Bridgeton pioneer., 1896-05-14

beginning in 1856, and had personal
knowledge of the oysters. He had as
sisted in catching some of the oysters in
1894.
did you ever catch any oysters on
this ground previous to 1S94?' queried
Judge Pancoast in cross-examination.
II object" interrupted Col. Potter.
1t was an attempt upon the part of the
defense to bring up the question of
natural growth. The question was over
ruled, and an exception was granted.
From this time Judge P ancoast insisted
upon all that was coming to him. Col.
Potter began to ask his next witness,
James Turner, some leading questions.
Each one was met with an objection
from Judge Pancoast, and finally Judge
Ludlow said, 81 wish you would get out
OF that habit Colonel. It's keeping us in
hot water all the time.'
''All right" replied the Colonel "I'll go
around the barn, but it will greatly pro-
long the case"
Louis Bradford testified that he fur
nlshed the Batemans with some 2,700
bushels of shells. He could not re-
member what was paid for them.
"What is your fathers name?"
''Luther Bateman."
"What is your name?'
"Luther Bateman."
SIS there any other Luther Bateman in
this vicinity?"
''Not that know off,
| Mr.. Bacon called a couple of gentle
men from the back of the Court room.
They were strangers, and as yet they are
unknown. They had with them bundle
of papers, which Judge Pancoast took
from them.
Judge Pancoast took one of the papers
to the witness and asked him if the name
of Luther Bateman at the bottom of it
was in the handwriting of his father.
The paper was an application to the Ri
parian Commission for riparian grant.
Col. Potter objected to the examina-
ton of the witness upon that point.
There was some argument upon the
question and the court over ruled the
| question. An exception was taken.
Then another paper was shown the
| witness. 1t was bill in Chancery, en-
titled Luther Bateman against Harrison
Hollenger, ct. ais" The witness was
asked if the name Luther Bateman in
that bill was the signature of his father.
This question was objected to and over
ruled.
The questions had an important bear
ing and while they are as yet unanswered
they will be brought up in another way.
The cross-examination was very slight
Judge Westcott showed that Bateman
had taken some considerable of the
Thursday Morning.
Court opened this morning with every
body eager to hear the oyster case.
The plaintiffs had Luther Bateman
upon the stand, finishing the testimony
which he had begun last night. During
all these years previous to 1894 nobody
attempted to dredge upon these grounds
Then in the second week in April, 1894
| Zebulon Polhamus came upon the Bate
man grounds and began dredging. Bate
man was present and notified Polhamus
that he was tresspassing. The defendant
replied that if Bateman would show him
the line, he would not vredge there
Polhamus took the oysters from the
grounds going in the direction of the
Maurice River Cove. During the time
Polhamus was dredging there was quite
fleet of other boats working upon the
grounds.
Since then Bateman has worked over
the grounds but there was nothing upon
&hem. In fact the grounds which had
been rich with fine planted oysters, were
entirely stripped.
The first question of cross-eXamination
from Judge Pancoast awakened the Court
room.
! the trespass was one of the most out
rageous and unjustifiable trespasses ever
perpetrated in this county.
Col. Potter then introduced the deed OF
New Jersey to Bateman in evidence.
Then Judge Pancoast objected to it's in
PRODUCTION upon the ground that the State
had no right to convey this large tract of
land, but held it in trust for the whole
people.
In reply Col. Potter said that there was
not one oysterman in the county who did
not hold authority from the State for the
bed upon which they planted oysters.
The objection was overruled and an
exception granted to the defense.
0. Acton, civil engineer and lawyer of
Salem, was called, produced map of the
grounds in the contention, which map he
explained to the Court and Jury. He
said there were fully fifty or sixty acres
in the Bateman track, and all under the
waters of the Delaware Bay.
Luther Bateman, Jr., followed Mr..
Acton. He said he was one of the plain
tiffs in this suit. His father died August
1lth, 1895. He recalled the purchase of
his father of riparian grounds. That was
in June, 1886. Afterward he invited the
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