Evening journal., 1896-11-21
GUILTY OF ASSAULT.
A Jury Finds Matron Holland
at Fault.
A VERDICT LATE AT NIGHT
PRESTON VINCENT ORDERED TO
PAY $12 A MONTH TO COURT FOR
HIS CHILD UNDER A BOND OF
$500.

jury hung" until late last night
in the County Court House over a
disagreement that involved the guilt
of a woman.
1t was the case Of Fannie Holland
the colored matron of the steamboat
City of Chester, for assault and bat
terry on John McVey. the little son of
State Detective Bernard j. McVev.
The case proved most interesting
one. The matron was represented by
William Michael Byrne and William
5. Hilles, who set up a lively defence
for her. July 26 was the date of the
alleged assault.
Mrs. Maggie McVey. mother of the
boy, swore that while In the cabin of
the City of Chester Just after leaving
Gordon Heights, the children were
climbing on the cushions, though she
made every effort to keep them down.
Fannie Holland ordered them of the
cushions. Then Mrs. McVey's sister
spread handkerchiefs over the seat
and the children we're allowed to get
up again. Fannie Holland grabbed the
boy and pulled him down
William Hogan, brother Of Mrs.
McNey, bought popcorn for the chill
dren when the boat was fifteen min
utes out from Chester, and the chill
dren dropped some popcorn on the
cushions and floor Fannie Holland
came along in a rage and after order
ing the boy down again, struck him
with her dust brush. She then said:
You are the dirtiest set of people /
ever saw. Look at the dirt around
here"
Cross-examined by Mr.. Byrne, wit
ness said that the boy was frightened
from the time the stewardess first re-
proved him. Witness denied that the
blow from the brush might have oc-
CURED while the matron was vigor-
ously brushing the seat.
Mrs. Mary Taylor and Mrs. Annie
Ferry gave corroborative testimony
and were closely cross-examined by
Mr.. Hilles.
Bernard J. McVey swore that he
found a blue bruise on the boys right
leg the day after the assault. Adj
mitted that this might have been
caused by any kind of fall or injury
Mr.. Byrne, for the defence, pro-
ceeded to show that this trivial case
was the outcome of a grudge on the
part of the McVey family against this
poor woman. Fannie Holland swore
that she has been stewardess on the
Chester seven years. She first found
the McVey children throwing the pop
corn at each other She reproved the
women and Mrs. Taylor called her a
dirty niger She denied calling
Mrs. Taylor any bad names and posi-
lively denied having struck the child.
Wilmer s. Jones. Mrs Charlotte
Martin Mrs. Mary Davis. Mrs Pettin
Workman and Mrs. Susan Meyers all
testified to the effect that the matron
manifested no bellicose nor bad spirit
in discharging her duty. The court
limited the argument to ten minutes
a side, and after this the jury retired
After taking several ballots the jury
failed to agree and court adjourned
until 10 o'clock this morning. Judges
Cullen and Marvel again appeared at
the Court House at o'clock last night.
but the jury still could not agree.
Deputy Clerk Janvier and two officers
of the court remained i'm the court
room. AT 915 o'clock the judges were
sent for and Judges Cullen and Mar
vel arrived al $40. when the jury
brought in verdict of guilty Of sim
pie assault.
NON-SUPPORT CASES HEARD.
To-day the court was busy with
cases of deserting husbands who failed
to provide support for their wives
William S. Hilles, who appeared for
the defence in the state against Cam.
asked for more time, as no returns had
been made on the subpoenas for his
witnesses.
Preston w. Vincent was charged by
his wife with the non-support of their
little boy He agreed to support the
child and was ordered TO provide SO a
week for its support, and committed
to the custody of Deputy Sheriff Raj
ledge until $500 security was furnished
Court then adjourned until Monday
The court said yesterday that the
Jail must be cleared and this long
criminal business disposed of before
one single civil cause is taken up.
Next week the court has criminal
cases slated for Monday, must go
to Dover Tuesday, and Thursday is
legal holiday. Thus there is no time
for a moments delay and business
must be proceeded with
The court to-day granted sixty-slx
applications for license to sell liquor
Four were held up pending a hearing.
having been filed by the
Law and Order SOciety's attorney, Will
liam S. Pritchett.
The four contested places are
Margaret b. He'll, No. 100 West
Fourth street.
Thomas A. Murphy, No 1113 Lom-
bard street.
Reynolds Brothers. New Castle ave
nue. and Lander's lane
John NJ. Mulrooney, No. sos Market /
street.
The application of Mr.. Mulrooney is |
tho only renewal contested The others /
are all new places. Reynolds Broth |
ers applied before. Their place is situ- /
ated along the line of the new electric /
railway. directly between Wilmington /
and New Castle.
LADIES AND CHILDREN
A ~.