Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-04-16
UNITED STATES COURT.
Strange Developments Tuesday in the
Fagun-Wooiman Election Case--Gr
Interest Evidenced.

Strange Developments Tuesday in the
Fagnn-Woolman Election Case--Grea
Interest Evidenced.
The April term of the United States
court opened at 10 o'clock on Tuesday,
Judge Wales presiding. When the grand
| jury had retired the case of William
McCarron. charged with illegally voting
| upon the tax receipt of Joseph Raison in
the same precinct of the same ward, was
called. Frank D. Carpenter and Henry G.
Turner. Esqs., appeared for the defence.
| When MeCarron'S name was called there
was no answer, Following due efforts to
ascertain as to whether he was present in
the court precincts, Judge Wales ordered
| that McCarron's bond he forfeited Peter
J, Ford is surety for the missing man in
| the sum of $500
The rest of the forenoon was passed in
awaiting the arrival of missing witnesses
of the government in the Pagan election
| case.
On the return of the grand jury Fore
man David ]. Murphy handed in true bills
| two indictments) against David b. Nor
cross for breaking Into the post office at
| Greenville. The grand jury was then dis
charged. Court adjourned until 1.30
o'clock
At the afternoons session of the United
States court, Thomas b. Norcross was in.
dicted for burglary at the post-office at
dIttuNllie Ull MuTtn E1In luSU. Inc ue-
PENDANT pleaded not guilty District-at-
torney Alexander b. Cooper. prosecuted
William II. Brinckle, postmaster at Green
vile testified as to the general facts in the
case. George de Godt gave direct evidence
in regard to the burglary Of letters and
other articles. He identified the prisoner.
Testimony for the prosecution continued
at $50 p. m.
At the United States court Tuesday
afternoon the jury III the Norcross post
office robbery case returned a verdict of
guilty in both cases.
The prisoner was ordered to stand up,
and Judge Wales said 1.-THE court APP
proves, entirely of the verdict, not alone
upon the argument and testimony adduced
against you, but also upon what you have
yourself stated incidentally during the
proceedings. The sentence is that YOU pay
the costs in the case; that YOU nav d fine Of
81, 900 to the United States, and that YOU be
imprisoned for the term of two years.
In the MoCarron case, the United States
or bench warrant for William McCarron.
the missing defendant, returnable at next
term of court, which was granted.
BY this time the large court room had
become crowded with spectators interested
in the prospective election case of Inspec-
tor Pagan.
The case Of Inspector Peter A. Pagan,
David Woolman, in the First district of
the First ward, was then called. The fol-
lowing jury was empaneled. Amos j.
Stayton, Charles II. Register, William
Shaw, Jr:, David Pleasanton, Thomas +.
Merris, Philip d. Marvel, William NJ.
L. Doughten, James @. Akin, Jr., Samuel
7. Griffin, j. Moody Rothwell. Challenges
were declined ON either side.
Distrist-attorney Alexander r. Cooper
then stated the case briefly. He recited
the charge against the defendant and then
proceeded to giyye the lazy in the case, viz:
ingly refuse the vote of person entitled
and shall,n &c.
Mr.. Cooper stated that by mutual
consent of counsel such techni-
calities as time, place &C., will not be
contested, but that they will confine them
selves. to the gravamen of the question,
namely, that Woolman was knowingly re-
fused and that Woolman was entitled to
his vote. He (Nfr. Cooper will contend
that Inspector Pagan, not being a minis
terial officer, nor judicial one with un-
limited discretionary powers, but his
powers being Of a quasi-judieial kind he
Ignorance of the law; that the .most that
would excuse him would be an honest
question of fact, and now if he has at
tempted to settle question of law he has |
done so at his own risk.
David Woolman was the first witness
sworn. He lives at No. 222 West street.
He has resided in the election district
under question for 80 years. The tax
receipt in contest was exhibited 1t is |
dated April 18th, 1889, for 1888; for city and |
poor tax, is signed by j. L. Dickey, and |
properly stamped.
The witness remembered last Novem-
ber's election. He went TO offer his vote
at the following place, northeast corner
Second and Tatnall streets, The officials |
present we're: Peter, A, Pagan, inspector;
Harry Ahrens and Peter J. Donnelly,
Judges Harry Peoples and John Pyle
United States supervisors. He went there