Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-10-21
DOINGS In NEW JERSEY.


court of special sessions today, SEN
fenced Mrs. Mary Elford to one year at
hard labor in the penitentiary at Cald-
well. Mrs. Elford was convicted last
week of assault and battery. The wo-
man was indicted for manslaughter, it
having been alleged that she killed
William Usher, who was found dead
at his home on Sept. last.
Trenton, Oct. 19.-Rensselaer C. How
ard, aged rs years, a Jersey City law
yer, was yesterday sentenced by Judge
Kirkpatrick, in the United States court,
to one years Imprisonment for making
a false affidavit in a pension case.
Mary Anderson was given one year
and fined 500, and Joseph A. Bennett,
John Smith, alias Richard Kellar, and
William Vollelley, two years and $500
fine each for passing counterfeit money.
Plainfield, N. j., Oct. 2O.--A sensation
was caused in this city yesterday by
the arrest of Rev. P. S. Gibson, pastor
of Mt. Olive Baptist church. The COM
plainant against him is Miss Lucy
Swan, and the charge is of a serious
nature. The minister is indignant, and
has brought charge of SANDER against
his accurer, claiming $1,000 damages.
The minister was held in 5000 bail A
church committee is investigating the
case.
Jersey City, Oct. ia police permit
has been granted the Swedish Ebenezer
Evangelical church, of this city, to
hold fair to raise money with which
to pay church debt. The police were
informed that piano and other arti-
cles would be ratified off at the fair. The
law of New Jersey, as amended re-
Gently, is stringent against any gamb-
ling device or game Of chance. Law
yers say that to play such game as
progressive euchre for prize is now a
criminal offense.
Bridgeton, N. j., Oct. 15.-May Marks,
the 12-year-eld daughter of Lewis
Marks, was burned to death Wednes-
day night. The girl was in the habit of
studying her lessons while lying In bed
with a candle at her side. She dropped
asleep, and her sleeve ignited In the
candle flame. The child jumped from
the bed and ran for the pump. Before
the fire could be extinguished the girl
had inhaled the flame and died shortly
afterwards. Her father was badly
burned while endeavoring to save her.
Egg Harbor City, Oct. ia fierce
and destructive forest fire ragged be-
tween Brigantine Junction and Ocean
vile, about seven miles from this city,
and consumed hundreds of acres of val
liable timber. 1t mysteriously origin
ated yesterday morning, and passed
over an area of three square miles. 1t
totally destroyed all timber in It's path,
and ragged with unabated fury like the
widest prairie blaze, making it impos-
sible for the heroic fire fighters to check
it to any extent. Continuous back firing
finally brought 1t under control.
Trenton, Oct, 15.-Suit has been insti-
tuted in the New Jersey supreme court
by Peter q. Wurff1ein, a Trenton re-
porter, against ex-Assemblyman Will
lam J. Thompson Wurtfiein asks for
SIS, 900 damages. The plaintiff states
that he approached Thompson in the
directors room at the Interstate fair
on Sept 80, and asked for an interview
with Thompson on the result of the
constitutional election anti-gambling
amendment Wurfflein claims that
UODlpSOU IuS1SQ 1t IltIIl anu SlIuCk
and kicked him and injured him
physically.
Newark, N. j., Oct. 19.-The grave
of Allen Bennett, colored, who was in
tered in the cemetery of Milburn
township, near this city, week ago,
was opened Sunday night, the body
hacked in two with a spade, and the
upper portion carried away. When the
coffin was reached the ghoul pried off
the lid with the spade used in digging.
The body was then dragged from the
coffin and laid on the earth on the top
of the ground. The upper clothing was
removed and the body cut in two, APP
parently with the spade. The cloth
ing was left beside the hole, and the
legs and lower portion of the body cast
back into the hole, which was left open.
The head and upper portion of the body
are missing.
Hackensack, Oct 1S.-Last night the
large barn of Mr.. John Van Bussen,
which stood near his handsome res
idence at Hasbrouck Heights, about
two miles from here, was burned to the
ground. Three valuable horses and
six Jersey cows also persisted in the
flames, making a total loss of IS, 600 on
which the insurance had lapsed Just
two days. Frank Peterson, an employee,
was rescued from the burning barn
with difficulty. He was unconscious
when rescued, and his clothing was
afiFe. In five years Mr.. Van Bussen
has built FIVE barns. Each one has been
destroyed by fire, and in each instance
it has been shown that the fire was Of
incendiary origin,