Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-01-28
INTRICATE oRpn4Ns couRr CASE

iNfbft-tIE OhfH8Ns tOthT C1SE.
The Petition for the Discharge of Guar
dian Ricard and Its Eject ON Pending
Suits.
AS interesting and probably MS intricate
n legal suit as ever came up in the Della
ware courts is the one now pending in the
orphans court, in which Maggie NJ
dian, Jules Ricard, appointed only
month or two ago, be dismissed from tho
position.
The ease was to come up in the orphans
court on Saturday. but as Judge Grnbh is
sitting IN the superior court the case has
been postponed TO next Saturday. Most
Important matters hinge upon the results
Of this petition, for, ii it be granted the
prosecution of Robert Edgar in the pend
ing $1,000 damage suit against him will
be dropped. Her guardian, Jules Ricard
Is prosecuting the case in her name, she
being II minor On the other hand, II the
petition be denied by Judge Grub, the
defendant, Edgar, will continue informed
In New Castle Jail and will be prevented
from appearing IN the pending case of the
Arlington Mills Company against William
j. Matheson d Co. Of Philadelphia. The
connection in the latter development is
that Edgar is the Matheson company's
chief witness for the defence and IL he be
not present the probability is that they
will lose the suit with little contention to
the Wilmington firm.
1t will be remembered that the suit of
the Arlington Mills Company III the Phila-
delphia courts was instituted against Will
liam j. Matheson n Co., on the charge of
defrauding the Wilmington firm Of certain
margins ON the cost of imported anline
dyes used in the linen print goods. Robert
Edgar was for years the superintendent of
the dyeing department at the mills and the
nIaRnUarN pf m lAau IF .t,,f,
amounting il is understood to accuinula-
tons totaling over $4,000, has implicated
the Philadelphia importers who are made
respondents in the suit being charged with
connivance with Edgar to dcfraud the
Arlington Mills Company. It is charged
that the wholesale importers made the ex-
cessive charges and that division on the
margins was made between them and
Edgar; this was done secretly and to the
great loss OF the local company.
William j. Nlatheson d Co., the Phila-
delphla importers, are prepared TO deny
these allegations but need Robert Edgar's
presence in court for that purpose. lie
cannot be released from Jail il the petition
of Maggie Welsh for the dismissal of her
guardian, Jules lticard be denied II the
latter he continued guardian then Edgar
continues locked up in New Castle iail and
the Mathcson defence cannot be main
taincd
The original case against Robert Edgar
and for which he Is incarcerated, is Grim
inal suit brought by the girl in which she
asks tor damages III the large sum referred
10. II was based on facts, to which afii-
davit was made, occurring in May OF 1856.
Edgar Was arrested ana brought before
squire smith, March 18th, 1887. A stranger
from Philadelphia appeared at the suuire's
Office. lie was not known. lie is described,
however, us an elderly gentleman with
,tIar i,s,a1s - 1
charitable home for girls. The npshOt Of
the matter was that the case did not como
to trial. II was learned that the girl WHO at
that time WIS only II years of age, received
the sum Of $40 and the old gentleman
walked off with S15. II was understood
that Edgar paid the total of 1928. and this
explains the fact of the case not coming
up. II is implied, with what amount 81
basis in truth is not known, that this old
gentleman was an official and represented
the Philadelphia Home, for which he III
person received the larger share Of the pit
lance, S75, for which Maggie Welsh, who
was, il is stated, an inmate or ward of the
home, sold herself to Edgar. He went
away with his share of the plumber and
the case was hushed up.
Maggie Welsh, who Is now 10 years OF age.
states she was placed in an orphans
home in Philadelphia, and by the officials
oi II liidcntured to Robert Edgar at North
| Nineiand, n. j. The assault occurred In
May 1855. subsequently Jules Ricard, ~
her guardian and next friend, = instituted
proceedings for her against Edgar in the
upper court.
Jules Rcard has left the employ of the
Arlington Mills Company some 10 months
back, He was employed there for several
| years as designer Of prints and ginghams.
| lie says THAT subsequent to lcdgafs arrest
on capias based ON the girls statement he
| was placed in Jail. He denies that he was
| appointed her guardian without amy pre-
vios knowledge ON her part that such
was the case. lie at no time insisted or
! suggested his name rs her guardian. She
voluntarily chose Rcard for that position.
lie denies that he brought suit in the
superior court against Edgar IN order to
| prevent his testifying in any suit or court
| N Philadelphia or anywhere else, but
Drought the suit in good faith for Justice
ana the yindicatiUn of his ward. He in
formed Maggie Welsh that II the suit came
on she would probably have to face a
| crowded court room. Ricard adds that it was
long alter Edgars arrest that he was given
| any animation that Maggie Welsh did not
desire him 10 act as her guardian.
Muggie Welsh on her part desires In
abandon the suit against Edgar on tina
grounds of the moral effect on her reptitn-
ton. She believes that Ricar,l Interests
are Identified with those of the Arlington
mills against the Philadelphia firm and Il
~ more for the furtherance of his iuterests
Than hers that he is pushing the suit
Henry Z, Turner Is counsel for Ricard
and Lew Z. Bird and William I. LYMAN
are III the Interests of the petitioner
|