Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-12-15
MALICIOUS MISCHIEF.
Matt Harmon Convicted ON That Charge
and Sent to Jail.
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Matt Harmon Convicted on Ihat Charge
and Sent to Jail.
Chester Times Friday
Matt Harmon OF Chester, the we'll
known colorcd man, stood trial yester-
day for malicious mischief. On October
gath, he hired a team OF Ilannum d
Fulmer, ostensibly to 20 to Media. He
brought up in Wilmington, where mis-
team and an electric car collided, with
bad result for Matt and his team. Some
days after the occurrence Mr.. Hannum
saw Matt at Genthcr's.
"Are You going to pay for the
damages to that team?" asked Mr..
lIannum.
mo" replied Matt
"If you come up like man and settle,
III make it easy for you, and you can
pay so much week"
MATHS reply was, $50 to =, and get
il If you can
Matt was laid up in Wilmington
hospital for q week by reason of the
accident. The wagon was badly dam
aged, two front wheels being broken,
and the dasher smashed. One Of the
horses was also skinned. The electric
car,aCcording TO the testimony of Motor
man Jacob Gray and Conductor Joseph
Lord, was coming from Shellpot on a
straight track, and had pulled up to let
car l0l turn the curve into RiyerView.
Before the former car had got much
Roadway, Mats team came down the
track, one horse trotting, one running.
The motorman drew into the car, as he
saw an accident inevitable. The team
struck the car, breaking the wagon and
the glass of the car, and throwing out
and iniuring Harmon.
John b. Farrah, motorman of
another car, said he saw Harmon and
another man with two women driving
recklessly at Ninth and Walnut and
again at Eighth and Walnut. By sud-
denly stopping the car, Farrah was able
to avoid a collision. After the accident,
which took place near the cemetery
| gate, Harmon was taken in the car to
Or. Shortidge, and afterwards conveyed
to the hospital. He was seen there by
ii. b. Nandegrift, detective employed
| by the Wilmington Railway Company.
Harmon told Vaudcgrift that he had
been drinking, but was not drunk. The
car, he said, ran into the wagon before
he could turn out
HE DRANK SODA WATER.
Harmon told his story. lie told Jacob
Fulmer when he hired the team that he
wanted to 90 to Wilmington In the
| party with Harmon were Martin Hub
bell, Sandy Higgins and Joe Brown.
They reached Wilmington between 3
and o'clock in the afternoon, put up
the horses at a stable, and about $50
started for home, Harmon driving.
When he approached the spot where the
accident occurred, Harmon saw a car
standing on the curve mentioned; he
pulled TO the right, and the car shooting
out, struck the wagon on the left side
"rhat's all | knew" concluded Matt
"Iou say you stopped at the Practical
! Farmer" asked the district attorney.
Eyes, sir"
"What did you have to drink"
"Soda water"
what? Didn't You have anything
else?"
"No, sir, only cigars; I'm man who
always tells the truth.
GLOW long were you thercs'
can hour"
"What did you have in Wilmington"
"Soda water, ginger ale and cigars"
Harmon, who was defended by j.
N. Shanafelt, Esq, had no witnesses
present
The jury convicted him of malicious
mischief, and the court gave him the
choice of paying the damages sustained
by HannunI IL Fulmer, including the
costs of prosecution, or 81 fine, costs
and three months in jail. Matt evil
IDENTIFY preferred the former and hustled
to raise the necessary funds.