Evening journal., 1891-04-15
.FAGAN'S CASE A FIzzLE-
HE HAD NO GUILTY MOTIVE IN RE-
FUSlNG THE VOTE.

When the Uui.ed States Court resumed
after recess yesterday afternoon, Thomas
B. Norcross was placed on trial on the
charge Of having broken into Greenville
post cffice. on Msrch 25. The prisoner
pleaded not guilty and conducted his own
defence He was cleanly shaved and
looked rather respectable for a man In his
position After jury had been drawn
William R. Brucke the postmaster ct
Greenyille, testified that the building
which had been broken into wss used as
private office Of W. 4 Brinckle & Co s
the rear Of which was used as post
Office. There wss government property
IN the building He identified four sealed
letters which had been taken
George peGott the assistant master.
testified that early in the morning Of
March 20 he was awakened by the ring
ing Of q burglar alarm, and arousing two
neighoors ran to the post Office. They
saw q man run away, whom they pur-
sued and captured Norcross was the
man. On his person were letters taken
from the post Office When Norcross
was arrested he denied being the right
man and asked how they knew he had
been in the post office Other witnesses
corroborated this testimony
Norcross was then sworn and testified
on bis own behalf He was In Chadds
ford on March 20, and having missed the
train started to walk to Wilmington. At
DuPOnt's station he met a colored man
and they went to the post office The coll
ored man went in the post Office and
when be came out he had the papers
with him The others were coming and
the colored man gave him the papers and
escaped while he was captured.
On cross examination BY Mr. Cooper he
said he was a native OF Warwick, Della
ware, and was by profession an artist
anG painted portraits The jury retired
at 2 80 o'clock aud ia a few minutes re
turned with verdict of guilty. Nor
cross was sentenced TO pay a fine Of
81 900 and be imprisoned for two years
with hard labor. The second indictment
was continued.
Trial of Peter A. Pagan.
When the case against Norcross had
been de posed of that of Peter A. Fagan
charged with having refused the vote Of
David Woolman IN the first precinct of
the First wand on the last election day.
was called.
The following jury WAS empal elled A
j. Staten. Charles II. Register, William
Shaw, Jr, David PleRsanton, Thomas E
Morris. Philip D. Marvel william NJ
Brscken, Thomas L. Baldwin. Charles
l. DoUghton, Samuel p. Grffen, J.
Moody Rothwell, and ]. c. Aiken. The
constitution Of the jury was six Demo
crsts four Republicans. and two neutrals
There we're no challenges
Alexander B Cooper stated in opening
the case that an understanding had been
reached between himself and counsel fer
the defence that all technical matters
would be admitted, and evidence would
only be produced to show that David
/ Woo,man was entitled to vo.e. and that
Mr.. Pagan had knowingly refused the
vote.
Henry c. Turner and Frank D. Car
penter represented Pagan.
David Woolman testified that he was
resident of the First district, First ward
for fifty years He had paid his taxes tc
within two years before the date Of cleo
tion and produced his tax receipt for $3:
for 1888 On November he offered L
vote at the First election district Pete
A. Fsgan was inspector. Henry Ahern and
Peter a. Donnelly were judges, and Johr
Pyle aud Harry Peoples United States
supervisors, He went TO vote at l CLOCK
that day, but Pagan refused him on IL,
grounds, as he said, that witness was OF
the error list. Witness left and returned
again, but was again refused He knew
Pagan we'll for several years, and they
were intimately aceueinted
On cross examination by Mr. Carpenter
he said he boarded at No. 222 West street
and boarded with Jesse 4 Baylis Fl,
had house on Tatnall street, but h,
did noe know on what property he hac
been assessed.
w. Pierce Biggs was next examined
He produced the assessment record fol
1885 SS David Woolman WAS assessed
for ten different pieces of property. Oa
transfer was made to Alfred johnson a
No 217 Tatnsll street The assessmen
record for 1889 was produced but n
property assessments to David Woolma
could be found The district attorne
said that even if Woolmans name va
returned on the error list that would no
Justify the refusal Of the vote Cour
/ adjourned at 4 10 o'clock. and Mr. Car
psnter will cross examine Mr. Biggs thi
morning
At this mornings ses sion David Woo
man was recalled Mr.. Carpenter at
tempted to question him as to whethe
he knew for what property he had pai
the taxes, but the question not being
cross examination, was disallowed
Peter j. Donnel.y. the RepuI
lican Judge at the Frst di
trict, Frst ward, testified this
- inspector. judges and supervisor
all agreed that morning before any vot,
n were taken that no voters of eith'
II party would be accep.e ed whose naml
were on the error list. land unfortur
4 ately." said Mr. Donnellv, "Mr Woo
II man was the first we refused and mol
of US objected" There were Eve vot
refused that dsy on that account TIL
q knocked the bottom out of tile wac
?. case against Pagan
n In closing District Attorney Coop
said that the fact that the Republica
d and Democrats had agreed beforehal
d not to admi any vote from men who
n names were on the error Ii st, preclud
the possibility of corrupt motive B
, therefore, asked the court to advise {
i Jury to return a verdict OF not guilt
- That was done and Mr. Fagan was di
> charged.
Case Against Freeman.
y The case Of Harry Freeman, charg
- with Illegally voting and personating t
name OF George B. Maekey, was opent
There are five counts against Freems
the important one being that he is
Ve minor, and that he voted in the name
l. another person. The following jurym
}" were chosen: Thomas O. Dowd rhom
5Y l. poIdvrip Thnnaac T. Marriu W