Bridgeton pioneer., 1893-01-12

EDoch F1thian, criminal assault on
child, Not guilty.
Adolph Landau, malicious mischief
Not guilty.
EvidAncr was then taken to inquire
into theasanity of Mrs. Annie E. Bow
ers, indicted by the Grand Jury for
the murder of her husband, George
Bowers.
Thomas Bowers, father of the mur-
dered man, was called to the S and.
Mr.. Bowers said that shortly after the
birth of her youngest child her mind
was strange in her head by spells.
There had never been any trouble be-
tween her husband and herself. She
had never appeared to have disposi-
tion to harm any one. On the day of
the murder Mrs. Bowers seemed to be
very quiet, until towards night when
she became restless, but after a little
she became quiet and retired with her
husband. Then Mr.. Bowers recalled
the incidents of the murder as they oc-
Cured at the home OF Christian
Mounts, In Greenwich township, and
which are still fresh In the minds of
the readers of the PIONEER. After
the shooting Annie &C ed very wild
and had no control of lherself, and ap-
peared 10 be entirely crazy.
Mrs. Amy Bowers, wife of the pre-.
ceding witness, declared that she had
never noticed any mental trouble with
her daughter-in-law previous to the
murder. The only noticabe thing
about the woman was a spirit of
mourning,
DIR. Ezra Sharp, testified that upon
the early morning after the murder he
visited the house OF the tragedy and
found her mentally sick. In fact the
physician pronounced her insane upon
the occasion of the visit.
County Phys Thompson said
the case was a peculiar one. The
woman was strong phytically. but
mentally she was weak. In his opinion
he thought that the excitement of a
trial would be dangerous to her, and
she could not make defense. The
Court said that this vas whatit desired
to know. Not whether she was in
sane when the act was committed, but
whether she was mentally capable of
being put upon defense.
Mrs. Richards, she nurse, gave testi-
mony indicating that she was insane,
and the Court said that it thought the
condition of the woman's mind was
such that it would be cruelty to put
her upon trial now. An order would
be made, sending the woman to an
J asylum where she could be properly
cared for, and when she improved so
!. that trial could take place, the Court
could be informed.
4 MONDAY MORNING
Court opened this morning, with
Judge Hoagland and Lay Judge Hen
dee on the bench, to try the appeal
cases.
Harris Waxman pleaded guilty to
using bottles without consent of
owners,
Robert H. Wheaton and Joseph
Campbell, oystermen, pleaded not
guilty to illegal derdgiug oysters in
Maurice River Cove, on grounds of
some complaiuants.
Three hebrews. OF Carmel, pleaded
not guilty to sterling five chickens.
Charles Charles pleaded not guilty
to larceny from the person.
| The application of Henry Campbell
for tavern license at Dividing Creek,
was taken up, J. L VanSyckle appear
ing for the applicant, Chas. E. Shep
pard appeared In opposition TO the
granting Of the license.
| Mr.. VanSyckel cited the case of the
application made for the Port Norris
hotel, against the granting of which
was the $4,000 license fee voted by the
inhabitants of Commercial township,
which was reversed by the Court of
Errors and Appeals as having been H.
legal. The arguments and opinions
upon which held that election illegal,
Mr.. VanSyokle held, makes the deci-
sion in that case applicable to this ap
plication, aud IL the election In Com
mercial is nullity, 1t Is also a nullty
In this case, and he asked the Court to
fix the license fee the same as though
this election had not been held, an
election having been held iu Downe
township as had been done In CON-
mercial.
Lawyer Sheppard argued that the
proceedings In that case had no stand
ing this court. They were certioraried
to the Court of Errors and Appeals
from the Supreme Court, and not from
the Court of Common Pleas, and this
Court of Common Pleas, he contended,
had no power to set aside the effects
of the election in Downe township