The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-01-04
trial OF FRANK SHIffER
Charged with Assault and Battery on
Mrs. George Shea.
FALSE PRETENsE CASE ENDED
After Tedious Trial 1t Went TO the
Jury Yesterday AfternOon-Mrs
McNulty Sent to Jail for Ten
bays for ScOiding.

Sdstsi Ntut sicWiy III "
court yesterda.- There are n few cases
remaining undisposeG of and the juries
We're held over until today. IL was late
in the afternoon before :he case of the
commonwealth against +. II. Wright, of
Easton, charged oy Jeweler n. Il. Levy,
of this city, was civ en- to the jury. The
jury went out at o'clock to deliberate
upon verdict.
David Il. Evans. of Taylor. was tried
before Judge Craig on the charge of as
saulting and Eattering William Thom-
as. They are young iIen and live in
Tayisr borough. On the date of the
fight. which was two or three months
ago. thu pf ,secutor claimed that he was
going along the public highway when
the defendant met him and laid violent
hands on him without just cause or
nrovocation.
The story of the defendant went ON to
say that he was in John r. Gibbons
saloon and there met the prosecutors
father, who informed him that there
would he trouble in store for the de-
fcndant when Willie got hold of him.
Later in the day he met Willie and his
father and they stopped him and he
only defended himself. The jury re-
tired to find a verdict at adjournment.
The case wherein Oscar l.. Freeman
was prosecutor and Daniel Eastman de-
fendant was the first one tried before
noon in the main court room. Attorney
A. j. Colborn represented the defend
ant and District Attorney Jones the
commonwealth. Away back in 1880
pup was born down on the South Side.
1t was the property of Daniel Eastman.
When the dog got to be four months old
he gave it tn Mr. Freeman for keep.
When Ii was eighteen months old Free
man gave it back to Eastman. to train,
he says; but Eastman claimed 1t was
given to him for good.
lie Took ;hc bog Away.
1t is bird dog and is valued at 800.
\ year after Freeman gave Eastman
the dog he came one day and took 1t
away. For this he was arrested and
tried for larceny, but was found not
guilty. Not long ago Eastman, while
passing through Green Ridge. saw the
dog and took il with him. For doing
this he was charged with larceny. The
jury brought in verdict of not guilty
and when Judge Savldge received the
verdict he said l. was a just one; that
the case ought to have been brought in
the civil court to determine the owner
ship of the animal and not in the
criminal courts.
Kate McNuity. of Carbondalc. was
found guilty of being Il common scold.
There was another indictment on the
same charge against her. but verdict
of not guilty was taken by the district
attorney. She was called for sentence
and received a lecture from the court
on the evil of having a loose tongue.
May God help my seven children
this night" interjectcd the unfortunate
defendant Judge Savidge responded
that he did not propose to give more
ton !, hllt hn made her
promise she will keep a guard on her
tongue in future. AS she was was
being led away to spend the coming ten
days in jail. she requested that she be
allowed to take her S-months-o!d baby
to prison with her. Her wish was
granted.
Frank Shiffer was tried for assault
and battery on Mrs Maria Shea. wife
Of George Shea, the Ninth street dray-
man. He was defended by Attorney
Rhodes. District Attorney Jones rep
resented the commonwealth. Mr.
Rhodes is not a member of the I.acia-
wanna bar, but he is taking steps TO be
soon admitted. He told Judge Savidge
he pra0ticed in Stroudsburg where he
was regularly admitted. ana also on the
Pacific coast.
Mrs. Shcn's statement
Mrs. Shea was the first witness. On
the lSt OF last October, she said, Shincr
came to their house about supper time
Her husband was putting the faithful
animal that hauls the dvay wagon in
the barn, and Shffcr came mp with
warrant for stealing a saw. There was
dispute raised by Shea as to the
validity of serving the warrant when
Shiffer was not q public officer.
Shea refused to be arrested and Shift
fer said hcwould take him dead or alive,
at the same time reaching to his hin
pocket as If for q revolver. Mrs, Shea
appeared on tho scene and she saw her
husband and Shi'fcr grapplc and strur-
gle all around the yard. They, finally.
landed in the kitchen and there she cot
between then them'to make peace. She
deciarcd that while she was thus on
saged the defendant struck her two
violent blows in the left hre,si ond
from them she has since suffered mnrh
her husband and Miss Annie Gnfrn,v
corrnborated her testimony.
Ihe defense was along the limo that
SINNER was comDelled TO execute flo
warrant himself. owing to the death Of
Tie late Constable J. L. Rooster IN. e,,a
ne could get no one to serve IL for him
n question arose as to whether or not
an alderman can deputize q citizen to
serve Il warrant. Judge Savidre
thouSht an aiderman or justice has this
power. Mr. Shifsr swore that Mrs
Shea's-brother struci, him with n black
snake whip on the head and made him
see stars. and If he had not fled the
Sheas and their friends could have then
and there put an end to his existence.
He DENIED thai he struck Mrs. Shea.
She had teapot full of hot beverage, he
said. lifted over his head when he was
wrestling with her husband, and then
he pushed her away TO hinder her from
scalGing him with it,
Says There Is Il Conspiracy.
Mr.. Rhodes created no end of amuse-
ment in court by the Snirited manner