Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1896-12-24
COURT IN SESSION.
Prosecutor Logue is Endeavoring to Get Rid
of the Criminal Business Before the
January Term of Court.

OF the Criminal Business Before the
January Term of Court.
In the event of the January term Court
business being thrown over at later date,
Prosecutor Logue will have disposed of
as mudh criminal business as possible.
Tuesday there was special Court, the ses-
sion beginning this morning at ten
O'Clock, with Judge Hoagland presiding.
There was the usual big crowd of spec
tators present when Court was opened
and of course there was sufficient to inter-
est the seekers after the sensational.
Jona Ayars, Francis Ayars and Wm
Willets, for breaking and entering sew
eral places, pleaded not guilty. To one
chargethe Ayars brothers pleaded guilty
to stealing, but not breaking and enter
ing.
E. Frank Hemeuway, assault and bat
terry, guilty
Ludvay Brem, breaking, entering, lar
Gerry from Tuscolo Eodge room. Not
guilty Of breaking but stealing.
Samuel Mink, stealing. Guilty.
The prisoners were taken back to jail
with the exception of the Ayars brothers
and Willets. Prosecutor Logue then
moved the case against these men. First
charge brought against them was for
breaking, entering and stealing carpets,
etc., from the school house at Seeley.
John P. Dare was called, and said he
was janitor of the school house, and some
time last April the place was broken into
q ~
| rugs as the ones which were in the house
at the time it was robbed.
William Ballenger called, said he was
| librarian of the school at the time the car
pets were bought. He recognized the
| carpet shown in Court as the one bought;
| could tell it by stains on it, which were
caused by water.
John Mcpherson identified the carpet
and rigs as the ones he sold to the trus-
tees of the school.
Robert Allen testified to finding the
things in the mems houses.
Constable Frank J. Lore testified to
making a search of the mems houses. He
in room occupied by Francis Ayars and
his wife. The rug and picture he found
at Jonathan Ayars' house.
Jonathan Ayars was put on the stand
in his own defense. He said he and his
brother went to Deerfield one night, and
when coming home they saw fellow
running from the school house, carrying
something. They called to the fellow to
stop, and when he heard them, he threw
the bundles down on the ground. They
picked them up and took them home.
The story he gave was something like a
fairy tale.
This ended this case.
The men were then put on trial for
stealing wheat from Frederick Fisher.
Mr.. Fisher was put on the stand, and
stated he lived in Stoe Greek township,
and about four weeks ago, one night he
was robbed of fifteen or twenty bushels
| of wheat. 1t was in his barn within
closed doors. He afterwards saw some
wheat at Hitchner's mill, which he
thought was his, from there being two
varieties in it.
Witness Hitchner, miller at Remster's s
Mills, said that on the morning of the 22nd
of November, the two Ayars' came to the
mill before sunrise and had some wheat
to sell. Hitchner bought the wheat,
which was about fourteen bushels, and
gave them check for the payment. The
men said they had come from Deerfield
and were going on to Salem. He told
his son to keep a sample of the wheat,
which he did.
Charles Hitchner testified to a conver-
sation he had with Willets. Willets told
him that he drove the wagon up and
down the road while the Ayars boys
were in the barn. He then went in and
helped them measure the wheat.
Bobert Allen also testified to CONVEX
sation he had with Willets which was
pretty much the same as the former
witness.
Frank j. Lore, who arrested the men
said that coming in in the wagon the men
owned up to stealing the wheat, and Jona-
than Ayars said, "What in the name OF
God is a man to do when he is out OF
work."
Hampton Fithian, Esq, who defended
the men said they would plead to stealing
the wheat, but not breaking and entering
William Willets was put on the stand
and said they all went to the barn OF
Fisher and stole wheat. The barn door
was open about six inches.