Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-05-21
TIE My TERM.
Superior Court opened--Trial List Gone
Over--sallie Miles Pleads Guilty and is
Sentenced.

Superior Court opened--Trial List Gone
| Over--Sallie Miles Pleads Guilty and is
| Sentenced.
| Very little business was transacted at
| yesterday weeks session of court, and
il was 3.35 o'clock before case was taken
up. AT that time jury was drawn, and
Elias Williams, colored, indicted for the
larceny of 56 chickens, the property of
David Cloud of Brandywine hundred,
was placed on trial
Peter L, Cooper. ESQ.,, appeared for the
State and Walter Bacon, Esq, for the
| defence.
David Cloud was the first witness, and
he testified to the fact of the chickens
being stolen on the morning of March 3D.
He had o. chickens on the night Of March
ID. but the next morning he only found
| II in the hen house. Upon being notified
he went to the city hall and identified the
chickens as his property.
| officer Raymond testified that he, with
| officer Solomon, arrested the prisoner and
on the morning of March Sd, about $50
| o'clock. They found three bags of
| chickens in the wagon, and started 10 take
| their prisoners TO the hall, when one
| jumped out and made his escape.
both these witnesses were subjected to a
long cross-examination, and while the
case was still pending court adjourned at
AS soon as court convened at 10 o'clock
| on Thursday the case Of Elias Williams
colored. charged with stealing SO chickens
from David Cloud, of Brandywine hun
bred, which was commenced yesterday,
week was again taken mp.
| Officers Solomon, Francis and Yates
each testified for the State, and said that
the prisoner claimed that he had started
out to visit some friends in the country,
on the evening Of March ID, but as it was
stormy and he met with the wagon, he
| got in and came back to town, when he
| was arrested.
This closed the case for the State, and
Mr.. Bacon made his opening address to the
jury for the defence, He claimed that
there was doubt about this case which
should clear his client, and also that he
could prove previous good character.
James Smith, colored, testified that he
saw the accused on the evening of March
ID, and he told him that he was going to
walk out in the country to see his parents.
Thomas Calhoun testified that on the
evening of March I'd, Jacob Wolfe, the
man who escaped from the officers, came
to him and hired horse and wagon. He
said that he was going out in the country
to pick banjo ut party There was no
one with him, and the witness did not see
the team again until he was notified that
it was at police station.
Mahlon Smith, Philip Graves, Stephen
Cooper and Officer William II. Sherer
each testified that they know the prisoner,
and that he has always borne good
character.
This closed the testimony on both sides,
and Peter l.. Cooper Esq, made the open
ing argument to the jury for the State.
He was followed by Mr., Bacon, who
spoke until 1870 O'Clock when the closing
argument was made by Mr.. Cooper, and
while he was speaking the grand jury
came in and returned four true bills
against Sallie Miles, for malpractice and
abortion.
Howard Taylor pleaded guilty to an in
dictment of larceny, but his sentence was
deferred.
Daniel Johnson, indicted on two charges
of burglary and larceny pleaded not
guilty and was remanded for trial
At O'Clock court adjourned until $50
O'Clock in the afternoon.
AS soon as court convened Thursday
afternoon the jury in the case of Elias
Williams indicted for stealing chickens,
was briefly charged by Chief Justice
Comegys and retired at 2.45 o'clock. The
jury came i'll at 3. IS o'clock with a verdict
of guilty, but on heapplication of Walter
Bacon, Esq, his sentence was deferred to
allow him an opportunity to move for
Sarah Miles, indicted for malpractice
and abortion, was arraigned and pleaded
not guilty to four indictments. Mary
Ryan, her daughter, was charged with
being an accomplish, and also pleaded not
guilty The court assigned III. G. Turner,
ESQ, to conduct the defence.
Walter Coleman, who pleaded guilty to
an Indictment charging him with commit
ing an assault with intent to ravish a col
ored woman, over Market street bridge,
was placed in the dock when II, II. Ward,
Esq, his counsel, called William X.
Beyan, Mrs Mary McClintock, Mrs. Mar
geret Quinn and several Others who testi-
fled to his previous good character. His
mother testified that he is but II years Of
age, and that she did not think he is alto
gether right in his mind He was SEN
fenced to pay the costs of prosecution, a
fine of $500, be imprisoned one year, and
on Saturday next stand one hour in the
7iliory, and be whipped with 30 lashes.
Shortly after o'clock court adjourned
until 10 O'Clock Friday morning.
A jury was drawn and the case of
Benjamin Caulk, colored, indicted for
assault with intent to kill was taken UP
as soon as court convened on Friday.
The accused with James Williams, also
colored, was indicted Wednesday week
for the larceny of 10 chickens, the
property of Hannah Gibbs, of Apo
quinimink hundred. They were also
charged on this Indictment with assault
and intent to kill Gustavus Gibbs and
Isaac Gibbs. They both pleaded guilty
to the charge of larceny and were SEN
fenced. Williams also pleaded guilty to
the two indictments charging him with
assault, but CaullS pleaded not guilty.
Walter Bacon, Esq, was arraigned to
defend him, and the State was repre-
scented by Deputy Attorney-general
Davis.
The testimony of Gustavus and Isaac
Gibbs showed that on the night of
March 21st they were awakened by
noise at the hen coop. When they went
down to see what was the matter, they
were shot at and stoned. They recog-
nizcd the voice of Caulk urging some
one else to shoot.
William Il. Duhadaway testified that |
he is a constable and arrested the ac-
cused. Caulk told him that he had |
fred at the Gibbs once or twice and also |
threw stones at them.
Joseph Gritfen, colored, testified that |
he was with Williams and Caulk on the |
night of March 21st, and went with |
them to Mr.. Gibbs. They secured an |
axe in u shed, and with it broke into the
hen house. While they We're getting
the chickens the two men came out,
when Williams and Caulk fired at them.
On cross-examinetion by Mr.. Bacon,
this witness admitted that some four
years ago he was indicted for chicken
stealing and pleaded guilty, when lie
was sentenced to five lashes and an inn
prisonment of three months.
This closed the testimony, and, after
by Messrs Davis and Bacon,
the jury was charged by Judge Cullen.