Evening journal., 1889-06-20
SENSATION At TowsoNrowN.
Excitement In Court over a verdlct--A
CIergyman's Indignation.

SENSATION AT ToWSoNToWN.
Excitement In Court over n verdtct-A
Clergyman's Indignation.
The Baltimore Sun says: Towsontown
is in ferment of excitement over the
verdict rendered by jury in the Circuit
Court for Baltimore county on Tuesday.
The display of feeling started in the
court-roo and extended over the whole |
town. The cause is the aspersion
thought TO have been cast by the verdict
upon the character of a worthy man-the
Rev. NJ l.. Poffenberger Protestant
Episcopal minister of st. Dennis, near
the Relay
The case was that of Mary Smith. a
colored girl of about II years of age, who
was charged with the larceny of under.
clothing valued at So from Mrs. Poifen.
berger while servant in her employ.
John i. Ensor was council for the ac
eused, the state being represented by
State S Attorney n. z. Burke. Judge
Fowler presided.
Mr. and Mrs. Poffenberger testified that
after they had employed the accused
they heard statements affecting her hon
esty. Thereupon they warned her that
sle would be punished If caught steal.
log subsequently Mrs PoHenberger
missed some underclothing, which she
found concealed in her servants
bed Goth Mr.. and Mrs pofenberger
testified that the accused had confessed
the theft She was discharged on the
30th of March. and was told that she
woula be paid the following week, and ii
anything WAS missed il would be takel
out of her wages. These were the only
witnesses for the prosecution.
The defense rested It's case upon the
testimony of the accused aud another
colored woman. Kate Johnson Mary
Smith denied that she had stolen the
clothing, and that the.garments had been
found in her bed, and also denied having
confessed the theft. She further testi.
fed that she had been arrested because
she had stated that the Rev Mr.. PoAen-
berger wanted to take improper liberties
with her while she was in his employ
She said the occurrence happened during
visit made by Mrs Ponenberger to
Mrs Oregon Benson.
Kate Johnson testified that she also
was in Mrs. Poifenbergers employ, the
time of her service being last September
She also said Mr.. Potfenberger had at
TEN lted to take liberties with her during
his wife's absence at Mrs. Benson's, the
time OF the occurrence being one week
before she left.
Mrs Poffenberger did not hear the
testimony Of the colored women, being
out of she court room at the time. She
was then called in rebuttal and testified
| that Kate Johnson had been discharged
| for drunkenness. She said that during
the time the Johnson woman was in
her employ she had been confined and
| did not leave the house for four weeks
afterward Mr.. Poifenberger Indignantly
/ denied the story of the two women.
Mr.. Poffenberger became much excited
at the zeal displayed by Mr.. Ensor in the
| case, and while Mr.. Ensor was seated at
the trial table the minister rushed over
and addressed him in language more
emphatic than polite.
"oh, you are a fighting man, said Mr..
Ensor.
mo. am minister Of the Gospel,
said Mr.. Poffenberger, but YOU may get
satisfaction in any way you want II.
Mr.. Ensor made no reply 10 this, and
the scene came TO an end.
During the recess of the court there
was another scene between the two,
which called for the Judges interfer
ence. Mr. Poffenberger walked over Il
Mr.. Ensor and shouted, "Mr. Ensor,
want to tell yoH something before every
body In the courtroom" Judge Fowler
who had remained on the bench during
the recess, raped for order and said tina
If either Of the two had anything to sa.
they should 60 outside.
The case was given the jury withou
argument Everybody expected 0 yer
dict OF guilty, and all were therefor
sstounded when the jury, after being on
about half an hour, rendered a verdict o
not guilty. Instantly the court was il
an uproar, and for some time it was i'm
possible for the judge to restore order
Lewis NJ Bacon, deputy clerk Of tn
court, rushed over to MIR. Ensor and de
nounced the verdict as an outrage. Mr.
Bacon was proceeding further, when Mr.
Ensor arose to appeal to the court, whicl
; quieted Mr.. Bacon. As already stated
the whole town is now discussing tn
verdict.
A reporter of the Sun interviewed sew
eral Of the members of the Towsontowl
; bar, with the following result. Judg
Fowler said "The verdict was a surpris
to me, and | do not think it was iustifie,
at all by the evidence. did not believ
the colored woman, and think tn
6 fNAAaAb Mao hluNN W AAAs NAANAi
berger. Mr.. Ensor said to me he hal
only done his duty. / told the audienc
that any comments on the verdict woul,
= have to be made outside the courtroom
Some of the jurors said that they di
not believe the colored women's testi
mony and that they brought in thei
S verdict because they did not think tn
accused had been guilty Of larceny, a
she had not taken the clothing ava
from the house,
Estate Attorney Burke said Nobody O.
earth would have believed the eolore
n women. The verdict was a great surpris
n to me and has caused much indigns
tion."
Thomas ]. Hunter and John Grashon
attorneys, also expressed the sam
! views.
The jury consisted OF Dennis Carter
Jacob A. Gorfuch John Gontrom, Jerom
k Owens Charles w. Lee, Jas. H. Ashei
s Frank Smith, Melchoir Tracy George "
+ Wade, Edwin W. Bleakley, John Cooper
9 Jr, and William f. Upton.
0 DO Not Approve of Drunkenness.
Philadelphia Record.