Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1893-01-19

Porch opened for the defense anc
Joseph Campbell, the defendant, was
called to the stand. He said be had
been engaged In the oyster business
directly about three years. He was
not as we'll acquainted with the Cove
as some men, but knew something
about 1t. He was now master of the
schooner, "Genrge Candy"
Campbell said he purchss sed what is
known as "Grace Grounds" which
w-re part of the "Wreck" grounds.
After he had purchased these grounds
he found that on the east eide of the
Grace grounds there were some
grounds that had been abandoned,
and he staked them up, and took pos
session of 1t. Later he sold the oriei
nal Grace grounds to White & @ inc,
but kept the new piece he had staked
up.
He claimed that he still owhed it.,
and it was upon this ground that he
Was working when C-ps. 'Ya es d.
covered him on the 9Th of D Gem Ter.
He had planted six deck loads there
and also trash, which should have
yielded some 500 bu hels of oysters
Campbell said he h d no knowledge of
where Cosier's ground was located.
On this fat iron peice which he
stated up two years, since he had been
working all season and previous o
the 9th of Dec, he had never seen
Cosier's boat in that vicinity.
Campbell denied the evidence of
Cosier aud Yates as to conversation
they had with him when he was al
legged to have clA aimed the grounds of
Cosier.
The cross-examination of Campbe IL
by Prosecutor Lngue was very ex
haustive and peculiarly searching. and
his testimony was considerably weak
ened by the questions he was called
upon to answer.
Robert Wheatley one of the defend
auts said he had no interest in any of
Campbell's boats or grounds, simply
working for him by the month. He
gave testimony entirely corroborating
that OF Campbell.
Capt. Jere Burk was called to prove
thetthere was some old grounds that
had been abandaned that might have
been taken up by Capt. Campbell.
Sandy Hays and Early Logan,
colored members of Capt. Campbelps
crew testified to the location of Capt.
Campbell's grounds and declared thar
Capt. Campbell was working on his
own grounds on the h of December.
The jury In the care of the state
against Walter Thomas returned a
verdict of not guilty
FRIDAY MORNING
With the opening of Court this
morning, the defense 10 the case of the
State against Campbell and Wheatly.
charged with illegal dredging, was re-
sumed.
Several witnesses were called 10
prove that Campbell had long been
working upon the grounds he claimed
as his.
Other witnesses were placed upon
the stand to prove the good repu
tation of Campbell for honesty In
the community In which he resides.
The defense absolutely failed in this
particular. One man admitted that
Campbell had not "done square with
him" Another said that Campbell's
reputation was "fair." Another sid
he did not know Campbell's reputa-
tion. One of the number said as far
as be knew, Campbell's reputation
was good.
The Prosecution offered some evil
dence in rebuttsl, and the case was
given to the jury, which retired In
custody OF Constable Ayars.
FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
The merry tinkIing sleigh bells made
SWOSV thAo okVOihO0 VhAO
Court was in session. The gay cutters
we're dashing down Broad street hill
and through Fayette street, but the
Court continued it work and criminal
business was disposed of. Up to the
time of the adjournment Court this
morning the oyster case was still on,
and t was just at one o'clock when
the Court adjourned, and the jury had
been sent out.
Antoine Robinson, he who some
years ago played base ball in Bridge
ton, was the next victim of the prose-
cution. 1t WAS claimed that he had
committed an assault and battery,
but he wanted jury to pass upon the
matter Lawyer Robert 8. Schiller
sat beside the young man and looked
carefully after the defense, having
been assigned to the case by the Court.
AlonEo H. Schultz, Vineland young
man, whom Robinson ia alleged to
have shasted - told the nrincinal story