Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-04-27
THE RoBERr n. JiCoBs o4sE.


Fleming registration case.
In openings Mr.. Bigss asked the court to
give such instruction to the jury as he did
Tuesday, which instruction counsel
thought a consideration Of the case that
was both just and clear.
In his address to the jury Mr. Watson
commented freely on what he described US
the outrage committed yesterday week
in taking the delinquent book from the
court room. That man Mitchell, heck
claimed, actually took the book away and
locked It np and now we haven got il.
The prosecuting attorney then continued
in close recount uf the evidence. He
added that ii the jury failed to do their
| duty and render Il verdict for the gov
eminent, ho (the district attorney did not
see how the community could be saved.
| There would be bloodshcu il the law be
not vindiGated.
| In delivering his charge to the Jury
Judge Wales animadycrted severely on the
| condition of public matters as revealed in
the testimony. \ great fraud mas been
| enacted i'll The Office Of the tax collector Of
the city of Wilmington.
| lie spoke without special reference to
| the present case.
Judge Wales then imprcssively adiufed
| The Jury 70 lay aside ali political feelings,
| lhcy had been sworn, as the court itself
had been to act without bias and without
| respect Of persons,
| Fleming registered on October 18th. lie
| did SO in order to vote. The charge Is that
| he registered fraidulently. The testimony
| is that he was returned lis Il delinquent IN
| the Tenth ward prior to going to the
| Third. Mitchell finds his name at the end
OF the column in tho delinquent list. YOU
| have to decide when that name Was
| entered. There is some reason to believe
it was put there after the other names were
| written III.
The court then went carefully over the
| facts connected with the chief charge of
| false registration. The question IS re-
stricted TO lleming's action registration
day. In regard to What Mr.. Spruance did
the court thought il probable he was inter.
ested in political matters on that day
which explained his position.
II was near 4 o'clock when the Jury
retired.
All the government witnesses in the case
were discharged.
The case OF William Reddy was next
called. Mr.. BIEgs for the defence asked
for plea OF abatement as the defendants
ccrreGt name is William RettHg.
While this was being considered the dis
trict attorney called up another registra-
ton case, THAT Of William tTale. In this
| instance counsel for the defence PRAYED for
the setting aside Of the third and fourth
counts
The bond of Algcrnon $. Duff, charged
with false registration, was renewed by
,. >, Adams. The case, as stated, goes over
to the June term.
The Jury in the Fleming registration
case remained out until O'clock, that
night, when the foreman reported to Judge
Wales that 1t was impossible to reach u
verdict They were then summoned to the
court room and discharged. It is under
stood that they stood eight for conviction
and four for aequittal. The assertion is
| in N Ia nj
political bias was coincident exactly with
the division bias.
Court reconvGned Thursday morning.
The case OF William Halle was the first
one called. He was charged with false
registration in the Fourth Election dis
trlct, Ninth ward.
The following jury was empancled
Peter Il. Massey, a. /. lioffecker, Thomas
stirling, W. G. Wiley, John w. Day,
Elisha Barton, 6. H. larburton, A, VOL.
laston, John Moore, j. q. Baker, Isaac L.
Hearn, Amor Forwood.
MIR. Watson offered in evidence the
record of llallc's naturalization in the bis,
trict court here october 10th, 1892
Several witnesses were called including
w. Pierce Bggs, Francis Bradley and Reg
istratlOn officer Alfred A. lrontield. The
latter testified that Halle called To be reg,
istered. He was recorded as may become
. registered" Iii the remark column was
IlU
Halle did not vote.
John 5. Paris and W. IL. Peeney, elcc
ton officers. also testified.
Clerk Of the Peace W. Pierce Biggs STATED
that from 50 TO 81 Hale's name does moi
appear on the list. William j. Hall wa.
found in Third ward.
William Halle was then placed on the
stand by Attorney Biggs.
The witness has been six years in thi'
county and in Ninth ward about nm,
months. Halle thought he was late IL
qualify for Presidential election and wen
to the registration in order to be quallieC
for the city election in June.
Registrar Samuel b. Knee told the stor,
Of Halle's registration. lie showed hi
naturalization papers. They were prop
erly executed lie was registered par
! TALLY qualified"
70 the jury put in remark column
. will have tax receipt November Sth. y
Court adjourned at O'clock to p. m.
AT the opening of Thursday afternoon
:. session of the United States court Distric
Attorney Watson entered nolle pros il
the Fleming case.
Counsel for the defence in the Hall
= registration case showed by Inspecto
Z Nathaniel Is. Hill that the words "wiI
7. have tax receipt November Sth' wa
y simply the form used TO explain the intcn
: ton of full qualification OH that day an,
- ny lo ultauS lIldt tHe man actually lai
l. not a tax receipt on that date.
g Mr.. Watson then addressed the inr,
= briefly and Mr.. Biggs more briefly still.
!. The courts charge occupied only five .
y six minutes. Judge Wales thought Their
y was not sufficient evidence 10 conyic
J Halle. His credbility or that of any q
y the witnesses has not been diSpruyed
n There is nothing To show that he did TIL
knowingly. ! think il will be your dut
y therefore, gentlemen to render Verde
y OF not guilty.
a a The jury without leaving the box re
- turned verdict Of not guilty.
- In the William Redding case Mr.. Bige
"a Withdrew the plea Of allegiance and pleade
y not guilty. On counselS motion tile thir
= count in the Rediing indictment wa
i stricken by the order Of the court.
II The following jury WAS empaneled
Il Thomas Stirling, John Moore, James {
= Ianlison. Peter r. Massey, ST., James NJ
"a Bryan, John w, Day. Eugene SayerS, "
% G. L. Carnagy, $. j. THOMSON Hubert 4
Y Roop, Albert WGllaston, W. L. Nichols.
,s \. Eden Bach testified that the nam
If Redding is not in the certified copies I
II the assessment of 80, 81 and 81, nor an
d variations Of the name
il At 40 p. m, court adjourned 10
\ O'Clock Friday morning
ii In the United States court witnesses Il
r. the government were called on Frida
/ by District Attorney Watson. This was
\ the resumption of the Reddtng rugisLrAttu
i, case. Registration Officer John y. Par
gave routine testimony in regard to viii
happened October 18th and Novembe; Stl
Inspector William II. Peency ideutihedt q
defendant.
y William Retting was placed on Il
= stand. He has lived in the Ninth ward iC