The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-10-19
LEGAL ROW IN CAMDEN.
Eli Shaw's Lawyer Elected From
the City Hall.
A PRIVATE HEARING WANTED.

TO This Lawyer scovel Objected, and
Was Forced Out by Two Policemen
After q Lively scrimmage-Lawyer
Nixon Also Thrown out.
Camden. N. j., Oct. 19.-Never have
.Camden's officials-either state, coun-
ty or municipal-ever witnessed scenes
like those which transpired In Mayor
Westcott's private Office yesterday,
when almost half a : undred witnesses
had gathered therel o undergo an ex-
animation In the cas- against Ell Shaw,
who Is accused Of killing his mother,
Mrs. Shaw, and his grandmother. Mrs.
Zane.
Harry 8. Scpvel has been retained by
ehaw's friends to look after his inter-
ssts. and was on hand for that pur-
pose. He was told that no hearing
would be given. So were others. He
did not know why SO many witnesses
had been called. but was determined
to find out. He declared that Shaw was
entitled to hearing before being COM
mitted for trial. and he was there for
the purpose Of seeing that he got it.
Mayor Westcott, Public Prosecutor
Jenkins and Assistant Prosecutor Car
son were In the private Office when Mr..
6covel wanted to know where the hear
Ing was to take place. He was told that
IT was to be O private examination,
and was ordered out of the office, and
he refused to go. The mayor told him
he would have to put him out. Scovel
still refused, and Chief Of Police Dodd
was called. He could not get Scovel to
move, even after clinching. Two Of
nCers were called. but even then the
plucky lawyer did not depart until after
. fierce struggle. The scene. was most
exciting one
Mayor Westcott was visibly affected.
He trembled somewhat from excite
ment, and could scarcely articulate a
sentence when asked question after
the melee had been finished.
1T Is one of the most high handed
proceedings that has ever transpired In
any court, SO far as my experience of
llfteen years Is concerned. l never saw
ANYTHING like 1t, and doubt II any one
ellie present ever witnessed such q
scene," remarked Lawyer Scovel. Tn
nocent or guilty. my client has rights
that must be respected, and am going
to see that they are respected" he con-
tinued.
Not for long time has the dignity
Of chief magistrates Office been so
rudely shaken. Every one present was
looking for further developments, which
were not long in coming They were
furnished when Attorney Horace e.
Nixon was forclbly elected from the
nearing room. He was there to advise
five young men who had been called us
witnesses.
These young men were subsequently
placed under arrest and held in $1,000
bail each to appear at court to testify
In the Shaw case.
Prosecutor Wilson H. Jenkins said In
an interview: II visited the house on
more convinced than ever that Shaw Is
the man who committed the crime.
Nor have / any reason to believe. SO
Tar. that he had an accomplice."
Prosecutor Jenkins said further:
'"There will be no public hearing In
this case at all. A shall go into court
and ask Judge Garrison to appoint
time and place for private hearing,
the same as was done In the Lacony
case some time ago. OF course the
accused and his attorney will be pres
snt, and only enough testimony will be
adduced to make out enough evidence
for a prima facie case upon which to
hold the prisoner for trial"
The police are now securing Camden
and Philadelphia to find out where the
Eve chambered revolver with which the
murder is said to have been commit
ted was purchased. Shaw denies that
the pistol belonged to him, and the
burden of proof that 1t did now rests
with the authorities. An effort is also
being made to find out where the am
munition was purchased.
The motive of the murder ascrbed to
Shaw has received a puzzling setback
by the statement of Mrs. Foster Zane,
who says that Miss Mabel Nelson,
Elis f1ancee, will come into $1,000 In a
few months. and that Eli knew it. She
also reatllrms her previous statement
that all arrangements had been made
to buy the house for the young couple
without Ell having to spend cent. as
Mrs. Nelson had promised to pay the
$500 cash required to bind the purchase.