The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-02-06
oouhr rkocEiaEnrNos.

McPherson's Case Not Yet Finished
Witnesses Still Being Examined-
j Grand Jury Present Their Report dor
the Past Year.
Court resumed promptly at 2.B0
o'clock yesterday afternoon, with Chief
Justice Comegys and Associate Judges
Houston and Cullen on the bench.
The case Of the State vs. MCPHERSON,
charged with arson, was resumed.
GeorgesM ID. Cam was recalled,
and testified that on several occasions
he had found waste secreted about the
yard. He watched around the yard,
and also asked MCPHERSON to watch.
William Il. Jones testified that he
knows MCPHERSON. The witness was
employed by George w. Bush a. Son
to find out who were starting fires
around their place.
He worked on the case four or five
days before he found out anything.
He first secreted himself in the wood
In the yard and afterwards In a house
on Water street. He was in the thirIi
story OF the house and could look into
the yard. On the 12th day of Decen
Der he went into this house about b
O'Clock in the morning. Between ID
and II o'clock MCPHERSON came out OK
the blacksmith shop and went to the
shed with bag or some cotton waste
In his hand. He was In the shed few
looked all around and then went
back, taking something out of hin
pocket.
After he came out again there waB
smoke Issuing from the building. Nc
Pherson then went up to the black.
smith shop, and seemed to be doing
something to a wagon that stood out
side. A colored man that worked with
McPherson then appeared on the
scene, and they both stood and looked
at the smoke. The witness came down
and told Mr.. Cam that there was
another fire In the yard. He had boy
named Dillin on watch and warned
him to look out for MCPHERSON, as he
had reason to suspicion him. He ar
rested MCPHERSON shortly afterwards.
Mr. EmmonS cross-examined the Wit
ness at length, and read from evidence
taken at the preliminary hearing at
the Municipal Court, the greater part
oI which the witness denied SAYING.
Inc, eross-examiliation was unneees-I
sarily long and tedious and Mr.. En-
mons exhausted every effort to make
the witness contradict himself He,
however, failed in this, and when at
last he asked manifestly improper
question, he was rebuked by the Court.
frantz Dillin stated that he was also
on the watch several days, trying to
detect the idceDdiary. The first week
he spent In the yard examining the
buildings.
lie afterwards had place in the
puiiulnB spoken of on Water street,
but had nothing to do with the case
on December T. the day of the first
! fire.
Harvey ID. Vandegrift testified that
ne also was trying TO secure the one
that was causing the fires. On the
day whom the lust fire occurred he
visited the shed where 1t started and
saw the place.
The grand jury came in shortly
after o'clock and presented their re-
port Tor the past year, which was read
thanked them and they were dis
charged from further attendance.
Court then adjourned until 10 O'Clock
this morning.
! REPORT OF THE GRAND jury.
as follows:
ITO the Honorable Judges OF the Su-
j perior Court.
Inc Grand Inquest of New Castle
; County and the State of Delaware
! would respectfully present the follow
ing report OF the business coming be-
fore them for tho year commencing
i with the May term, 1880, and ending
with the February term, 1891.
There We're submitted to us at the
May term, 1890, by the Attorney-gen-
eral, "a bills, of which was ignored
ana true bills found in 20 cases.
AT the September term, 1890, A
bills were submitted, of which 0 were
Ignored and true bills found in ,}S cnses.
AT the November term 2S bills were
submitted, of which were ignored
and true bills found in 20 cases.
AT the present term of February,
1891, 4S bills were submitted, OF which
all true bills were found in 4S eases,
making total of 14l cases submitted
To us by the AttoIney-general and CON
sidered and investigated by us, OF
which were ignored, and true bills
presented to the honorable court in
lS2 cases.
"A very large proportion of these
cases arc OF such minor nature as
would seem To make it exceedingly
necessary and desirable, not only In
! the Interest of economy, but also as a
relief to the court and it's officers that
a simpler and prompter method should
speedily be found for their trial and
disposition.
aAt its September session the grand
inquest adopted tho following resolu-
ton expressive of its feelings at the
death OF John Pugh, member OF the
Grand Inquest from New Castle Hum
dred, who died on July G. 1890:
] "Resolved That we have learned
with deep sorrow Of the death of our
fellow member, John Pugh. He was
by virtue Of his long experience and
Judicial temperament an exceedingly
valuable and valued member of this
| body. In his death we not only lose a
| valued member but each of MS a .Der-
sonal friend. The State and eommu-
nifty lose an upright honorable, useful
| citizen. He died full OF years and in
/ the enjoyment of the respect and CON
/ fidence of all who knew him u an un-
usual degree. A useful citizen, a good
neighhor, n kind friend; his life work
| is done, and he las gone to his reward,
/ 'ton Wednesday, October 20, 1880, thS
grand inquest mnde visit oil iispee-
tion TO the county Jail at New Castle
and to the county almshouse at Farm
hurst. At the Jail we were received by
Sheriff Allen and his wife, who afford
ed us every facility OF inspecting
everything under their charge. In tha
| sheriti's house we found everything in
excellent condition and preservation,
! showing the admirable management
and careful experience of most care
| full housekeeper.
/ 'In tha uriSou wn foiIuI n In tie