Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1892-01-12
UNCLE SAM PR0SECUTES.
MAJOR THOMAS FINED HEAVILY FOR
SELLING INTOXICATING LIQUOR.

Matthew Goslin, "a Crippled War Veteran
Before A Jury OF Deiawareans Charged
with Violating Pension Laws-H ezekiah
Harrington OF Harrington Faces Lawyer
Harrington Of Wilmington.
The United States District Court con
| vened in the Federal building at 10
o'clock this morning, with Judge Wales
on the bench
The grand jury found true bill
against Mat hew Gjsln OF arlington,
Kent county, for pledglug his pension
certificate This Is a direct violation Of
section 4745, United States statutes at
large, which makes It a misdemeanor
punishable by fine OF not more than
Sl00. The certificate was alleged to have
been given to dezekiah Harrington, a
merchant of Harrington, as collateral for
| goods purchased ab the latters store
After the defence had challenged a num-
Der Of jurors, the following we're sworn:
Thomas Condor, William A. Lacy, James
I. Shallcross, Peter A. Lowber, B. Lundy
Kent, Georgs Wooiley. ]. 4. @. Gorrell,
John ? Doughten, James w. Anthony,
/ Amos Jenkins
AflstAAbl AlNbEHtN w ALHOu bAaItu iHG
case to the iury, and also that Gosln
had, at the last term Of court, prose
cuted an fined Harrlneto for holding a
pension certificate freudulently. That
Goslin had purchased goods from
Harrington and, saying that he
had no money, gave him the
pension certificate. For that, Cos
lin received the goods and also some
puah from M ganpahunt Ea H4s,
the certificate and went with him to the
post Office where be requested the cost
master A. Shaw, to deliver all papers
received from Washington to Hezkiah
Harrington.
Hezeklah Harrington was sworn and
testified to receiving the certificate,
which was for $l2 per month, giving him
goods and money to the amount OF $29
and tIiHs over Goslin begged him to
take the certificate, saying that he had no
money and was In destitute circum.
stances.
Austin Harrington, counsel for the
defendant, then began the cross-exsmi-
nation. Harrington, lawyer, handled
Harrington, witness, Of Harrington,
Dell, without gloves. but Harrington,
witness, withstood the fire pluckily
He admitted that Goslin had
owed him 81 so for some time and
that there was no way Of collecting it as
g oslin had nothing. he denied having
any harsh feeling against doslin pre-
viously 70 his being convicted at the last
session Of the court
Postmaster L s Shaw swore that on
July 81 last, Goslin and Harrington both
came to him, and Goslin instructed the
witness to place all Of his mail in Har-
rington's box
frequent legal tilts, some OF which
wers very 0 my. &C urred. The post
master said that Harrington was full Of
Harringtons and that some Of them have
private boxes He, accordingly, delivered
Goslins mail in HarriDgtons box.
AS is customary in the United States
courts, the defendant himself was the
irst witness for the defence. After a
brief statement Of the case on the part Of
Attorney Harrington, Goslin swore that
he had known and had dealings with
Hezskiah Harrington for twenty-one
years, as be considered Harrington
friend whom he could trust, he
went to him with the pension certificate.
asking him to keep Ii as it was becoming
worn in his pocket and would soon be
worthless he got some more goods
Immediately, but he had been getting ar
ticles from the store right along, and never
once made mention Of the certificate
after placing It In the merchants hands
Goslin is old, crippled and ruptured, and
has been in the Mexican war and the
late war.
Both the attorneys made long argu
ments, and the jury retired at 1145
o'clock Major Thomas. an ignor-
ant and harmless looking colored
man, claiming Willow Grove,
Kent county as lis residence.
was brought into court charged with
selling liquor without a license. Peter
L Cooper appeared as counsel for Thomss
and entered a plea of guilty. asking for
clemency, as the defendant had nc inten.
ton Of violating law,
Thomas was allowed to make a state
mera and ssid that during the early fall
be was confined to his bed with rheuma-
tism and had purchased demiiohn Of
whiskey with which to battle himself,
that being the only thing that would re-
lieve him Several young men called
upon him and begged him for some
Of the whiskey. He felt that
he was too poor to give 1t
TO them. he being helpless and in need
OF money aud ne uolu Nhem NDat tney
could have it If thew left him 10 cents.
The district attorney stated that he
had two additional charges against
Thomas, but rs he pleaded guilty he
would enter a nolle prosequi in each
case. The court sentenced Thomas to
pay fine Of 800 and be imprisoned
for thirty days.
The case Of the Government
vs.. John T. Poore, for sending
obscene letters through the mails
to DR.. Peter Cooper Of Milford,
was called, and the district attorney
asked that the case be continued until
Monday, Poore, he said, had made proper
amends, whereupon Dr. Cooper had
withdrawn the charge. Poore had then
given bail for his appearance before the
court to ascertain whether this pro
cedure met with its approval ana to pay
the costs OF prosecution. The case was
continued.
The Jury is still out, and the prospects
are that 1t will not agree and will have
to be DISCHARGED 1t is reported that the
members stand seven for conviction and
five for aequittRl.