The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-22

the last leW terms, IL SpeCidi tNo " " ~
session of criminal court is now being
conducted in the court room OF the
federal building. Judge Edwards is
presiding this week. Judge Gunster
will preside next week. Fffty-hve OF
the cases are assault and battery. sew
enty-five surety, and the other Sixty
one are divided among other MINOR
crimes such as selling without license,
malicious mischief and the like. On
Thursday, December 81, two courts
will be held Jury trials will be held
in the federal court room and surety
cases will he disposed of in the United
States marshars room.
District Attorney John II. Jones sue
ceeded in dsposing of thirteen OF the
nineteen cases set down for yesterday
William ]. Byrne and William Loft
tus succeeded in establishing that they
were not guilty of the charge of assault
and battery preferred by Martin A.
Dockerty. The parties reside in car
bondale and are all we'll known. There
was a disturbance at the Anthracite
one night and Byrne was among those
elected. An officer grabbed him and
marched him to the lookup. but when
explanations We're made he secured ms
release. Returning down town he met
Dockerty and reference by the latter
to Byrne'S arrest caused squabble,
during which Dockerty alleges Byrne
and LOTUS, who happened along, Sc
verely assaulted him. Bryne said he
merely pushed Dockerty away from
him and LOTUS averred that he simply
held Dockerty to keep him away.
A NEW WEAPON.
Brooms and hat-pins will have to
crowd up and make room for sour>
balls i'm the category of WomdE's pecu-
liar weapons. Such. at least, was the
weapon with which Mrs. Margaret Jen-
kins, of Peckville, told the court and
jury she defended herself and home
in June last against the assaults of
Constable Benjamin Harris. The con-
stable had Mrs. jenkins arrested for
assault and battery. He said he rent
ed a horse and wagon from Mrs. Jen-
kins to go fishing. When he returned
and told her that he paid her husband
for the horse hire she called him real
wicked name and when he protested
that he was no such thing as she de-
scrbed she hit him over the eye with
"a large stone, cutting his forehead and
causing the blood to How copiously.
This story Is all wrong, however, ac-
to Mrs. Jenkins way of looking at 1t,
or other way of telling it, She says
expostulated with him for abusing the
horse he called her vile name. There
upon she drew from its place of con-
cealment in her mouth sOur-ball and
hurting it against his forehead with
all the force she could command felled
him to the floor. In falling. his hand
scratched her face and the blood spat-
terd over him as he lay PROSTATE. The
jury thought this very likely and
found Mrs. Jenkins not guilty and di-
vided the costs. Joseph OBrien was
Mrs. jenkins attorney.
TWO CHARGES AGAINST HIM.
Andrew Harwin, of Priceburg, was
defendant in two cases of assault and
battery and one of malicious mischief,
in which his neighbOrs, Mr.. and Mrs.
Michael OlsZynoki, We're the accusers.
They allege that on July 4 Harwin
came to their house, where party was
in progress and started a fight, during
the progress of which he knocked
Olszynski down. hit him with stone.
struck his wife with stone and
smashed six windows and more or less
furniture. The defence was that Har-
win went to the house to see young
girl who staid there and whom Har-
win suspected of having his missing
watch. While questioning the girl,
Ulszyns1 interfered and to protect
himself Harwin knocked him down.
He was found guilty of both counts of
assault and battery. but was acquitted
of the charge of malicious mischief.
A verdict of not guilty was taken
In the case of Martin Walsh, charged
with assault and battery by John l..
KeOgh, the defendant agreeing to pay
the costs in consideration Of the amic-
able settlement.
Joseph Wrobleski preferred a charge
of assault and battery against Lod-
wick JerZjorski. The parties live on
Slate Hill. near the Continental. Mrs.
WrObleSk went over to JerziOrski'S
house to expostulate with them for ac-
cusing her of keeping towel which
blew over into her yard, and while
madly expostulating, let drop the re-
mark that people who would steal
VrOppo Mikaviskis ducks should be the
very last to accuse a neighbOr of steal
ing such a useless thing as towel.
Anyway, a jury went out at 4.3O to de-
eide whether or not Mr.. Jerziorski
used more than necessary force in
ejecting Mrs. WrObleski
VERDICT OF NOT GUILTY.
The jury in the case of George Cane
by charged by Julia Jnesairg with as
sault and battery. was instructed to
render a verdict of not guilty.
Bridget Brady was charged with
assault and battery by Maria Battle
and Maria Battle charged Bridget
Brady's husband. Michael, with assault
and battery. Both cases We're heard
at once. The jury thought the ltig-
ants ought to ca, quits and returned
q verdict of not guilty in both cases.
Upon the defendant paying the costs
prosecution was withdrawn in the case
in which NJ. II. Holgate charge w. $.
Simpson with false pretenses.
owing to the illness of the defendant
a continuance was granted in the case
of Catharine Vincenus, charged by
Mary Sardmella with assault and bat