Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-09-29
THOMAS FORD ON TRIAL.

Ing Oftcer for tho Stute.
When court convened in the case of the
State vs. Joseph Lardo, charged with as.
sault with intent to murder Raffaelo and
Antonio Mara, Monday afternoon,
Frank Branc. who was on the stand
when court adjourned at the noon hour,
was recalled. His examination concluded,
he was allowed to leave the stand, but not
until Encouragement Nicholson devel-
oped the fact that the witness had been
once fined for assault and battery on Dog
Catcher James Il. Writ.
Carlo Meo was the next witness. He tes-
titled to seeing Antonio Maria strike Lardo
in the face, which was signal for the dis
turbance to begin on May 18th. Maria also
secured the leg of chair and made an at
tempt to assault Lardo.
Elizabeth Charles was called to the stand
and testified to seeing Lardo running ont
of Marras house on the afternoon of the
assault.
Frank Ross was another Italian witness.
The latter on inquiry stated that Antonio
Mara had stated to him that ii Frank
Branc came into court to testify against
him he would have Branc arrested for
selling liquor without a license.
William H. Lee was called and knew the
| prisoner in the dock. He said his reputa-
lion for peace and good order in the com
| munity in which he lived was good
Police Officer Carmen di Mare did not
| know the reputation of the prisoner for
peace and good order in the community in
| which he lived. The defense here closed.
| Mr., Nicholson then opened for the state
and at the conclusion of his argument Mr..
Smalley advised the jury in behalf of the
prisoner. Mr.. Nicholson then finished his
argument ON behalf of the State. Judge
| Cullen charged the jury and that body
retired at 4.0S o'clock.
Colonel Macallister presented u petition
| for road in Brandywino hundred, signed
| by prominent citizens of said hundred.
The jury returned at i.45 o'clock with
verdict of guilty. Mr.. Nicholson stated
| that in the case of the second indictment
against the prisoner he would enter nolle
prosequi.
Court adjourned at $40 o'clock until 10
o'clock Tuesday morning.
A wave of expectancy prevailed through
ont court Tuesday morning, when the case
of the State vs.. Thomas w. Ford, charged
| with larceny on two separate accounts was
called. Encouragement Nicholson was
on hand promptly, to champion the cause
of the state while ex-Attorney-Seneral
John Biggs appeared for Ford. The pris-
oner was brought in and atraigned and
pleaded not guilty to the charge.
In opening for the State Mr.. Nicholson
stated that the State proposed to prove
that the prisoner was guilty of the larceny
of d watch valued at 1925 from John NJ.
Thackera of this city. The watch was first
missed on the 9Th day of August last. The
prisoner was afterwards arrested in Phila-
delphia with the property on his person.
He was also seen near Elkton where lie
attempted to sell the property.
The State then called John NJ. Thackera
to the stand. He lives at No. i0S East
Fourth street. He testified that lie found
the watch missing on the 9Th day of
August. after he returned from Elkton.
He had seen it on the Thursday previous
to the 9th day of August and possibly on
the morning Of the day the timc-pece was
taken.
William II. Thompson was the next
witness. lie testified to meeting Ford on
the night OF the 9Th Of August near Elkton.
The latter was very drunk and offered tn
sell him gold watch. Ford said he had
stolen the watch. He was shown Thackera's
watch in court but could not identify it as
the one shown him by Ford, although il
looked like it.
Joseph II. Wardell testified to seeing
Ford about mile and half from Elkton
on the night of the 9Th of August. Ford
asked if any one had any whisky, He
then offered to sell some jewelry tc
Thompson. The latter did not want tc
/, buy the jewelry. Ford said he had stolen
the iewelry.
solomon Hass was called and sworn on
the five books of Moses. The witness is q
pawnbroker at No. 1906 Market street
Philadelphia. lie stated that he haC
loaned Ford money on the watch shown
him in court
: Detective George T. Hatton was called
} and testified to the arrest of Ford and tt
certain statements the prisoner had made
to him.
Then to the great surprise Of the counse
for the defence and TO every one familiar
with the case tue State rested without
calling any more witnesses.
, Mr., Biggs then opened for the defence
and stated that the State had absolutely
7 failed to prove even prima facie cast
: against the prisoner. They had not proven
. there had been any larceny and had no
proven the value of the articles stolen
. Mr.. Biggs also desired to know why Mrs
' Thackera and other witnesses had not beer
: called to prove the larceny, and this wa
, the question everybody asked everybod!
= else.
= Mr.. Nicholson was replying to the re
!. marks of Mr.. Biggs when court took reces
J until go O'Clock Tuesday afternoon.
When court convened at $50 o'clocl
, Tuesday the case of the State VS.
3 Thomas w. Ford. charged with larceny
r was resumed. Mr.. Nicholson continued
/ his argument for the State in answer /,
d that of Mr.. Biggs, contending that tn
value of the watch was proven by tn
u testimony of the pawn-broker who nc
q oepted it in pledge. In his argumen
q Mr.. Nicholson cited the case of tn
IS larceny of six towels valued at 81
= There was evidence that but three O
l. the towels were stolen and the grant
e jury held that the three unproyen towel
y were worth 81 which rendered tn
:, :, proven towels valueless. His case wa
d cited as comparable to that of the waite
and chain.
# Mr.. Biggs held that there was n
If proof of the value of the watch AM
IS chain. They had not been separated
q He held that the proof must correspon
"a with the indictment, and each mus
Ie have value. Tho court reserved de
l. cision in the case.
Mr.. Biggs then opened for the dc
n fence and called a number Of citizens o
q Elkton, Md to prove the reputation o
e the prisoner for honesty and fair dealin
= in the community in which he resided
ii Encouragement Nicholson the
r. began his opening argument for til
ir State, which occupied but short time
n after which Mr.. Biggs addressed III
l, jury on behalf of the prisoner. III
ie counsel for the defence then asked Til
If court to charge the jury that if Mr.
m m Thaclera gave the prisoner the jewelry
ID there could be no larceny A humble
of cases were cited in support of th
argument.
er Mr.. Nicholson then began his closin
of argument for the defence, and was il
I'd terrupted, when court took a recess {
/ 430 o'clock until 10 yesterday morn
~ ing.
n As soon rs court convened yeste
To- daN John II. Rodney asked for the puI