Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-11-26
COUNTY COURT,


Cases Before the Court.
The story of the troubles at the polls
OF the Sixth district, Fifth ward, was
told FOR the State, at yesterday after
noon weeks session Of court, by George
=. Murphey, clerk, and Charles +.
Thomas, Republican inspector. The
latter testified that while Brown and
the other colored men INSTRUCTED the
window, Mr.. Mitchell tried to quiet the
men when they entered the polling
place. He considered that the act Of
Carpenter in pocketing Browns tax re-
ceipt was the prime cause of the trouble
with Brown. After the receipt was
given back to him Brown returned to
the window and insisted upon his vote
2 being received.
George $. Capelle of the department
OF elections, said he saw no obstruction
Of voting at the Sixth district polls, but
saw men around the window. They
were disputing over the right Of man
70 vote. Captain Mitchell was at one
side of the window. Mr.. Capelle said
ne remained there for half an hour, but
saw no voting going on during this
time. His visit was made about Q
o'clock in the afternoon.
Thomas Mullin, a resident of the dis
trict, said he was around the polls all
the afternoon, but was not allowed to
vote. He waited until things became
quiet, and attempted to vote, but col
ored man thrust a fist into his face and
declared that he should not vote. He
saw Captain Mitchell, and Brown, JEFF
ferson and johnson in the crowd. Mr.
Mullin was sure that a number of citi-
zens were prevented from voting by the
disorder that prevailed.
j. X. c. Gorrell described how he at
tempted to vote at the Sixth district
polls. He saw Mitchell, Jefferson and
Brown around the window and said the
colored men were acting in very dis
orderly manner. II don't think Mr..
Mitchell was acting in very orderly
manner" he said. He tried number Of
times to vote, but was prevented by Mr..
Mitchell, and finally went away with
out voting.
The State here rested.
For the defence Charles f. Thomas
was called, and said that Captain
Mitchell endeavored to keep the men in
line outside the window, and endeavored
to quiet the colored men when they
entered the polling place. His efforts
were more in the direction of preserving
order than melting to disorder.
Court adjourned until 10 o'clock on
morning.
Howard Cooling, who had pleaded
guilty to charge of manslaughter in kill
ing his wife, was brought into courtnon
Thursday and Judge Grubb pronounced
sentence upon him. The judge addressed
the prisoner impressively, informing him
that while the court had due regard for his
previous. good character, yet the grave
matter of protecting society could not be
lost sight of. He then imposed sentence
OF $1,000 fine and four years imprson-
ment, one year less than the full penalty
OF the law Cooling was returned to the
cells and Thursday night was taken to New
Castle Jail.
WALTER BLACKBURN ARRAIeNEp.
Walter W. Blackburn, who was yester-
day indicted for the murder of little Eddie
Gardner, was brought into court and ar
raigned. Blackburn listened attentivey
as Clerk Biggs read the long indictment
charging him with murder of the first de-
gree and on being asked the usual ques-
ton, Are you guilty in manner and form
as you stand indicted, or not guilty?' re-
sponded, II am not guilty"
IL. IL. Ward was assigned by the court
10 detend the prisoner. Mr.. Ward could
not tell when he would be ready for trial.
THE ELECTION TRIALS
The hearing of the Sixth district election
cases was then resumed with testimony
Tor the defence under way, Joseph II.
Martin, Republican challenger said that
Brown, after Inspector Carpenter retained
his tax receipt, threatened to come in the
window II the receipt was not returned to
went away. Mitchell, Mr.. Martin said,
MAS trying 70 get the men outside in line.
He said the trouble that prevailed was not
caused by Mitchell but BY Inspector Car
pointers action in refusing to accept GER
tam votes. He heard Mitchell tell the men
70 De quiet and make no disturbance and
everything would be all right. When the
crowd came into the room and Carpenter
LETT he took the ballot-box upstairs and
locked it up. There were about dozen
men. white and black in the room, wher,
he came downstairs. He said the election
was blocked for about two hours during
the afternoon, but could only identify
window.
City Councilman f. b. Cotton said that
as soon as the first difficulty occurred,
over the retention of Browns tax recent
he drove in town and notified MIR. Capelle
OF the Department of Elections He did
not see Captain Mitchell commit any
breach of the peace or do ANYTHING calcii.
OF the four colored men on trial were
among those who entered the polling
place. Mr.. Cotton said that when the men
entered the room he went away, as he die
not care to see what followed.
Alfred g. Pyle saw Brown lean in the
window and attempt to grab Carpenter
when the latter kept his receipt. He heard
threats OF trouble made by persons in the
crowd. He saw Captain Mitchell forcing
back the colored men who were INSISTING
upon voting and heard him tell them il
would be oil right when the Election Com
missioners arrived.
Charles III. Groves testimony was to the
effect that Captain Mitchell acted all the
time as a conservator Of the peace.
John Taylor, although a resident oil
New Castle hundred, spent a couple OF
hours around the Sixth district polls dur
ng the afternoon. He saw nothing in
Captain Mitchell's actions that tended IL
obstruct the voting or cause break of the
peace.
Levy Court Commissioner Paul ellis Of
White Clay Creek hundred was another
countryman who spent the afternoon Al
the Sixth district polls. He was there from
2o'clock to $50, "out of curiosity" he ad
mitted to MIR. Elliott He saw no dis
orderly conduct on the part of Mitchell.
Henry U. Neeman was confident thai
Mitchell used his utmost endeavors, all til,
afternoon, to preserve the peace. Tn,
vote of the witness was refused, but h,
kept in line until Mr.. Mitchell advised
hum TO keep away, so as not to impede the
election.
G. Wesley Weldin said he did not vote n
the Sixth district that afternoon, but i
was not on account Of any interference b,
Captain Mitchell 1t was because he wa
late in arriving, and there were too man,
ahead of him to allow of his reaching til,
window in time.
This ended the testimony and arrlmen