks that he
could swear to. When this fact cam,
out there was a sensation with seven
o line plea S. The Encouragement wa
v mad and the court was indignant.
d "What do you think Of that ?" sait
1t Mr.. Biggs to the court.
Y You know your duty; this is al
it lndictable Oiiense; the sheriff has beer
e guilty Of an escape" replied Chief JUS
Y tice Conegys, and even the younges
d member of the bar knew that th,
c. stately hiefjustice was more than in
dignant. Sheriff FennimOre looked a
though he would have liked to hav
l0 been ordered to 90 down somewher
10 in the Murderkills to serve "a forth
IN with summons, so that he could ge
10 out in the air awhile, and the entir
5 court room felt that the noted Dill cas-
10 had become more noted than ever.
. The sentiment among those VIII
~ know Sheriff Fennimore is that II
, wrong on his part was intended, bu
3 there are members of the bar VIII
think that it is a mighty serious thin
for a sheriff to lend his aid toward
breaking down the states case in
matter as grave as this one.
Monday and Tuesday were taken u
| hy hn Oh nj ctI
lv LATER.-Yesterday afternoon tn
ia case was given to the jury, who afte
five minutes deliberation returned
ie verdict of guilty. The sentence wa
ce deferred, but presumed will be the fu
na extent of the law.
The following prisoners were a.
n raigned: Frank Walters aud LeOnar
Q. Hudson, both colOred, for stealing ha
8: ness from Jet Lowery, of Mlfor,
&, pleaded not guilty; Theodore Hol
8. klns, for stealing chickens, pleaded NJ
~ guilty: George Watson, of Milford, f,
- stealing money, pleaded not guilty
William Eaton colOred, of Camde
for larceny pleaded not guilty; EnoC
Smith, colOred, for assault On Geors
as Morgan, pleaded not guilty. The
IC were all remanded to prison and vi
H., be tried as soon as the Dill case
w closed, probably to-day.
rs The grand jury found % true b.'I
M The jury visited the Jail Frida, ia
an body apd reported that institution
on in first class condition and visited II
VII almshOuse Saturday and was dschar
, ed from further attendance upon I'll
lr. court.
eS- A remonstrance has been fill
at against the granting of a license
&c Terrence Carvin, of KentOn, who W
'u- refused a license at the last term
ny court.
BIS The court will adjourn tomorrow
wv, w. give the Judges an opportunity
.G .ae attend the wedding of Hon, T.
oln, Bayard.
yu- Communicated
iCh The ladies' Of the Benevolent Socie
appeal to the citizens of Smyrna
7ay help them; not only with contrib
wO tiOns of money, clothing, and prov
in ions, THAT some sad hearts uay
all made happy, and some destitute, CO.
as Portable, through the coming winte
Lhe | hut with their nrpSpnpa olSo Wo1p.