Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-09-18
G,ERN,s AssAILANTs TRIED.
HemphfIl Gets n Year ia Prison nnt
500 Fine and Knight Six Month,
mud a Sn EInnn.

HemphiIl Gets n Year in Prison ana
s1OO Fine and knight six Months
and S5O Fine.
TIE case OF the three young man, Jehu
y. Hemphill, Elwood G. Knight and Isaac
Wiltbank, charged with assault aud hat
terry on Isaac N. Genn, gatekeeper At shs
Philadelphia turnpike, was called up on
Saturday, at the city court. Hemphill and
Knight pleaded guilty and Wit5auk
pleaded not guilty. Mr.. Gem told the
story Of the assault. The men used bad
language on this occasion. Hemphill
struck him on the forehead and that is all
the witness remembered. He was uncon-
CONSCIOUS after that. As Aemphill
struck the witness the latter saw knight
coming along. After the men had gone
Mr.. Gann's daughter carried him into
the house. DR.. Shortlidge was called.
The wounds were found to include almost
the tearing out of the left eye, the upper
lip cut through to the gum and the left
wrist seriously bruised.
Francis E. Gallagher, druggist, testi-
fad that he walked through the tollgate
Just before the incident and met the car
riBge passing. He heard the comm0tipn
and looking back saw three men in the
wagon. Two of them were trying to
keep the third from getting out. It was
dark but the light from tine gate house
shone on Mr.. Gem and the men. 0ns Of
the men was using threatening language
to the gate-keeper. He heard Mr.. Gem
promise to let them through. Jehu
Hemphill at length jumped out AID
struok Mr.. Gem. The witness hurried
mp and discovered the gate. keeper lying
down unconscious. The wagon had
meanwhile drawn off. Another carriage
was just passing. Mr.. Gallagher jumped
into it and finding DIR. Shortlidge and
Officer Todd, returned with them. The
witness added that one OF the men was in
the wagon ell the time and was evidently
doing all he could to keep the others
quiet.
DR.. Shortlidge described ct length the
serious nature of Mr.. Genn's wounds. In
reply to City Solicitor W. 4. Lyman the
doctor said the Wounds might have haea
inflicted with blunt instrument such us
cub or bottle. He did not think y,
knife was used. For several days his
patients life was in danger.
George 4. Barnhill and Francis E.
Gallagher testified to the general good
| reputation of Knight
On the suggestion Of Mr.. Lyman the
court told WIltbank he might leave the
| dock.
LII defence, Mr.. Turner asked clemency
for Hemphiiit the plea bsing that he Yves
under the influence of liquor. Knight,
counsel stated, had pleaded guilty, but
hat played a minor part ia the ARRAY.
He had endeavored to ailay the trouble.
City Solicitor Lyman thought 1t the
most outrageous and uuproyoked assault
that had come under his cognizsnce "a
prosecuting officer of the court. He
thought the defendants might be very
thankful that they are not being tried
| for their lives for the death of that old
rnan in the chair" II there were any ex-
tenuSting circumstances such had not
I been shown.
Judge Ball deemed from Mr.. Gala.
gher's testimony Knight was not as guilty
as Hsmpbill. Both Of them mad pleaded
guilty. This court felt called on to say
TO both defendants that they are very
fortunate, as MIR. Lyman had remarked,
in not being placed on trial for murder.
The record was one of the most brutal
stories ot assault he had ever listened to.
Knight was fined $50 and costs and
| sentenced to six months Imprisonment,
and hemphill to 800 and COSTS and one
year's Imprisonment.
| Az Judge Ball pronounced Judgment
some one in the audience gave an audible
whistle Of astonishment which demon
etration elioited severe rebuke from
the court.