Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-02-08

general sessions Of the peace and Jail
delivery were opened at IL M, Mon
day, AZ which time the February term
began. The members of the grand jury
retired TO their rooms at IL. Is o'clock to
consider presentments,
The trial list was then gone over by
the court and members Of the bar, and q
number OF cases set down for trial at
this term.
MAXWELL CASE AGAIN.
E, G. Bradford asked for postpone
ment until tho May term of the Max.
well damage case. The suit was tried
at the December term of court, which
adjourned sine die last Saturday, and
the Jury disagreed.
Mr.. Bradford stated that the defend
ant was not prepared to go into re-
trial at this time, but would consent to
the case going over until the May term
under a peremptory rule. He said it was
necessary to have the President of the
Wilmington City Railway in court for
consultation and by reason of u recent
severe loss by fire Mr.. Lea was pre-.
vented from attending. Counsel pleaded
pressure Of business which he said
also interfered with his duties in going
to trial in the Maxwell case at this term.
Mr.. Biggs also asked that the case be
continued until the May term and was
perfectly willing for the cause to go
over under peremptory rule to try it
at that time.
Peter L. Cooper, Jr., of counsel for
the plaintiff, said the case was foremost
in the minds OF every one, and the plain
tilt was ready and willing to so to trial
ut this term. He said the witnesses are
all here and everything was ready for a
retrial.
Mr.. Bird stated that he had never
heard lawyers plead their cases as a
ground for continuance before. He said
Ii Mr.. Bradford had more cases than he
could handle he might divide up with
other members of the bar. He asked and
insisted that the case be tried at this
term.
TO TAKE ITS CHANCES.
The Chief Justice said the court had
decided to allow the case to 60 to the
bottom Of the list and take its chances
with the rest. Ten days had been occu-
pied in Its trial and the court thought it
only proper that 1t should take its
chances for retrial at this term.
Counsel were content and the case
was relegated to the end Of the trial list.
During the morning the applicants
for liquor licenses came forward and
made affidavit.
The grand jury returned the follow
ing true bills: Carrying concealed
deadly weapons; Charles w. Laws,
Charles Dumpson and LIE Roy Turpin.
On motion of ex-Mayor Harrington
the court approved the award of Com
missioner s. A. MacaIlister in the
divorce case Of Mary E. VS.. James F.
Cotton. The decree of divorce was
granted on the ground of desertion.
The general jury was discharged
until $50 o'clock and court adjourned
until that time.
The interesting spectacle of number
OF colored women perched upon the laps
of male prisoners in the dock was wit
messed in the general sessions court in
the afternoon and afforded consider
able amusement for those congregatei
inside the bar railing.
The court first disposed of number
OF petty cases and the culprits were re-
manded to Jail. Then Sheriff Gould and
his deputies came in with bunch of
prisoners charged with purloining
chickens from the hen-roosts of New
Castle hundred farmers The party in
cluded male and female culprts and
their names are: James Saunders, Eliza
beth Mills, Thomas Fields, Ida Chance,
Henry Floyd and Sarah Playter, all of
whom are colored. John Leary, charged
with assault with intent to commit MUIR
der, and William +. Brown, white, in
dictcd for forgery, were also in the
dock.
AS every ono familiar with the equip.
ments of a court room knows, a pris-
oner's box is about 12x6 feet in dilnen-
sions and has small seating capacity,
consequently there were not room for
all the inmates of the box to sit down.
The chicken thieves were all arraigned
together and after they had listened at
tentiyely to the reading of the indict-
ment they were told they might sit down.
The men were quick to embrace the OPP
portunity and took their seats without
second Invitation, leaving the women
standing.
The latter believing that the man.
dates OF the court compelled them to be
seated, cast quick glance about them,
and finding the men had all the seats
fully occupied, sat Immediately down
upon the laps of the other prisoners
which position they maintained until
the arraignment was over. The pris-
oners were not at all dismayed by the
peculiar force of circumstances which
served to enliven the proceedings dur
ing the afternoon.
Charles II. Laws, charged with carry
ing concealed razor, dirk knife and
loaded revolver, pleaded guilty and was
sentenced to 30 days Imprisonment.
Charles Dumpson, colored, acknow-
lodged that he was guilty of carrying a
deadly weapon concealed and got off
with 10 days at New Castle.
lie Roy Turpin will serve 10 days for
pointing loaded pistol.
The case of James j. Gibson, charged |
with obtaining goods under false pre-.
lenses, was continued until Wednes- |
day. John n. Rodney represents the
prisoner.
Benjamin y. DEM, is charged with
assault with intent to commit murder |
and with pointing pistol. Walter |
Bacon represents him.
DEM did not respond when his name |
was called and a caplas was issued, re-
turnable forthwith. He is out on bail. |
George johnson, alias Duckery, was
arralgned upon the charge of assault |
with intent to commit murder and |
pleaded not guilty.
John Leary pleaded not guilty when |
n arraigned upon the charge of assault |
with intent to commit murder. Edward |
r. Cochran, Jr., was assigned as counsel
\ In the case.
William F. Brown pleaded not guilty |
tn the rhorun pf fOruarv