Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-06-29
ELLIOTT And HIS SHOTGUN
Newport Excited Over the
Sewing Machine Case.
THE DOG DID NOT MATERIALlZE
But the Shotgun Made the
Deputy Sheriff Fly.
Tho Parties Appear Before Justice Nc
whorter, and the Eliintts We're Held
in Nominal BAIL Meanwhile the Sew
ing Machine People Got Possession of
the Machine.

in Nominal BAIL Meanwhile the Sew
ing Machine People Got Possession of
the Machine.
One fact vas clearly demonstrated in JUS
tiCc McWl orter's office, Thursday, and that
fact was t.lat residents of Newport and its
surroundings have no love for sewing ma
chine agents. This discovery was made at
a hearing in the magistrates office. in |
which SAMUEL and Elizabeth Elliott, both |
colored were charged by Deputy sheriff |
Charles K. Ewing with obstructing him in |
the pursuit OF the duties devulving upon |
his office The facts in the case are these:
John II. O'Donnell, representative of
the Wheeler Il Wilson Sewing Machine
Company, Thursday took out writ of re-
pevin in the prothonotary's Office for a
sewing machine i'll possession of the
Elliotts, and Deputy Sheriff Ewing was
instructed to execute the writ. The Elliotts
live at Newport. Preparatory to his eav
ing for that town, the deputy sheriff was
informed that the principal obstacle that
lay between him and possession Of the
sewing machine WAS ferocious bulldog,
| which Elliott was SAID to keep chained in
the house
Ewing believed the bulldog story how
ever, and took care to arm himself with q
revolver before leaving for the scene of
action. The officer and o. Dnnncll arrived
|
noon. They drew ur in front of Elliotts
house, when Ewing read to the wife of the
| latter the contents of his writ. The woman
| at once declared that she lad paid $l7 for
the sewing machine and insisted that the
officer should not take il. She also offered
u further insalmcnt of 81 which she says
] neither O'DunnGll or the officer would
listen to. They were bent on having the
! sewing machine 4 balance OF Sl3 re-
| NAMED unpaid.
Deputy Sheriff Ewing Il Ell entered the
| house, keeping 4 watChful eye for the
vicious bull dog at the same time. lie was
carrying the sewing machine out Ot the
house when Mrs. Elliott caught hold of it
aud declared he should not take the ma
chine. Ewing carried the machine outside
and placed II down at the entrance to an
alley running between EIlintt's house and
the one adjoining. Mrs. Elliott passed
quickly up the alley ami Ewing thinking.
as he says, that she was about to turn loose
the dog, drew a revolver from his pocket.
Mrs. Elliott soon returned without the
dog At this point. She AYERS, and is cor
roborated by several witnesses, Ewing de-
hberatcly placed the revolver close to her
face but did not pull the trigger. The
frightened woman then released her hold
upon the machine, and O'Dunncll placed
1t in the wagon.
Samuel Elliott, who is confirmed
cripple from rheumatlcs, came hohbllng
along from the rolling mill and demanded
TO know what was the matter.
That man pulled n pistol on me, said
Mrs. Elliott. pointing 10 Ewing.
What did you do that forY' Elliott de-
, mandGd.
Ewing's only reply was that he would
draw u revolver on Elliott, too. If necessary.
Elliott made no reply, hut went into the
, honse and Immediately reappearcd with a
! shot gun. lie carried 1t in his hands Just
! rs marksmen do III preparing to riddle a
I target Ewing no sooner caught sight of
i the gun than he took to his heels and fled
He never stopped running until he reached
> billiards grocery store, Mrs. billiard was
: standing Oh the steps. She refused to allow
! him tn enter the store, and Ewing ran on
4 up the street and turned the corner. Mean
p time o. Donnell, drove, by another route
I To the place where Ewing had taken
y refuge, aud where the latter entered the
:. wagon thoroughly frightened and thank.
. full for having escaped with his life.
UDUnncll and Ewing drove back to this
city and bad q warrant issued for the arrcs
Of the Eliotts by Justice MCWhOrter. The
: warrants were placed in the hands of Con
r stable ZaChariah Dennis, and the latte
e went to Newport Thursday afternoon ant
c arrested the defendants.
. As soon as the cons lie arrived in New
: port number Of prominent people VIII
, sided with the defendants, denounced tn
!, sewing machine agents i'll scathng terms
II and offered to assist the coloTe1 people al
II they could to get them out of the 0iCuty
q When Constable Dennis arrived will
!, the prisoners in Justice McWhOrters utliC
"a some one told the story Of the prisoners
distress to City Solicitor Henry c. Turner
! The latter at once espoused their cause III
" learned that Elliott was a cripple for lifC
s, and that his wife supported her husban
N and u family Of small children by dint q
re washing and hard labor, and that the sew
L. tta.a If.r al
:, essential in earning enough to feed an
NJ cluthc the family, Nh Turner also learne
va that the Elllutt's were looked upon rs on
Of the most respectable colored families /
Newport, and were described as notIet
siyc and quiet citizens With all the,
In. facts in his possession Mr.. Turner took Il
NJ the case and told the deputy sheriff an
rs the sewing machine man To proceed.
Constable Porter Of Newport was presri
:. to testify to the good character OF the IL
:" PENDANTS and the following gave add
rd tiOual evidence IN their behalf: Willial
IA llilllard. leading grocer Of NewpOr
cr George Bird, John Scarborough and Alfrt
=. Frame All of these witnesses asscrtt
" that tho deputy sheriff drcw his rcvuly,
PFC and pointed it in Mrs, EllIott1s face, whC
crippled samuel Elliott came hobblil
on along with his cauc-und demanded
know what the trouble was.
ey D'nOumcl testified that lie did not s.
inr Elliott WITH the gun. nor did lie sec hi
p0in, the weapon. lie saw Ewing draw
ira pistol, bus Thought he drew the wca, on
shoot the mythical bulldog, which, by Il
rs. way, no one GEMS to have seen at all ~
which Mr., billiard testified did not ext.
Ewing asserted that Elliott pulled the st
on him and fearing the crippled color
icy man would shoot. he swiftly fled from Il
let scene. He said that portion of the Sc
ted ing machine fell from the wagon duril
eH. the alteration and was broken.
Justice MCWhorter held the defendar
in SIS bail for the upper court, securi
being immediately furnished for I'll
nal amount. The prisoners were afterwar
nd. told they might have the rest of the sew
AZ. machine by paying the remaining Sl3 a
~ the costs in tine case. They returned
,se' their home Thursday night, but withc
CA the machine.
raj -
in Convent of the Visitation.
VAS The nuns occupying the Academy Of I
cry Visitation. on Delaware avenue near II
Il II rsoh street. will remove TO the convent
one kentmerr about the middle of next mon
ere | ltutunliutpIV after hpinu vnpntaI