Morning journal and courier., 1891-12-10
DnuGGIsr HoDGsoN,s TRIAL.


 A Crowd of spectators in the Court
 Room-The Evidence for the De- 1 fense-Sold for Humane Purposes | Prof. Townsend's Able Plea |
 Warmly Applauded-The Druggist
 Fined and Appeal.
 After disposal of the few criminal cases in the city court yesterday morning Judge Pickett listened to the evidence in the case of Druggist Joseph A. Hodgson of Whslley avenue, who sold cider brandy to one of Blydenburgh's spotters and was charged with selling liquor to a minor. Considerable interest was manifested by the large number of spectators in the court room. All the evidence for the state was put in on Tuesday. MT. Hodgson, the first wit ness for the defense, was examined by Attorney Townsend. He testified that he had been dispensing drugs for twenty-one years and eleven years at his present place l of business The circumstances of the sale were ex- l plained by the witness as follows: "The l young man rushed into my store and said a policeman had hurt his hand and he wished the cider brandy to bathe it. As I l was for policeman who had. hurt his hand in Woodbridge the night before. I remembered having heard about the case and I supposed that the purchase was all right. I should judge the fellow was about twenty years of age. Coming in as he did with rush, thought the brandy was for humane purposes, and did not have time to think whether or not he was | . minor"
 After other brief testimony of no ma l terial importance, Attorney Lindsley, for the defense, alluded to the excellent stand 1 ing of MT. Hodgson as @ good citizen, said |, that as a matter of fact when Officers Welch and Gibson were out with a Wood bridge officer looking for a burglar, the Woodbridge officer injured himself Hodg- son heard the story and sold the cider brandy, as he supposed for humane pur- poses. ,....,,,:-.. .......-.-.--...
 Haven courts as a juror, which is evidence attorney, a person from seventeen to twenty-five years of age, goes to a drug store for supposed humane purpose and the proprietor of the store is then prose- cuted, it would seem that it was not with in the scope of the law. There was no in- tent to sell to a minor in this case, and ask for the discharge of the accused. Professor Townsend's plea for the de- fence was substantially as follows:
 "It seems to me that in view of this ex-
 traordinary attack upon body of reputa
 ble people and in this prosecution it de
 mands some word of comment. The Iegis
 lature has provided a way in which the
 state shall sell licenses, and also 8 board
 of pharmacy. This is the first time in my recollection that any such claim as thit
 has been brought against the druggists | s, &lo% torney has by this method, and through
 fraud and lying, procured evidence for tn, conviction of a druggist The principal
 witness crossed himselfa number of times
 and the evidence was contradictec by his associate. It did seem that tL,
 witness was constantly fabricating testi
 mony for the emergency of the case. Tn,
 sale was in reality to Blydenburg to carry l out this conspiracy; but the defendant dit suppose that he was selling the cider bran
 dy as a Hnim- mt to bathe an injured DO liceman's hand. Suppose that this prose ; cutting agent should, in carrying out thi conspiracy, send out these boys with
 bogus prescription. Would you conside
 this violation of the law? There cannot in this case, be any violation of the law and I hope that you will punish the perpe trators of this conspiracy against this de
 fendant and intended against this body o men represented in this court. This who'll spotting system was, in my opinion, con
 ceived in iniquity, born in falsehood ant l perpetrated in fraud"
 At the close of the lawyers argumen the spectators manifested their approva B by loud applause, which was checked b, Judge Pickett.
 f Prosecuting Agent Blydenburg then re
 piled, saying in substance, stripped O , verbiage, sI told my detectives that the must not lie to the druggists; that if the, : lied would press no such case agains any druggist. Those were my strict or ders. But do not believe that McGuir told MT. Hodgson that tale about the DO = | liceman."
 B After Judge Pickett had fined Hodgsol $50 an appeal was taken.
 City Court - Criminal Side Juds, , Pickett.
 , Joseph A. Hodgson, violation of tn l liquor law, $50 fine, S17. 95 costs, appealed 8 Alonzo B. Hall, same, two cases, eacl
 $50 fine, 17.95 costs, appealed; Edwar, F. Nagle, same, continued to December II
 John Ryder, same, continued to Decembe 10; Adam Roell, same, $10 fine, STA costs; same, same, $7 fine, same, Sunda, , liquor law, $50 fine, $2269 costs; Michae Cannon. breach of the peace, $25 fine $7.06 costs.
 AN ADVERTISING CONTRACT. = The case of George 0. Powning, adver
 Using agent of this city, against H. c
 Allen and wife of Northford, was triet
 yesterday before Justice J. c. Gallagher.
 The suit is to recover claim of $57.5 for an advertising contract. The defens is general denial. c. 0. Ford for plain tiff. George A. Tyler for defendant REPLEvIN SUIT.
 In the common pleas court before Judg Studley yesterday the replevin suit O Howshield vs. Betts & filling was tried. : l Death of Thos lnlWeIl.