Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-11-19


Hands With His Counsel, the Jurymen
and the States Attorneys-Other Gases.
In the court of general sessions on
Wednesday afternoonW William @. Messick
was arraigned on the charge of EN-
bezzling So. 60 from the Prudential
Life Insurance Co. Medford Ii. Ca
hoon, representing Messick, asked for a
continuance, on the ground of absence
OF material witnesses, but the court
would not grant the continuance. A
jury was drawn and Mrs. Elizabeth g.
Nichols, the first witness, testified to
paying money to the defendant, Benia-
min Bowen, assistant superintendent
for the company in this city, stated
that Messick had not turned over to
the company the money collected from
Mrs. Messick. He alleged that the
defendant owed the company, all told,
$40 The State rested.
Mr.. Cahoop asked for the discharge
of the defendant, on the ground that it
had not been proved whether Messick
had or had not actually paid the money
into tho Office Of the company. He
held that there was no evidence of
fraud.
Attorney General White said that
Messick had admitted that he had
appropriated the money in question.
The court declined to grant Mr.. Ca
hoon's request, to discharge the
accused, and the case went on. Mr..
Cahoon stated his case to the jury. lie
admitted that in working for the COM
pany three years there might be a
shortage, but he asked for verdict OF
not guilty, claiming there was no in
tention to steal any money. The de-
fendant took the stand and testified
to the transaction, in which he re-
ceived money from Mrs. Nichols. He
said he paid over the money at the
office of the company. He alleged that
the company owes him at the present
time $50. 40.
Charles Fl. Collins, superintendent
for the Delaware Beneficial Assocla-
tion, gave Messick, who is employed
with the company, good reputation.
Mrs. Nichols was also called by the
State. Messick had testified that she
had paid three weeks in advance, bui
she said she paid each week.
William III. Joyce. local superin.
tepdent for the Prudential office, de-
nied that Messick had paid the money,
either TO him or to the clerk.
The State rested and both sides de.
cided to submit the case to the jury
without argument. The Jury returned
in Is minutes, with verdict of moi
guilty, and Messick was discharged.
christopher. Bonash OF this city, was
arraigned on the charge Of non support.
Bonash was represented by William +.
Kurtz. Mrs. Bonash, the complainant,
said that they had been married about
four years and five months. they having
lived in st. Louis when first married.
They have lived in this city since last
March. She stated that last June she
was compelled to leave her husband, al
he had Threatened to kill her. Accord
ing to her, he expected her to suppor
him. She alleged that the defendant
frequently assaulted her. The cross
examination was conducted by Mr.
Kurtz, who brought out the fact tina
the husband was jealous and of th'
opinion that his wife had been tot
intimate with other men.
Mrs. Julia Hannum, who lived mex
door to Mr.. and Mrs. Bonash at thu
time Bonash left his wife, testified tt
the trouble between man and wife
She gave Mrs. Bonash shelter on ON
occasion when she was afraid her hus
band would do her harm. Mr.. Hannun
curroborated his wife's testimony.
Bonash. being German, was un
able to speak English, and Mrs
Bonash was called upon to interpret
But the situation was SO odd that Mr.
Kurtz agreed to do the interpreting
himself Bonash stated that he would
live with his wife and support her j
she would treat him properly, but Mrs
Bonash said she would not live will
him, as she was afraid of her life
Deputy Attorney General Cooper begal
the cross ss-examination, and Medford II
Cahoon consented to act as interpreter
hut the witness and Mr.. Cahoon coul'
not understand each other and ther
was no cross examination.
Mr.. Kurtz stated that Bonash wa
willing to contribute 81. so per wee
toward the support of his wife, but sh
wanted $3 Decision was reserved.
MURDER CASE.
George O. Woods was put on trial j
court of oyer and terminer Thursda
morning on charge OF manslaughtei
in causing the death of Howard }. Har
mum OF near Oxford, Pa., on Angus
l7th. The killing took place at th
White Horse Hotel. southwest corner {
Second and 1atnall streets, OF whic
"ooub Wdb t6udubs nv
contained three counts, one chargin
that Woods struck Hannum, anotht
that he kicked him and another that b
kicked and fell upon him. Wood
who was represented by Walter L
Hayes, pleaded not guilty.
The following jury was drawn to II
the case: Benjamin f. David, Jr
John W. Mitchell, Warren r. Messime
Henry Leach. Arthur L. Draper, He
bort Cannon. benjamin Bond, job
Hendrickson, Frank w. Morrison
James e. Donovan, John I. CoiliI
and George Woolson. The defent
challenged William Ii. Voshell.
Deputy Attorney General Peter
Cooper, Jr., in opening for the Sta
explained the difference between mu
der and manslaughter. Mr.. Coop
related the States story OF the deet
hannum was in the stable yard of Il
hotel and was drunk, He was bottle
ing the women with his talk. Afte
while Woods came out and tried to G
llannum away. Both used profai
words. Finally Woods hit Hannum
the face. Hannum tried to defer
himself and general fight eusue
woods struck him several time
Knocked him down and kicked hir
aannum closed hia eyes and that W
the end of it. Two employees dragg
tne body TO the stable and Woods ga
himself up. A postmortem showed th
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