The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-02-07
FIFTH EDITION,
MISS BANNER WAS DRUGGED.
She Makes "a Statement That saloon
Keeper james J. Riley Paid Her to
Stay Away From This City.

She Makes Statement That saloon
Keeper james j. Riley Paid Her to
Stay Away From This City.
Miss Georgia Banner was arraiRned
before the Municipal Court this morn.
ing on charge OF contempt of court,
she having failed to appear as the
prosecuting witness in the case OF
selling liquor on Sunday against Jas.
j.. Hiioy, which was set for trial on Oc-
tober ~ of last year.
On Sunday, October 10, Detectives
hawkins ana Hatton arrested Georgis
as she was leaving hileys saloon. She
was Intoxicated. and OH her was found
two half pint bottles Of whiskey.
Georgia stated TINT she had purchased
them IN tho saloon and a warrant was
Issued for tho arrest of Riley. On
Monday morning the case was called
but Riley asked that 1t be postponed
until the.foilowing Tuesday, which was
granted,
On that night, a3 Georgia was going
up Shipley BLreet. she met man
named George neckner, who askd her
to go to the saloon of Ford, at Front
and Shipley streets, ostensibiy to soc
a friend. She accompanied Beekner
to the saloon and there met man
who was known blythe name OF Smith.
They induced her TO take three drinks
OF whiskey, which she afterwards
found had been drugged. She COM
planned OF being dizzy from tho eiIaot
of the drug. wien the men hired q
carriage from Charles NJ. Dougherty,
saying that Il ride would do her good.
Smith drove the team while Beoknsr
sat by her. They drove all night and
when 1t was daylight Georgia found
That she was at EIkton. She at once
realized her situation and became very
indignant over the affair. Having no
money she insisted that Beckner,
smith having left them, purchase
tickets for Wilmington. Beckner pur.
chased two tickets for Baltimore Ia
stead Of tickets for this city. The
couple boarded the train there at 4
O'Clock on Tuesday morning, and when
the tain drew into the Calvert street
station she wanted to know why she
was being taken away from home.
Beckner then stated to her that Riley
wanted to keep her out of this city
that he might escape any punishment,
Beckner lett her sufficient money for
two weeks, board, and then went to
Sparrow's Point, and has not been seen
In this city since. Her money be-
coming insufficient to keep her another
week, she purchased u ticket for this
city. arriving hero shortly before
Thanksgiving Day, She went and s;lw
Riley, Hho told hef II she would keep
quiet he would fix 1t all right with her.
Riley then took her to the homs Of
his slster-in-iaw at No. IL West street.
aud there she was confined in an up
stairs room. no one seeing her for
nearly two weeks but the family and
Riley.
On December Q, Riley went to ha-
and OLD he, to get read she wait i
her to go to BordenlowH, N. j., whv.u
he had ssCGred her employment.
Riley with an GElsnown man who
was TO take her to Philadelphia. wene
to the F., W. & +. railroad station aG;i.
purchased tickets FOR the couple. This
wRs at . O'Clock in the evening, and
Georgia arrived In Bordentown at II
O'Clock. Riley had supplied her with
enough money TO pay her board for u
few days end finding no employment
she resolved to work her way to phlia-
deiphia and then TO this city, arriving
here ON Sunday.
She went TO the home OF friend
and had decided to give herself up to
the authorities when officer Leach met
her and she accompanied him to the
station house, Solicitor Curtis this
morning got the foregoing statement
from Georgie this morning and it will
be used against Riley, who Will have
hearing in few days.
II is altogether probable that Riley
will be sei.t to jail for long term, as
the crime OF tampering with a witness
ts severe, beside the charge OF selling
the liquor.
Georgia says she never saw Smith
after the night he drove the team She
never knew or heard of him before
but would know him II she saw him.