Bridgeton pioneer., 1889-12-26
NO 2I97
SPECIAL COURT.
SEVERAL CASES UNDER CON
SIDERATEON.
Judges HOagiand ana SgrafGem
Hold COGrt--A Ministers Wife
ON Triat for SllOplIfGSmg.

Hold COGrt--A Ministers Wife
ON Triat for Shoplifaimg.
Judge Hoagland held q special SEES
sion of Court Frida7 morning. There
were several cases Of prisoners in jail
and others out on bail, which were to
be heard. The most important was
that of Mrs. Abbie Tower, wife of Rev.
Philo Tower, OF MillvilIe who had been
accused of shoplifting from the store Of
Rebecca G. Kane, Of Vineland. The
arti le stolen was a piece of cloth,
valued at IA cents. The other cases
were Frank Gould for assault and
battery on Wilbart Gross and ALE
bert Brown for stealing a clock
from Strang & Lummis, an account OF
which was given in the PIONEER at
the time Of the hearing before Mayor
Dubois. Judge Stratto occupied the
bench with Judge Hoagland, when
crier Young opened the Court.
Frank Gould pleaded guilty to the
charge against him, and Albert Brown
pleaded not guilty to the charge o.
stealing the clock
The case of Rebecca G. Kane against
Abbie Tower was called. Mrs. Kane
was called to the stand and testified
that Mrs. Abbie Tower came to her
store on Nov. 21st. Mrs. Kane keeps 8
remnant store in Vinelaud She re-
lated how Mrs. Tower was discovered
with the 14c piece of blue drilling in
her caba which Mrs Kane claimed
was her goods. John s. Mitchell,
Esq, appeared for Mrs. Tower.
Anthony Robbins was sworn ead
told with painful perspicuity how
Mrs. Tower bought piece of drilling
of him, selecting one out OF two pieces,
the other piece, he said she carried
away in her satchel.
Sam. Bateman, Of Cedarville, testified
that he saw her put the second piece
of goods in her satchel. He said he
told Mrs. Kane that Mrs. Tower had
taken a roll of her blue drilling. WIN.
Stewart, also of Cedarville, said he
was in Vineland with Bateman Oh Nov
ember Dist last, and saw Mrs. Tower
put the piece of goodSs her satchel.
Both of these witnesses We're positive
| in their statements as to having seen
Mrs. Tower take the piece of goods
and place it in her satchel. Mrs. Kane,
| he said, on cross-examination, was his.
half aunt. The State rested with this
| witness.
Mrs Tower was placed on the witness
i stand. and told, in her defense, how
she had purchased and had weighed,
two pieces of goods at Mrs. Kane's;
she put the pieces in her satchel separ-
ately, and had no thought or knowl-
edge of taking anything but what sh O.
had purchased; she selected two pieces
from pile OF a dozen or more pieeesr
she put them in her satchel while Rob-
inson, to whom she had paid for her
purchase, had gone to make the
change for her money. She denied ALI
knowledge of having taken three
pieces instead OF two, and the third
piece was taken entirely by mistake
if taken at all. DR.. Whitacar, MI. VIM.
M. Marks, of the same place, and Mr.
McClury, Thos. Ludlam, Jacob Bennett,
all Of Millville, and neighbors of Mrs.
| Tower, and Mrs. Peck, of Vineland,
testified unqualiiedly to Mrs. Towers
uniform good reputation for honesty,
it was of the highest order and never
questioned. Miss A. Leavett, of the
dry goods firm of Leavett & Sherburue
of Vineand testified in behalf of Mrs
| Tower.
jeff Ware, also of Vineland, testified
| for the defense The evidence of these
last two witnesses seemed to develope
some of spirit of maliciousness on the
part of the plaintiff.
N. Henry Stephens testified to Mrs.
Towers excellent reputation for the
sixteen years that he had known her,
and with this evidence the case ended,
and Mr.. Mitchell began the sum-
ming up. And all this was about q
blue drilling shoemakers apron.
| The Court declared itself divided in
the case of Abbie Tower and therefore
gave no judgement. The accused still
being held ander bail at the dispose
of the States Attorney.
Albert Brown was acquitted, and
Frank Gould was sentenced to pay a.
fine of $40 and costs.
Danyer0us Wires