Daily Republican., 1889-11-26
THIRD EDITION,


COuft Ills hOrhihN.
Court convened this morning as q
Court Of General Sessions, with Chief
Justice Comegys and Associate Judge
Paynter on the bench.
Immediately after the opening the case
Of William McGinnls charged with high
way robbery was taken up and n jury
drawn.
The State was represented by Deputy
Attorney General Davis, and the prisoner
by Thomas Holcomb, Esq.
After brei opening Mr.. Davis com
menced the examination of witnesses.
Charles ii. Carp was sworn, and testi-
fed that be had been working at Rennett
Square, and having got through came to
this city TO get suit OF clothes, and go
to his home in Massac husetts. While
walking along q street he was knocked
down and two $40 notes and some silver
taken from him. lie held his assailant
by the leg long enough TO see that 1t
was McGinnls, whom lie positively iden-
titled.
lie called for the police, and man
came with lantern. The witness thought
that he was unconscious part Of the
time.
Abram Moore testified that on the
night of the robbery he SAW McGinnis
and short, stout man going toward
Water street.
James Welsh testified that he lie a
switch tender on the p, w. & u. Rail-
Dad at French street. He saw McGibnis
have Carp down near Bush's Office.
Heard the man call and run to the place
with his lantern. AS he knows McGinnis
well, he was positive that he could not
be mistaken.
Officer Crawford testified that short
time before the Robbery he saw the pris-
oner at the Pennsylvania House with
Carp.
This was the last witness called by The
State, and as the defence had no wit
nesses Mr.. Davis made brief argument
for the STATE. and was followed by Mr..
Holcomb for the defence.
Mr.. Davis made the closing argument,
aud the jury, alter being charged by the
Chief Justice, retired al 10 o'clock.
The jury came in at IL. so O'Clock with
verdict of guilty.
John II. Parker, colored, pleaded
guilty TO a charge OF keeping a gambling
house, and was sentenced to pay the
costs OF prosecution and fine of $500, or
in default be imprisoned three months.
A jury was drawn and the case OF the
State We. Thomas Tillman, colored,
charged with attempting to register lie.
gally, was taken up for trial with Deputy
Attorney General Davis for the State and
Henry G. Conrad, fsq., aud Walter II.
Hayes, ESD, for the defense. Tie case
was opened by Mr.. Davis, who read the
law passed In 1887 to the Jury.
William +. McCloskcy testified that
on May 18TH he was chairman of the
board OF insp ctors OF the second dis
trlct, Filth ward. Tillman came up to
register aud presented tax re:oIpt
which he refused 10 accept, as lie was
satisfied that 1t WAS not genuine.
The witness was cross examined at
length by Mr. Conrad.
William w. Knox testified that he was
enc of the registration officers In the
district mentioned and was present when
the receipt was taken from lin.
Charles NJ. Almond testified that he
was also member OF the board and cor.
roborated the testimony given by the
previous Witnesses.
William +. McCloskey testified that
the receipt which he took from Tillman
was the same that lac showed ex-
Collector Ncary at the hearing in the
City Hall.
Patrick Neary testified that he had
never Issued the receipt which was
shown By Mr.. MCCioskey. lie saw the
same receipt when he was before the
Grand Jury.
On cross examination by Mr.. Conrad,
the witness said that he had been collcc
tor for six years, and that 1t was not his
custom TO issue receipts IN blank. Upon
the question being pressed by Mr.. Conrad
as 10 whether or not he had ever issued
any receipts merely signed by him and
stamped with the seal OF the county, Mr..
Davis objected, and the objection was
sustained by tue court on tho ground
that the defense would have to produce
receipts Of this kind TO show that such
was the fact.
The State failed to produce the tax re-
ceipt taken ny Mr.. McCloskoy from the
prisoner, and as the Court decided the
defendant could not be convicted with.
out II, the jury, acting under iusliuc' ions
rendered verdict Of not guilty, without
leaving the box.
There are several other cases of til,
kind pending, and al the request oil Mr.
Davis they we're postponed to afford hin
an opportunity TO hunt up the missing
receipts
1t lie, however, probable, that whei
these receipts are produced, there will
also be some receipts produced signed II
blank, many of which were filled In ant
voted urou at the last Presidential elec
, ton.
Thomas Holcomb, Esq, tho counst
for William McGinuis, convicted OF high
way robbery, asked the Court, on ae
count OF the physical condition OF th
prisoner, to remit the forty lashes pre-
, scribed by law, and the request wa
granted. lie was then sentenced TO ia
the costs Of prosecution, aud be impris
, oned one year.
The men convicted OF being engaged /
the riot at New Castle, on the night a
September 7, were brought In court, an
L. Z. Nandegflit, Esq, attorney for th
S defense, commenced his argument /
: favor OF his motion for a new trial. II
/ spoke until l o'clock. when court took
0 recess until 30 o'clock this Afternoon.