Evening journal., 1897-09-22
SEVERAL PETTY CASES.
Court of General Sessions
Grinding It's Grist.
MINOR OFFENDERS PLEAD GUILTY
CHIEF JUSTICE REMINDS THE
SHERIFF OF THE LEGAL RE
QUIREMENTS REGARDING THE
USE OF THE CATO -NINE-TAILS.

QOlhEM Mn 10 hEGAlNDlNG liiE
USE OF THE CAT-o-NINE-TAILs.
, Andrew Higgins, indicted for steal
ing about $500 pounds of scrap iron
from the Diamond State Iron Com
pany, occupied the dock during the
whole of yesterday afternoons session
Of the Court of General Sessions. He
was represented by ID. J. Reinhart, who
seemed determined to clear his client.
The state called several witnesses,
but none OF them could swear to seeing !
Higgins steal the iron. Alfred Tuch- |
ton was the most important witness.
He said that while he and Higgins oc-
cupied the same cell in New Castle Jail
the prisoner confessed to him that he
committed the theft.
Higgins took the stand in his own
behalf, and denied that he stole the
iron. He said that man named John
Wright hired him to move It.
This morning the state called several
witnesses to prove the bad character of
the accused man.
Peter Jones, cOlored, Frank Young
and Frank Monck, colored, were each
sentenced to ten days Imprisonment
for carrying concealed deadly weapons.
Thomas Phillips was sent over for four
months Imprisonment for robbing the
house Of Rev. Thomas A. McCurdy.
The grand jury returned the follow
ing true bills: Philip Parnell, George
Gibbons, Henry Wilson and William
Thomas, alias William Robinson. The
bills against Amos Beal. George Jones,
Sarah Lewis and Charles Hail We're
ignored.
In the civil case of Calvin I. Swayne
vs.. William Reamley, j. p. Nieds ask
ed for judgment on an affidavit of de-
mand The court held that he could
not get judgment in this way at the
first term.
The witnesses called to impeach Hig-
gins reputation were Chief of Police
Dolan, Sergeants Evans and Lucas and
Officers Aiken, Moran and Maloney.
After argument the jury retired.
George Moore and Frank Reed, color
ed, were each sentenced to twenty days
Imprisonment for carrying concealed a
deadly weapan.
On motion OF Harry Whiteman the
case Of the State VS.. Philip Purnell,
colOred. indicted for stealing chickens
from Aaron X. Woodward, Of Christi
ana hundred, was continued until to-
morrow morning after the prisoner had
pleaded not guilty.
Despite the plea for mercy entered by
| Harry Wilson, who pleaded guilty to
stealing a set of irons from Lena Silver
man, the court sentenced him to re-
ceive fifteen lashes and be imprisoned
for six months. He had previously
been convicted of larceny.
Chief Justice Lore called the sheriff
attention to the law regarding The
whipping of prisoners. 1t was, he said,
that it be done publicly, and that the
lashes be we'll laid on.
William Thomas, colored, entered a
plea OF not guilty to the charge OF
stealing 5000 worth Of property from
James Stokes.
With THE permission of the court At
torney- General White retired the case
OF the State vs.. Dennis Dineen, indict-
ed for barn-burning. He failed to re-
spond when his name was called and
is understood to be out of the jurisdic-
ton.
SUPERIOR COURT WORK.
Henry C. Conrad obtained from the
| Superior Court a rule to show cause
why the judgment obtained in the cast
lof George w. Scott vs.. Mary and Arthur
Christy should not be set aside. 10 Wai
made returnable on Saturday.
Judgment for want of appearance was
! granted in the case of Linton Smith VS.
the Republican party, the suit being To-
rent Of Corruption Hall. on the secon'
floor of the building at the nOrthwes
corner of Seventh and Market streets
The claim is between $500 and $400, bu
Il r.F sr. frrH lam
certained by a jury of requisition
Tuehman Johnston represented Mr.
Smith.
In the case of the state VS.. Phiiil
Purnau accused Of stealing chickens
Harry Whiteman asked for a writ o
habeas corpus for the production of
J prisoner from New Castle Jail to serv
: for the defence. It was granted ant
the sheriff was instructed to produc
the witness.
The state asked for and obtained al
attachment for Charles w. Sparks,
material witness in the case of tn
t state VS.. Christopher Pfrommer, ac
cused of selling liquor without license
PLEAS OF GUILTY ENTERED.
e The following pleas of guilty wer
entered by prisoners aginst whom tru
bills had been found during the morn
ing: Perry Hance, colored, carryin
concealed a deadly weapon; Edwar
Winder, colored stealing silve
t watch and COW; Harlan Smith, white
stealing a basket of pears.
John Jones, white, entered a plea o
not guilty to the charge of robbin
William Mcclure. John Hannigan, hi
companion in the indictment, was no
present being out on bail.
The grand jury found a true bill
against William Elzey, charged wit
larceny, and also against Edward VIII
liams, charged with breaking into
dwelling-house.
George Citizens, accused of the lar
!, ceny OF thirteen bananas, with 13 cents
= was not present, and his bail bond wa
forfeited.
The Higgins jury was still out whe
the court took a recess.
The state announced that it would b
ready to try the Mcdowell case to
morrow. II. H. Ward will represen
the defendant.