The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-01-25
DECAN ON THE Stand
lie Says He Shot 10 tue Air to Drive Sim)l.
son OF Ills Farm.
VERDICT IN The DEVANNEY Case
Court Directs That It Be One Of Not
Guilty-Costs Placed on the Prose-
cutor by the JurY-Thomas Camp
bell Conducted His Own Case--Jury
Found Him Guilty of Larceny--The
Cther Cases Passed Upon.

Cther Cases Passed Upon.
William Degan was arraigned before
| Judge Edwards in the main court room
yesterday morning on charge of hav
ing on Aug. q last attempted to kill
"A. E Simonson on Degans farm in
Roaring Brook township. Major Ever d.
cit Warren is assisting District Attor
ney Kelley to prosecute the case and
Attorney John +. Scragg aud Attorney
Aglb Ricketts,, of Wilkes. Barre, de-
fended Degan, who Is man 50 years
Of age.
He owns a farm in Roaring Brook
township, a portion Of which ths Gas
ald Water company took under the
powers of eminent domain. Viewers
were appointed by the court and
awarded Degan damages. From their
award that gentleman appealed. In
the meantime the company put force
of man at work clearing up the land
These workmen were in charge Of L
A. Simonson. Degan then obtained an
injunction and when, on Aug, 81, Sim
onson and his men went to work, Dsgan
attacked them with his gun aud fred
two shots ut Simonson with the evid sat
intention of intiicting ssvere injury, so
that gentleman testified.
DEGAN'S VERSION OF THE AFFAIR.
Degan was called to the stand in de-.
fense and admitted having fired two
shots He said he fired in the air aud
had no intention OF injuring Simon.
son but wished to drive him from his
land, Hs said that when Simonson
and his workmsn entered on his land
on the morning of Aug. 81 he ssnt his
son to tell them to depart.
They refused and Dsgan taking his
sons gun which was loaded only with
powder when out to whsre Simonson
was.
Did Bob Reeves not tell you to stopP'
he asked Simonson.
"No he did not. was the reply.
IN stop you them shouted DIgln,
and hs firsd. After the first shot SIN
| onson ran.
Several witnesses were called to
prove Degan's good character. Others
testified that Simonson told them that
it Degan's gun was loaded with any
thing he would have been killed. Ia
rebuttal Deputy Sheriff Craig and War
den Grimes testified that after the
shooting Degan went to the shsriffs
Office and gave himself up. saying he
had shot amln. When court adjourned
yesterday afternoon Attorney Ricketts,
had concluded his argument to the jury
for the defense. This morning the
closing argument for the prosecution
will be made,
DEvANNEY NOT GUILTY.
Yesterday morning Judge Edwards
directed that verdict of not guilty b,
taken in the case of malicious mischief
against Martin Devanney but sent the
jury out to dispose of the question of
costs, suggesting that it might be
proper to place them on the county,
The jury thought otherwise AMI di-
rectsd that the prosscutor,C. r. Smith,
paw them.
In the case Of Michael Robling YER.
dict of not guilty was returned but he
was directed to pay the costs.
Polander Rush was arraigned eharg ell
with the larceny of $27 from George
Lock, of Sport hill. The charge could
not be sustained and verdict Of not
guilty was taken,
Thomas Campbell, of the West Side.
pleaded not guilty to charge of hav.
ing robbed an Arabian psdller named
Thomas Micho. H9 had no attorney
and conducted his own defense with
much vigor.
Micho said that on July Campbell
accosted him on Grant avtnus on the
West Side, snatchsi the box contain
ing the articles he had for sale and ran
away Attorney joseph OBrien con.
cross.exRmined the defendant who
said the box was stolen by two young
men with whom he was not acquainted
The jury found Campbell guilty Of
larceny.
MICHAEL GODFREY on TRIAL
Just before court adjourned for the
day in No. 2. Michael Godfrey of Oily
phant was arranged charged with sci.
ling liquor on Sunday and without o
license. Martin S Molsta is the pr 5e-
cutor. Attorneys Hulslauder and
Fred Stark, represent the prosecution
and Attorney Joseph OBrien, the de-
, fense.
James Brock pleaded guilty to hav-
ing attempted to make an indecent as
sault on Annie Wissnaue the year
old daughter of Andrew Wisenhue OF
the West Side The assault was at.
tempted one afternoon about three
months ago in field near the Hyde
Park Catholic cemetery. Brock, who
is about 30 years of age, was renandsd
until Saturday for sentence
Felix Hanlon pleaded guilty to a
charge OF having stolen a suit OF Clot hes
from the room Of one Of the boardsrs
at the St. Charles hotel lie was sen
fenced to pay fiue of $40, costs, re-
store the stolen goods and spend thirty
days in the county jail Hanlon said
in extenuation Of his off5nse that he
was intoxicated at the tina.
DID NOT APPEAR FOR TRIAL
Peter MoDsrmott, charged with rob
berry by Anthony Murphy. did not ap-
pear for trial, and q capiaS was issuet
for him.
Steve Seven was called to stand tria
for having run mine drill through .
mule in the mine Of Jones. Simpson &
Co, at Archibald. He failed to respond
and his bail was forfeited aud capia
issued for him.
VIZ open in our new store this morning
The SCRANTON CASH STORE.
=
For Sale at a Bargain.