Smyrna times., 1890-02-05
For the Smyrna Times.
Echoes from Cheswold.
AN EXCITING SCENE IN TOWN

AN EXCITING SCENE IN TOWN.
On Thursday night last our town
was thoroughly aroused by a fight.
engaged in by Charles Rain, cOlored
in the employ of DR.. Smith as hostler
and general waiter, and John +. Bar
Gus, one of our young men. It appears
the day previous lad by the name of
James Jackson was at DR.. Smiths stable
teasing Charlie, and when he ran off
with his gloves Charlie ran after him
few steps and picked up small stone
threw it and happened to hit jackson
on the head, which likely was not
Intentional and it seems jackson did not
think so though it hurt him for while,
Barcus, knowing of this presumably.
thought Charlie advancing little too
rapidly under the civil pights enact
ment, assumed the case, promised a
good pounding for Charlie gon SIGHT
and TumOr coupled with it that he had
armed himself with a pistol. This
put Charlie on the alert and when
about five o'clock Thursday evening
Barcus walked around to the stable in
company with two boys Charlie be-
came suspicious, his Guinea niger
blood waXed hot and after viewing the
situation few moments he seized a
small iron bolt, walked up to Barcus
and demanded to know what he had
ever done to him. Only few words
had passed between them when Charlie
hew into Barcus and the two were,
having it rough and tumble when
parted and arrested. Alderman Cooper
by this time was called in and immedi-
ately proceeded to try the case. Only
one witness was called, one of the two
boys named, and the evidence adduced
vas as above stated The alderman
ruled that as Charlie struck the
hrst blow he only was fineable
and imposed fine with costs amount
ing to $3.50, which was promptly paid
by DR.. Smith.
AS Charlie has heretofore been a
quiet, inOftensive negro, most every
body was his friend and some com
plants were entered that the ruling
was unjust because both combatents
were equally guilty in disturbing the
peace OF the town. At this stage the
excitement was growing to fever heat
ana intensely interesting to a "looker-
on in Venice, The crowd upon the
street would have done credit to Broad
way, n. Y, while within the court
one would be reminded of the Lime
Kiln Club of which we all have read.
L. l.. Barcus, the father of the bov.
with Constable Phillips as his lieutenant
naturally champiOned his cause and
his war pain was on sure. He was
the "silver-tOngued" orator of the
evening. He denounced the fine uDou
the negro as entirely inadeuuate to
meet the case. In his Judgment the
court had failed to see the enormity of
the crime this negro had committed.
lie would pronounce it murder in the
hrSt degree. He would have the negro
put in Jail aud in irons, and a scaffold
erected forthwith and upon it he be
hanged even as high as Haman until
he be dead, otherwise Il have a great
mind to kill him right here in the
presence of this court" Here the Alder.
man being confronted by the public
demand for the negro's liberty upOn
one side and upon the other apparently
for his life, and he being yet inexperi-
enced in the capacity of chief Justice
over a high court, yielded to the latter.
and Notwithstanding the fine imposed.
hlled out commitment and Constable
Phillips enthused with victory, in high
glee went for his team to carry the negro
TO jail at Dover. By this time the ex-
citemant was greatly intensified and
all was uprOar. The hot bloods asserted
there should he funeral or two before
this niggcr went to Dover. Some Of
the town committee debated the oues-
ton whether they should meet to take
the serious matter in hand. Some one
IN the crowd urged that great caution
would be necessary, as should a delhi.
erative body like our town council
assemble toward the outer edge with
the court in the centre, the town might
tip up, while we have no other bodv at
convenience with sufficient weight to
turn it back. ~ ~
tlnally cool reason prevailed and
Charles Rain soon found himself in Dr
SMITHS kitchen with a good warm
supper before him, after which he was
persuaded to quietly leave the town
and did so. Thus ended the most
exciting scenes of ftragedy-comedy.f farce
ever experienced in our town onJ
we nope the future will prove for us
peace, happiness and prosperity. free
from assault and battery cases.
with all the depression and discon.
uhuance among farmers we hear of
very few in this vicinity who are going
70 desert the old ship. One of our
FARMERS explains this by the fact that
Ihe abundant crops the past wear of
pusley and sheep sorrel enables them
10 continue one year longer. STELLA.