The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-27
pierce IS NOT GUILTY
So Declared a Jury in United States
Court Yesterday.
POINT RAISED 81 MR. CULP
Claims . United States statute Of 1872
Was Repealed by an Act Of 1880.
The Question Will be
Passed Upon Later.

The jury of the United States dis
trict court which heard the case against
Walter Pierce tried on "Wednesday for
passing counterfeit money yesterday
at noon brought in Il verdict of not
guilty. Judge Burlington in dischars-
ing Piepe. told him that his conduct
had been very suspicious and advised
him. II he had ever had anything to do
with counterfeit money in the past, to
shun ii in the future. The jury was
out an hour and half before agreeing
upon the verdict.
The first case called in court yester-
day morning was that against Elias
Williams and william Ashton. of
Bradford county. charged with selling
oleomargarine without paying the spec
ial tax. They pleaded guilty and We're
remanded for sentence.
The next case called was that against
J. &. CulD. of Sunbury. charged with
using the mails for fraudulent pur-
poses. 1t was charged that Culp, who
was in business in Sunbury sent
through the mail orders for goods in
large quantities from different dealers,
which goods he quickly sold at prices
less than their cost and failed to make
payment for the same. The action was
brought under Il United States statute
of 1872
WANTED INDICTMENT QUASHED
Culp was defended by James Scarlet
and n. }. ShiDman. of Danville, and
j. IL. Dewitt. of Sunbury. Mr.. Culp
moved that the Indictment be quashed
as the act under which it was drawn
was repealed by an act of 1889. Judge
Burlington refused to QIaSh the indict-
ment and a verdict of guilty was rem
dered by the jury. Sentence was sus-
pended and the defendants were direct
ed 10 renew their bail and appear at
the session of the court to be held in
Pittsburg where argument Will be
heard on the question as to whether the
act Of 1889 rppeals the act of 1872. This
Is the first time this question has been
raised and If IL shall he decided affirm
atively it's effect will be to release a
number of persons from Jail who have
been convicted and imprisoned under
the statute of 1889.
Mary j. Crowell. of Tioga county, Is
now on trial on Il charge Of Oeriury.
The case was called yesterday after
noon. She Is charged with falsely
swearing that she was married to Or
rim B. Taft, deceased, a veteran of the
War OF the Rebellion. and thus at
tempting to secure pension for Taft's
minor children. whose guardian she Is.
1t was admitted by the government
that the defendant lived with Taft and
is the mother of his children. 1t was
claimed. however. that she was not le
gally welded to him and could not be
for the reason that during the time of
their cohabitation Taft had a legal
wife. then living in the state of New
York and from whom he had never
been divorced.
MIR. CAMERON'S MOTION.
Mrs Crowell was defended by ex-
Assistant United States District Attor-
ney Cameron, of Tioga county. At the
beginning of the case Mr.. Cameron
moved that the indictment be quashed
because II stated that the perjury was
committed on u day other than that on
which the defendant affixed her sigma
ture to the affidavit. the falsity OF
which constitutes the perjury alleged
| i'm the indictment. District Attorney
| Hall admitted thr error which he said
| had been caused by the carelessneSS of
his stenographer. He asked that the
case be continued until the next term
of court when correct indictment
would be presented. Mr.. Cameron
withdrew his motion and the trial pro-
ceeded. Its course throughout the en-
tire afternoon was marked by argu-
ment on the part of Mr.. Cameron
against the admission of evidence and
| the construction of different statutes
| bearing on the case. Just before al
/ jOurnment Judge Burlington, after hear
| ing brief testimony on behalf Of the de
| fendant. directed the jury to find Yer
| dict of not guilty.
District Attorney Hall said last night
| that he expected to be able to clear the
/ list of all cases by noon today when
the session will probably adjourn.
REQUEST IN QCIGLEY CASE.
During an intermission in the Crow
ell case yesterday afternoon Attorne!
| l.. p Wedeman. of this city. moved
before Judge Butfingtoo that the case
of Dennis Quigley against the Wrought
| Iron Bridge company, of Canton. Ohio
be remanded to the court of common
pleas of Lackawanna county. for trial
The case is an action brought by
Quigley against the bridge company
for damages. Quigley was employed
i'm the erection of steel shaft at Will
liam II. Richmond's colliery at Rich
mondale, this county. He suffered ser
ious injury. he alleges. through the neg
! ligence of the defendants agents. The
case was instituted i'm the common pleas
court o. this county but was removed
to the United States circuit court by
Judge Knapp. attorney for the defend
ant Judge Knapp opposed the motion
before Judge burlington who reserved
| decision pending the submission OF
! briefs by counsel for both parties t.
the suit. f
Pillsbury's Flour mis- have q carac-