The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-02-05
ROBERTS Is
FINED $40
General Sess ons Court Be-
lieyed That Amount SUI.
fcient.
FOR llss.llNs M HASTINGS
Walter Brown Escapes Serious
Charge Because of the Repu-
lation CT Prose cutor.

ldLlOll CT Il IICSCCulOBs
George W, Roberts, editor of the State
Sentinel at Dover, received sentence In
General Sessions Court this morning for
criminally libeling Washington Hastings
through the columns Of his paper during
the last campaign, and at a time when pos
litica feeling was running high. The sens
tence was only a fne of $40 and COSTS
which amounted to $62. Mr.. Roberts
promptly paid his fine and left the court
room in company with II. H. Ward, Meda
ford II. Cahoon and Henry G. Conrad, his
counsel
The light sentence was surprise to the
large number of lawyers who were seated
inside the railing. They had expected a
fine OF at least $50 and COSTS which Mr..
Roberts also expected his trouble would
cost him. But 1t was an Agreeable surprise
TO him and he paid 1t at the earliest possiS
Bile moment.
WALTER BROWNS GOOD LUCK.
Walter Brown, a young colored man, had
the good fortune to escape charge of as
sault with intent to commit murder be-
cause of the past reputation of the man
who sought to prosecute him. This indiA
vdual was Isaac Anderson, the notorious
tUhSlGT, WIN udu previously SWIM thos
Brown and several other colored youths
had assaulted him with pistols and knives
on Tatnall street between Eighth and
Ninth streets on the night Of January IA.
Austin Harrington appeared for the pris-
oner.
After tho jury was drawn Mr.. Cooper
put Anderson on the stand, but so insoA
lent did he become during the examination
that the prosecuting attorney abandoned
the case before Mr.. Harrington took the
witness in hand. The court thereupon dis
charged Brown with the admonition that
he never again carry weapon.
Previous to the retirement of the grand
jury Chief Justice Lore addressed them
thus: "Gentemen-In relation to certain
alleged frauds and violations Of the election
laws Of this state, this court at the last
session delivered you charge, which
doubtless you remember.
"The court feels that il ought to empha-
size that charge to-day, and to say to YOU
that II is duty you owe TO the good old
commonwealth in which you live and which
has uutured and protected You in your
lives and your property-to sift and inves-
tigate these cases most thoroughly.
Let no prejudice, no political bias no
influence of any character whatever, step
in between these persons and the law. See
that nothing shall stay the arm of justice.
or shall annul the law, which law lies at
the very foundation of society, and which,
if set aside, leaves your commonwealth at
the mercy Of the will of any man who may
see fit to attack it in It's most vital part.
Gentlemen, we ask you, that you do ABB
soutely and fearlessy your whole duty.
The remarks need no comment"
CONTEMPT OF COURT.
A Jury was drawn to try the case of the
State VS.. Thomas Barton, William Merriel'
ana James Carroll, white men, for the lar
ceny of hat and pair Of boots from Ira
Kennedy of Mt. Cuba, on November I of
last year, but the case had an abrupt tens
porary termination.
Kennedy was intoxicated and as such
condition was contempt of court Chief
Justice Lore commanded the intoxicated
individual to the sheriff with instruction to
bring him before the court when in prop
er condition. The jury was relieved until
this afternoon.
Albert Spence, white man, was put on
trial for stealing a set of harness, valued at
SIS from George B. Edwards, a grocer at
testified to losing his property; Harry
Downward, a boy saw the prisoner Offer
ing to sell the property to William Barker,
a secondhand dealer, who swOre to maxi
ing the purchase and Charley Tunnel to
identifying the property, after which the
prison called Mrs. Annie Mousley, an aunt
and Edward Spence, an uncle, who swore
that their nephew was innocent of the
NJ /, - I,
the jury rendered a verdict of guilty with-
out leaving the box. He received sens
tcnce Of one years Imprisonment and ff-
teen lashes.
MOuLTON GUILTY OF ASSAULT.
Roland r. Moullon, the white man whom
Sarah Palmer accused Of having assaulted
and attempted to rape her was found guilty
of common assault after the jury had been
out an hour. Counsel on both sides argued
the case at length and there was charge
from the court, the latter being favorable
TO the verdict.
Before the court passed sentence Mr..
Brockson, the prisoners counsel, moved
that it be done and that in consideration
Of the conflicting statements in the case
the punishment be light. But Mr.. Cooper
regarded the matter from different stand
point, holding that the verdict was one
which spoke the intent Of Moulton. He de-
clared his guilty of under the act pro- q.
hbltng the taking of woman for i'm
moral purposes, and in view of this thought
the sentence should be a heavy one.
Chief Justice Lore agreed with him and
before sentencing him to two years i'm
prisonment and to pay a fine Of 800 and
costs. reminded him that the court would
do all in its power to protect young women
from such men as him. Moulton did not
mind the rebuke.
Josiah Marvel pleaded guilty for James
Short to the charge of being concerned in
interest in lottery policy writing and the
court imposed the minimum fine of 500
and costs or one months Imprisonment.
THE DATE WAS WRONG.
Because of flaw in the Indictment, con-
sisting OF the date being stated as 1896 in
stead Of 1897, which charged John McDow-
ell, white man with lottery policy writ
ing. II. II. Ward moved to quash, and as
Walter II. Hayes, who was assisting the
state. acknowledged the fault, made no OBJ
lection and Mcdowell was discharged.
The Levy Court Commissioners spent
this morning in going over the books of
the county assessors The only district
completed was the Northern district of
Christiana hundred. The commissioners
will resume their work this afternoon.
ELECTION OFFICERS AGAIN INDICTED
The grand jury returned these bills
against the election officers who escaped
punishment at the last term and whose al
legged crimes are well known: James +.
Early, Edward Clark, James i. Drane,
Michael A. Carroll, Hugh Wallace, Michael
T. Conway, Albert Abberger, Thomas F.
Martin and Edward Brandt.
The Weather
Tomorrow promises to be partly cloudy