Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-04-18
nARDEygD onIhINALs re- EsE.



"Bucky" McGinnis ind James Norton,
Who Have Done Tine In Jail, Have a
Narrow Escape in Municipai Court.
A trio of hardened dminals were given
hearing in municipal court on Friday
They were "Bucky' McGinnis, William
Lynch and James Norton. McGinnis and
Lynch have both done time i'll New Castle
Jail for larceny, while Norton not long ago
was released from the Maryland peni-
Tertiary at Baltimore.
The complainant against the prisoners
was John Collins, who Keeps saloon, at
No. 100 Shipley street. He testified that
Wednesday night shortly before mid
night, McCinnis aud his companions came
in the saloon. He asked them to retire,
and then closed the saloon and went out
to lunch. When he returned he found
that the saloon had been broken open
during his absence and IS i'll small coin
distracted from the money drawer.
His suspicious at once tell upon, Nc.
Ginnis and his crowd and Collins closed
UP his saloon again and went to look for
them. He met Piitrolnan Ford and Special
officer Leach, who told him McGinnis
was enjoying a quiet lunch in Dillon's
saloon, No. III East Front street, Collins
made straghtway for the saloon, carrying
in his hand II soldering iron us a weapon.
II want some OF that money you stole, !"
he said, approaching MeGinnis, and when
| Mc[iinnis replied that he didn't steal any
money, Collins struck hill over the head
with the soldering iron, emitting 1t badly
| and causing the blood 10 TOW freely.
| As soon us he was struck McCinnis ran
| ont of the saloon, and when Special Officer
Leach noticed his flight he gave chase and
captured the fugitive at Second and Walnut
| streets He was taken To the police station
and searched. Turnkey Little found i'll
| s1f al oh
| Guiding battered tiye-cent piece which
played an important part IN the trial, but
failed to establish the guilt OF the prisoner.
William Carroll, the bartender III
Collins saloon, swore that he took the
nutilated 5cent piece over the counter
and put it in the cash register, but when
asked By McGinnis If he didn't give it out
to some one else during the evening, the
bartender stated that such u thing was
not impossible.
In the absence of City Solicitor Elliott
Francis ii. Hoifecker conducted the prose
cuton and brought out the fact that d
small pocket. book found 'in the prisoner
possession was recognized by Carroll as tn,
one Mctiinnis had shown him severa
weeks ago, but then McGinms disarmet
what suspicion the pocket-booS had raiset
by CAROLS admission that it was baby!
shoe ana there were any number OF baby'i
shoes just like it,
John Cooper, a waiter in Dillon's saloon
testified to the fact that McGnnis tool
lunch there early Thursday morning ant
rendered in payment for 1t conI of small
denomination, similar to thatabstractet
from Collins saloon.
james Norton, one of the prisoner
charged with the theft took the stand AM
Judge Ball was careful to caution him tina
he need not say anything that would in
Criminate himself. But the advice wa
unnecessary. Norton merely stated tina
he was in Collins saloon with McGlnni
and Lynch Wednesday night, hut lei
there before the place was closed and wen
to the Fame Hose engine house. He sal
that he and McGinnis each had
drink in Collins saloon and this create
some surprise, as the culprits are "blach
listed as being habitual drunkards. judy
Ball called Chief Dolan's attention to tn
: matter, and advised him to notify the off
, GERS on the district,
/, This ended the testimony and Judl
Ball said he would dismiss the charg,
against McGinnis and Norton, but adde
that there was another charge of .obber
! against Lynch. He held him i'll the sui
= OF $500 bail for the upper court.
! The clerk said there was 4 charge {
, vagrancy against McGinnis, and the ell
prit was arraigned on the second charg
He denied that he was u vagralt, an
called Ashton X. Tatnall to prove that
had been employed by the Sunday Brea
fast Association since his release from jG
and had not fallen from grace, as q
n charge implied. Mr., Tatnall stated tn
McGinnis was employed by the society al
n had been lodging at the headquarters f
+ some time. Mr.. Tatnall thought the pr
: oner was trying to reform.
a This testimony cleared McGinnis of Il
: vagrancy charge also and he was set
a liberty. Norton also secured his libert
v Judge Ball told the culprits they had b.
q q narrow escape this time.