Bridgeton pioneer., 1896-10-29
CUMBERLAND COURTS,
EVIL Doors Receive Heavy Penalties as a
Result of Their Crimes.

NHN Of fCHlHS SGSSlOu Tile Cnurcn was
crowded to the sidewalk and to suffoca-
ton. The session was opened with de-
votlonal exercises, led by Mrs. C. A.
Hammond, of Asbury Park. Rev. J. L.
Roe offered prayer. The choir sang
sweet music, and "Hallelujah" was rem
dered by male quartette, Prof. Frank
higgins in the solo.
A five minutes speech was given by
Mrs. ID. G. Carter, of Blairstown.
The address of the evening was made
by John 6. Wooley, of Chicago. Mr.,
Wooley said he was Prohibitionist and
a temperance man. He could not be one
without being the other; he could not
straddle the question. If Christians
would only do their duty the LIQUOR
traffic could be better controlled. Men
vote in their own towns for Prohibition.
and when it comes to voting the national
ticket they would not vote for Prohibi-
ton. He hoped to live to see the day
when women could vote. He sincerely
believed in woman suffrage. Mr.. Wooley
delivered strong temperance speech.
He moved right and left. Everybody
all denominations of Christian faith. fell
under his axe, when saying as Christians
they failed to do their duty at the ballot
box. His remarks about the two leading
political parties were scathing, unwar-
ranted and uncalled for Many of his il
Illustrations were good, and altogether his
lecture was a strong political temperance,
woman suffrage speech.
The closing session of the State
Woman's Temperance Union took place
this morning.
The devotional exercises were con-
Quoted by Mrs. S. Foster, of Cape May.
Mrs. G. Story, Jersey City, read her
report of the temperance work among
foreigners, and Mrs. S. n. Johnson, of
Elmer, gave her report of temperance
work among colored people.
The reports of the Committe on Reso-
lutions, was received. The Bible reading
was conducted by Mrs. Rev. Peter Stry-
ker, of Asbury Park.
Someunfinished business was attended
to, and the Convention adjourned to meet
in Trenton next year.
Wednesday Afternoon.
The dark, horrible tale of mems pas
sions, and children's dangers, was con-
tinued this afternoon in Court, when
Prosecutor Logue moved the case of the
State against Benjamin Mingin.
It was the fourth case this session, of
criminal assault and the victim was a
little girl, not yet nine years old.
How can the story be told? So horri-
BILE, so almost inhuman that it is beyond
credence. Yet the people who sat in the
Court room could not disbelieve the
story told by little Stella Biddle. The
child is sweet faced, charming girl,
dressed neatly, and her story could only
be secured by the Prosecutor after the
most persistent effort. A modest little
lady was Stella, and as she faced the
curious crowd in the big room, she could
not unseal her lips. Readily she answer
ed the question concerning her age, her
home and her school, but the actual oc-
currence of that dark summer afternoon,
she could scarce relate. She was brought
down from the witness stand and stood
before the jury with her back to the au-
dience, and there in disconnected senten-
ces she told how, in company with Min
gin and his little girl, Della Mingin, she
went to the woods to pick huckleberries.
While there Mingin developed into a
fiend and brute, and brought a shame
upon the little nlore..than baby, that will
continue with her, innocent as she is, all
her life.
1t was an impressive scene while the
child was before the jury. Every face in
the Court room was sad, many drawn,
hard, resolute lines being noticeable.
Men were stern and women were in
tears. Fathers looked upon Mingin as if
they could tear him to pieces. Mingin
himself was pale and careworn, and
could not look the child witness in the
face.
The story of the little one was strength
ened. seemingly beyond contradiction by
the mother, Mrs. Annie Bidwell, and the
John r. G. Thompson, who attended the
child when injured.
Lawyer j. Hampton Fithian had been
assigned by the Court to defend Mingin,
and it was in every respect a thankless
position. Sentiment was all against the
prisoner; fact seemed to be opposed to
him, and his own story shaded of the
improbable.
Mingin admitted having the little girl
in his company in the woods. She wan
dered away from him, and hearing her
scream, rushed toward her and found
her suffering. She told Mingin that
man hurt her. He Investigated her in
juries, found her hurt, and sent her home
alone. Mingin was profuse in his pro-
testation of innocence. He declared that
he had for nearly two years been con-
sistent member of church, and would do
no injury to anybody.
In cross-examination, his testimony
was seriously damaged by Mr.. Logue
Mr.. Fithian attempted with some de-
gree of success, by several witnesses, to