Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-05-10

anu al plGaued guilty.
At the session held in the after.
noon a Jury was drawn to try the case
Of the State VS.. William McGrann alias
Buoky McGinnis, indicted for stealing a
copper pump from Patrick f. WEIGH.
When McGinnis was asked If he wanted
any witnesses he handed in the names
of Chief Dolan, Captain Kane and sub
sequently had subpnnaed Harry Mullin
and John Lally. The last named per-
sons are prisoners.
McGinnis was not represented by
counsel. Attorney General Nicholson
for the State and called
Patrick WEIGH to the stand. He testi.
fed that he loaned the pump to Mary
9. Bolen, living Mt Linden and Frank
lin streets. II was stolen from her yard.
Mrs. Bolen testified that she saw Nc
Ginnis pass her house the morning
of the robbery. The prisoner cross
examined the witness, who said she did
not see him with the pump in his pos
session.
Sergeant Eugene Massey testified that
he arrested McGinnis with the box of
copper in his possession. He was cap
tured after chase. The pump had been
reduced to small pieces and PLACED in
box.
The prisoner asked Captain Kane
whether or not he had not told him
shortly after he was arrested that the
copper was given to him by two men.
The captain replied in the affirmative,
but said that he did not place much
confidence in the statement.
When Chief Dolan was called to the
stand the only question that McGinnis
asked him was whether or not the chief
had not told him that woman wanted
TO get warrant out for him the night
before he was arrested. What relevancy
this question had was not made known
until a little later in the trial, when
McGinnis followed it up with the skill
of lawyer.
Harry Mullin and John Lally were
called to prove that the prisoner was in
their company the day the copper was
alleged to he stolen.
Judge Cullen then told McGinnis he
might 60 upon the stand and make his
statement under oath. He no sooner
took the stand when he began defence
of his case which caused the spectators
in the court room to open their eyes in
amazement. The prisoner then ex-
planned why he had asked Chief Dolan
in regard to warrant being issued for
his arrest. He said he understood he
was to be arrested for another offence
and dropped his box and skipped when
Sergeant Massey approached him.
McGinuis further stated that the cop
per was given to him by James Walters
and James Dugan, and that he so in
formed Captain Kane the day he was
arrested. He said he agreed to take the
copper to Eleventh and Church streets
and sell it for the other men. McGinnis
then cited an instance to show that an
innocent man might suffer unjustly. He
drew the attention of the jury to the
case Of rag-dealer who might have
purchased the copper from the two men
and disposed of it to junk dealer. He,
like the prisoner, could have been ar
rested and wrongly accused, he claimed
McGinnis apologized to the jury for
his inability to hire lawyer and said he
had not the ability to present the case as
he would like to have it presented. He
assured the jury of his innocence, and
concluded his argument to the jury as
| follows: "If you find from the evidence
lLldb tuGIC 10 plOOl w NOhflCl
me, why do so; but if on the other hand
there is not sufficient evidence, l ask
| you to acquit me. l leave my case in
your hands, gentlemen"
The jury found McGinnis guilty, but
every one agreed that he made strong
defence in his behalf. He got foul
months in jail and 10 lashes.
Howard Walters, colored, pleaded
guilty to the larceny of clothes from
CHARLES Stafford. He was sentenced K
three months imprisonment and to BIZ
| whipped with 10 lashes. Charles Dump
son and Charles johnson were each
fined 800 and sentenced to two months
imprisonment for keeping a sweat cloth
Samuel Willets, indicted for forgery
pleaded guilty. He was fined $500, go
one hour in the pillory and will lingo
three months in Jail.
The grand jury during the afternoon
returned true bill of murder in tn
first degree against Michael Faino TO
the murder of Carlo Ruva. He will b.
tried at this term.
7 Edward Green and Edward Chippe,
were indicted for lottery policy writing
A spectacle not often witnessed il
the courts of this county marked tn
proceedings yesterday, when five youni
men of respectable appearance and goo
family, connections were arraigned ant
pleaded guilty to indictments chargin
them with stealing brass from tn
Philadelphia, Wilmington u Baltimor
Railroad Co. The spectacle attracte
the undivided attention Of the coul
and members of the bar, and tinSe G
sadness pervade6 the entire court room
The prisoners are Daniel Gillespie
Benjamin Dorsey, Frank Sullivan
James Mccullough and Edward Burke
Levi @. Bird appeared for Dorsey an
was in consultation with the prisoner
aged mother, who sat with bowed hea
inside the bar Enclosure.
Err. Cochran, IT., appeared for DAME
Gillespie, James Mccullough and Ed
ward Burke, while Sullivan was ne
represented by counsel. MIR. Cochra
: called to the stand Colonel William |
Norton, who swore that he had know
the boys from childhood and that the
parents were honest citizens. Colon
i Norton had juggled Dorsey in his arm
| when he was babe in dresses, and ha
watched the other lads grow up in tn
community.
; Judge Cullen, in passing sentent
i upon the prisoners, told them they occl
i pied an unenviable position In the con
5 munity and it was of infrequent occu
e renee 10 see boys of their charactt
arraigned in a court of justice for :
2 serious an offence. The court said tt
accused had once held the esteem of IL
q locality in which they lived and askt
them to well consider the end the
}, folly had brought them TO, and upc
g their release from Jail resolve to lei
d hetter and more useful lives.