Bridgeton pioneer., 1893-10-19

sum up his entire story, "things were
80 mussed up that it's hard to tell
which was what"
On cross-examination by Mr.. Mitch
ell, Honekar answered, "Yee, Michael
Cassari attempted to separate the boys
with al az"
Annie Pierce, young colored wo-
man, who lives adjoining the Italians,
gave detailed account of the whole
etfair, putting an entirely different
construction upon the fight. Accord
ing to her story Lewis Bowers was
more to blame than any one else. He
began cursing one of the Italians, and
struck the first blow hitting Michael.
This brought about free fight, and
clubs, axes and pistols played an im.
portant part.
The state rested its case, and at the
time of the morning adjournment the
case was still on.
THURSDAY AFTERNOON.
The defendants In the fighting case
began their story with the afternoon
session.
Mr.. Ware first opened the case for
his clients. Charley Bowers was the
first witness. He with fellows named
Seibert and Crane went into the Ital.
ians' store and purchased three glasses
OF cider, but Seibert, who ordered the
stuff, could not pay for 1t, being out
OF funds. Nicholas Cassari yelled out,
"if you don't pay me will kill you. :"
This frightened the party and they all
ran off, Charley leading. In the run
Se1bert lost his hat, and the Italians
picked 1t up and took 1t back to the
store. Seibert secured ten cents from
a friend and went back to the store
and paid the bill. But Micha ai could
not be induced to believe the money
was paid and he wanted to club some
body. Lewis said something about
this time, and Niche, attempted to
strike him with a club. Then an at.
tack upon the Bowers followed, the
Italians having clubs, axes and pistols
Charles denied that he struck either
of the Italians, except in self defence
Lewis Bowers went right down town
and made complaint against the Ital.
ians, causing their arrest.
Charles then went on to say that
since the arrest, the Italians had of.
ferred him $5 and then 81 to settle the
case, and not present it to the Grand
Jury. This offer was refused.
Lewis Bowers gave much the same
description of the fight as his brother
Charles, the Italians being the aggress.
ors in every particular. According to
Lewis his escape from death was we'll
nigh miraculous. The Italians hit
Lewis with an ak, cutting his coat
badly. He was shot at and q dagger
was used upon his back, but he still
lives.
Charles Ford proved good witness
for the Bowers, but bad for the Ital-
ians, bis story being much the same as
told by the Bowers themselves.
Prosecutor John Acton, of Salem
county, appeared before the court in
behalf of 3. Craig Ayars, indicted for
forgery. He said with the courts per-
mission, Mr.. Ayars would withdraw
his plea of not guilty and entered a
plea of non vult contendere. This plea
was accepted, and Mr.. Acton made a
fair presentation of the mitigating
circumstances surrounding the case,
and the trial of the Cassari and
Bowers case was resumed, Nicholas
Cassari was put ON the stand and a
young man acted as Interpreter for
him. He stated, through the inter-
pretor, that Charles Bowers, Lewis
Bowers, Frank Siebert and another
man who he did not know, were out
to his place and attacked his brother
Michael. He went to pull Lew Bowers
eff his brother and both of them were
on him. He tried to pull Mike in and
shut the door.
Then the five men, who were then
there, pulled him off the step. He
caught up the ak to keep them from
killing his brother Mike, as they were
all on him. He did not hit anyone
with the ak, but was cut four times
with rszor and dropped the ak. He
showed the scars.
He said one of the Bowers cut
him--Charles Bowers. The doctor he
said sewed up the wounds. He said
his brother, Mike did not cut him,
but 1t was Charles Bowers.
He said he aad pistol with which
he tried to scare them and make them
run away; he shot on the ground for
this purpose. He said he did not strike
at anybody with the ak; he only
struck through the air with 1t to scare
them away. He thought Bowers and
Seibert were sober. He said every
body knew that he shot the pistol, but
they they don't know they cut him
with a rszor.