Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1894-01-18
CUMBERLAND COURTS,
ANOTHER INSTA LLmENT de
JUSTICE DEALT OUT.

ANS L LIN ENT OF
JUSTICE DEALT OUT.
Sentences Passed Upon Those
Who Plead Guilty. or Were
Convicted.
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.
The case of the State vs. Thomas
Petit was continued all the afternoon
without being concluded.
The State is making out q pretty
strong case against the young man
and the defense will have to look
sharp or Thomas will be in a fix from
which 1t will be hard to extricate him.
The history Of the case Is succinctly
given In the charge.
Petit is charged with the abduction
and seduction of Frances Spencer, the
IA year old daughter of Joseph Spen.
Ger, OF Centre Grove.
Mr.. Spencer was put on the stand
when court opened lin the afternoon,
and his testimony revealed tho fact
that his wife acquainted him with his
daughters condition some months
ago. The girl was IA years old May
3rd last
He went into q long narration of
how his daughter was abducted by
young Petit. She had been sent to q
Mrs. Jordsn's on a Saturday afternoon
in October last; while there Petit
came and took her to his sisters, Mrs.
George fresh, who lived about a mile
from Mrs. Jordan's. Here she re.
mained until after dark, when they
both went to Cedarville, where they
staid with Pettit's grandmother, Mrs.
Peterson.
On Sunday they left Mrs. Peterson
and then wandered around the
country along the road Sunday night
and Monday, and on Monday night
searching parties found the girl on the
premises of James Everingham, near
her home. This evidence was corrob.
Grated by Mrs. Spencer.
The girl herself was put on the
stand. 1t was with the utmost diff.
Guilty that Prosecutor Logue could
worm any evidence from her. He
succeeded, however, 10 having her
positively state that Thomas Petit
was the author of her trouble, She
evidently tried to shield her lover as
much as possible and her answers in
dicted that she went with him willing
ly and spent Saturday mig ht, Sunday,
Sunday night and Monday.
The trouble seems to be that the
young couple are anxious to marry
each other but the girls parents were
not willing.
THURSDAY MORNING
The case of Thomas Petit was re-
sumed with the opening of Court this
morning. The crowd of spectators
was larger than the Court room could
accommodate, and the corridors were
crowded all the morning.
Mrs. Sarah Spencer was recalled,
and produced we'll worn Bible,
which she said contained the original
entry of the birth of her family. In
the record an entry appeared, stating
that Sarah F. Spencer. the girl, was
born May 13, 1879. Tine Prosecutor
offered the Bible in evidence.
Mr.. VanSyckle objected, owing to
the fact that the Bible contained the
name of Sarah Frances Spencer, while
the Indictment claimed that the name
of the girl was Frances. The book
was admitted.
The State rested. Mr.. VanSyckel
made no opening, but called the de.
fendant, Petit. to the stand.
Before the evidence was taken, Mr..
VanSyckel asked that the case of the
State against Harris Finklestein,
charged with larceny as bailee, go
over for the term. An affidavit from
Doctor E. E. Howard was produced
showing than an important witness
was Ill. The Prosecutor objected, and
The case went over until the 3Oh of
this month.
Petttt In his defense In the seduc.
Cion case, said that he had been ac.
qualnted with the girl a little more
5han a year. He visited her at her
home two or three times a week, and
escorted her about considerable at
the time the girl was absent from her
home he did not induce her to go
away. She left her home of her own
accord, and all the persuasion of Pet.
lit was insufficient to induce her to re-
turn. While the girl was away from
home Petit was with her She told
the defendabt that she would rather
than go home FlnaIlv howaver she