The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-10-17
THE CIRCUIT COURT
Adjourned on Monday Afternoon Until
the December Term.

After a recess of one week, on account os
the sitting of Judges Russum and Stump AZ
the Circuit Court for Caroline County which
convened on Monday the 5th inst. the Circuit
Court for this county reconvened on Monday
last at 10 o'clock a. m.. Judge Stump pre-
siding.
The criminal docket being taken up, the
first case called was that of the State vs.
Thomas Donnelly, of Port Deposit indicted
i'll several other bills for writing threatening
letters, charged with attempting to burn the
hay house OF Edward II. Rowland near Port
Deposit on the night of May 7, 1896. The
prisOne elected to be tried before the court
and entered a plea of not guilty. A letter to
Mr.. Rowland, which was posted on tree
near the Rowland premises, threatening to
destroy his buildings unless he would send a
large sum OF money, was read to the court,
as were several others Of similar nature.
They were proved to have been written by
the prisoner. Judge Stump found him guilty
and said that owing to the prisoners age he
would only give him five years in the Mary
land penitentiary. There were four other
indictments against Donnelly. charged with
writing threatening letters to II. c. Ncsbitt,
Il. L. McClenahan and Edward H. Rowland
but they were placed on the stet docket Wit
nesses for the State: Edward II. Rowland,
Ida E. Eshleman. j. Eshleman, Col. |. d.
Davis, William 7. Coulson. Defendants wit
nesses: Mary Donuelly, Elizabeth Donnelly
States Attorney William S. Evans for State,
A. l.. Crothers for prisoner.
The court fixed the bail of Theodore Feehly
Mary Feehly and Thomas Walmsley, in, ,
dicted for selling liquor but not apprehende d
at 5000 in each case.
State ys. John Bowling, colored. Indicted
for resisting arrest. Baiiff Reuben Bond,
of Port Deposit, attempted to arrest Bowling
without a warrant, and he resisted, where
upon the baitff shot him and placed him
under arrest. Trial before the Court. States
witness: Reuben Bond. Judge Stump
entered the verdict not guilty and reproved
the bailifr for attempting to arrest a man on
hear-say without warrant Evans for
State; c. c. Crothers for Bowling
The next case called was that Of Sallie
Davis, colored. The woman was tried
before Magistrate Groves on August 26
for assault on Molfie Anderson and it not be-
ing her first offense was fined Il and costs
and sentenced TO six months in the House
OF Correction, from which decision she
appealed. Trial before the Court. States
witnesses: Mollie Anderson Rachel Boulden
Mary Wilson, Magistrate z. NJ. Groves.
Balii1 Bidde. Judge Stump confirmed the
magistrates decision and sentenced her to
pay fine OF II and costs and to serve term
OF six months in the House OF Correction.
Evans for State; G. c. Crothers for prisoner.
Thomas Dycer and Frank Stonehouse the
bookmakers indicted for making books on
the races at Iron Hill, filed, through their
counsel. a demurrer to the indictments and
argument was heard before the court. Mr.,
Evans appeared for the State and W. T. War
burton and c. c. Crothers for the defendants.
The ground OF argument was the wording OF
the Act OF Assembly. Judge Stump, in deliv-
ering his opinion, said that he had considered
the law with the intention of breaking up the
racing If possible as it had grown to be a
nuisance and was corruptng the youth Of
the county. He could, however, only be
guided by the language of the act. 1t had
been intended to stop racing more than thirty
days in any county, but whoever drafted the
act had not so worded it, consequently he
must sustain the demurrer and dismiss the
indictments. He advised Mr.. Evans to take
the case to the Court of Appeals with the
hope that it would reverse the decision.
The last case tried was that of the State ys.
William Turner and John Nash colored,
charged with breaking into Il freight car.
Trial before the court States witnesses:
Detective William T. Jones and Conductor
John A. Riley. Defendants witnesses John
Nash and William Turner. Verdict of not
guilty. Evans for State. A. l.. Crothers for
traversers.
At 3.15 p. m. court adjourned until the
December term.