Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1896-10-22

The corroboration of the childs story
was not as complete as it might be de-
sired, but it is extremely difficult to have
occular evidence in these cases.
Very different was the tale of the father
when he was given an opportunity to go
upon the stand. He was a poor man, he
said, struggling to maintain his home as
a carpenter. A widower for eight years,
he had lived with his daughter in the
house and had endeavored, as far as
possible, to bring up his children as they
should be. He was anxious that his
daughter should not associate with bad
characters, and her persistence in doing
so had brought upon her successive
punishments.
Before the Court and jury, and in the
presence of God, Near said he was guilt
less of the horrible charge. Near told his
story with some pathos and made inn
preston evidently, but he was quickly
rounded up by Prosecutor Logue, and
when Near left the stand, he had been
compelled to admit that his two boys
were in the Reform School, and that
three times he had been in this Court,
before the present time. Once he was ar
rested for assault and battery, but he was
not convicted. Then he was arrested and
was in Jail for some time for neglect of
his children. Later he was convicted of
selling liquor illegally in Vineland.
Harry Golf broke hole in the defense
when he was called to help out Near
Goff has been in Jail charged with the
same offense. Near had testified that
Goff had not been in his house during
the whole of September, but Golf did not
hear the testimony, and he frankly testi.
fled that he had been in the house, in the
front room, and had remained there for
some time. Golf, of course, denied
everything concerning the assault. He
wound up his testimony by saying that
he had been year in State Prison for
breaking and entering.
The argument to the jury by the law
yers preceded the charge of Judge Hoag-
land. Lawyer Berault was elaborate,
eloquent and picturesque. Prosecutor
Logue was plain, practical and logical,
and the Court legal and impartial.
Harry Golf was brought in to be tried
upon the same charge, but he was without
counsel, and no lawyers being present in
the room Golf was returned to Jail.
Then Prosecutor Logue brought in
Edward Pierce, an elderly colored man
and he was charged with the same kind
of crime against his step daughter Mary
Elizabeth Watson.
Pierce had no lawyer, and Judge Hoag-
land remarked that it was his own fault
as he had been told to notify the Court
and failed to do so. But Pierce looked
after himself pretty well, and asked
questions like veteran practitioner.
The parties live in Bayside, and the
girl is evidently about seventeen or
eighteen years of age, although she is in
tensely ignorant and does not know her
age. She declared however, that she was
compelled to submit to her stepfather by
reason of threats, and the old man was
aided by her own mother. The whole
thing became notorious in the neighbor-
hood, and this notoriety led to the arrest
of Pierce.
The defense was simple denial by
Pierce. On cross-examination he said in
answer to Mr.. Logue's question that he
had served eight years in prison for this
same offense.
AS the Pierce jury was returning, the
Fred Near jury came in returning ver-
dict of guilty. The Pierce jury was out
but few minutes and came in with the
same verdict-guilty.
Then Harry Golf was brought back
from the Jail, and Mr.. Berault was as
signed by the Court to defend him.
Mr.. Berault said that he knew Golf had
good defense but he had no.opportunity
to get witnesses, and petition was made
that the case would go over until to-mor-
row. The Court refused. Then Mr..
Berault asked for subpenas for the de-
fendant's witnesses, but the Court refused
to allow them.
The testimony of the State was exactly
similar as that in the Fred Near case, and
is not necessary to be repeated.
Wednesday Morning.
The case against Harry Golf took the
whole OF the morning. The state made
out its case exactly as against Fred Near.
But Mr.. Berault for the defense was more
thorough. Golf had number of wit
nesses from Millville, whose testimony
went to show that he could not have per-
petrated the outrage upon little Goldie
Near. Golf is glassblower and has been
in State Prison for breaking and enter
ing.
This afternoon Prosecutor Logue will
move, probably, another case of felonious
assault upon little girl.
Will be Heard From,
Two or three of the influential men
among the wheelman in this, city are
quietly interesting themselves in local