Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-12-04
COUNTY COURTS.
Shakespeare Reeves to be Hanged
Friday, March 9Th, 1891.

The Suit Arising Out of the Building of
st. Paui's Parochiai School stili Drag
ging Along.
Superior court business was started upon
at Monday mornings session. The case of
Alfred #. Pyle VS.. the p, w. & i. Railroad
Company was announced rs having been
eettled by a Judgment for the plaintiff for
MOO, with costs.
Settlement was also announced in the
case of Diamond State Loan Association
vs.. the II. f. Pickles Foundry and Stove
Company.
The first jury trial was that of Francis
P. Dillon VS.. the Rev. Thomas A. Becker
and the Rev. Alfred A. Curtis, owners or
reputed owners. action upon mechanics
lien. Lore \ Emmons for plaintiff and
Levi G. Bird for defendants The action is
to recover balance of 5000 alleged to be
due the plaintiff, who was contractor for
the erection of the parochial school at
Fourth and Van Buren, streets for st.
Paul's Catholic Church. The contract
price, Mr.. Lore said IN opening, was ~, T25,
but there were various changes in the
plans after the commencement of the
work, to such an extent that the con-
tract was PARTIALLY abandoned except
as measure of the value of the work
done, with the changes. His entire charge
for the work was $40, 1911. 04, on which pay
ments were made amounting to S954l.0 4,
leaving u balance due, according to plain
tiff's claim, of 5000, with interest from
October 9Th, 1888. The contract was to
have been concluded, under forfeit of
500 per week. by July Sist, 1888, but the
plaintiff claims that he was prevented from
finishing in time by the changes made
after he started work. When he COM
pleted, the sum Of 5000 was kept from his
bill, on the ground that he had delayed
the work six weeks after the time specified
foIits completion.
Francis 7. Dillon, the contractor, was
called to the stand and testified to the char
acter OF the building and the nature of the
contract. He said he began work on April
10th, 1883, and the church took possession
of one of the rooms in the latter part of
July, and of the entire building about the
second week in September. lie related in
detail the various changes in the plans
niade by the building committee after he
began work. The contract called for six
iues and the committee added IL, making
q in all They allowed nothing for these
additions. This caused delay and addi-
tional expense. Changes were also made
in the partitions and in various other re-
spects by order of the building inspector,
who deemed the partitions of insufficient
strength. The plumbers, he held, also de-
.layed his work. Mr.. Dillon said that had
il not been for these changes and delays
he would have completed the work within
On cross-cxamination Mr.. Dillon adj
mitted having signed the release of the
building, after receiving the last payment
, He said, however, that Father Fallon had
accepted an order for $500, which he gave
Sayers Brothers for plumbing work, but
subsequently refused to honor the order,
and witness had to pay Sayers Brothers
himself. Had he not believed this order
would be accepted by Father Fallon, he
would not have signed the release.
William A. Ruth, of Ruth Brothers, con-
tractors for the brick work, testified to
changes made in this part of the work
after the building was started, by order of
the building committee Some piers,
erected according TO specifications, settled
and had to be rebuilt, and other changes
were made.
Pending his testimony court took re-
Tess until $50 p. m.
SENTENCED TO DEATH.
Shakespeare Reeves, colored, alias
Jacob Starkey, was condemned to death,
at in the afternoons session of court,
for the crime of feloniously assaulting
little girl named Grace Clark of near