The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1897-09-17
THE CIRCUIT COURT.
IMPORTANT CRIMINAL CASES
SETTLED.
Charles Wilson, Charged With AS
sault Upon Miss Jeans, Gets
Thirty Years-Owen Bowie, for
Murder in Second Degree, Sem
fenced to Fifteen Years-Other
Cases-PeIit Jury Discharged.

muruer III second degree, SEN
fenced to Fifteen Years-Other
Cases-PeIit Jury Discharged.
Court opened on Monday at the
usual hour, with Chief Judge Nc
Sherry and Associate Judges Lynch
and Henderson on the bench.
The first case taken up was the
State VS.. Charles Wilson, for assault
with intent TO rape. Messrs. }. Roger
McSherry and f. Marion Faubel, coun-
sci for the traverser asked to have the
case tried before the Honorable Judges
without u jury.
The prisoner was brought in and
created little stir when those in the
court room for the first time saw him.
The description of him two years ago
seemed at fault. He is a medium sized
mulatto and wore jet black beard.
He appeared anything but the desper-
ado that his acts two summers ago
would have led the citizens of Freder-
lex to look for.
The first witness for the State was
Miss Jessie Jeans. She said, in brief,
that she lived near Catoctin, this coun-
ty; her father is VIM. I. Jeans. She
was awakened on August the 2lst,
1895, by some one at the foot of her
bed; it was between and o'clock in
the morning; she thought it was her
father; she called twice; no answer,
then she jumped out of bed. Wilson
beat her over the head; she screamed
for help; she here pointed out the pris-
oner at the bar as Wilson, she contin-
ued that she tainted. James Nuss came
into the house, hearing her cries, and
urged her to go to Mr.. Daniel Roder-
lex, whittier she went. Wilson made
his escape.
In cross-examination she said she
had seen Wilson three times; the room
10 which she was sleeping was toer-
| ably light; the curtains were drawn;
she said Wilson never put his hands
on her.
James Nuss testified that he lived in
CStoctin; was there on August 2lst,
1895; was on his way to work, AS he
was crossing field he heard screams
from the direction of Mr.. jeans house;
he ran over to the house and he saw
Miss Jeans, she was badly frightened
He told her to go to Mr.. Roderick's
Mr.. Daniel T. Roderick testified that
he lives on the road to CatoctiOn
Switch, a quarter of mile from the
Jeans. Miss Jeans came to my house
on the morning of August 2lst, 1896;
she told of the assault; / went with
her back to her fathers house; she
pointed out the way Wilson went.
TAe black jack was found, l kept it
and gave it to deputy sheriff Crum.
Aaron Moore identified the black
jack as the one he saw in Wilson's
possession while Wilson was at his
| 1.-THE MooresD house last summer q
year; he had il before the assault. On
cross-eXamination he testified that he
knew Wilson three years ago; saw him
often; one of Wilson's fingers wounded,
he did not know which hand, but he
thought it was the right hand. He
often saw him with this black jack,
never saw one made like it.
The defence then opened with Will
son on the stand. He said his name
was Charles Wellington. He was a
native of Georgia. On August q, 1895,
he said he was in Newland County,
Georgia. He was never in Frederick
County before. Here he held up his
hands, thumbs and fingers crippled
and distorted.
He came to Baltimore from West
chester, Pa, where he was serving
term for larceny. He did not know
Joseph Chiswell and never worked
for any one in this county. Did not
know John Goings and never ate at
Going's house in Cat Alley, Frederick
City. He never was in Frederick City
before the sheriff brought him here
this time. Did not know Mike
O'Brien. Never stole q pair of panta-
looms from David L. Roderlck and
never fired a shot at Crum. He did
not know the Moores or their sister.
The State then put up in rebuttal
Michael O'Brien, who testified to
knowing Wilson before the assault.
Saw him in CatOctin District and
worked with him. saw him two
weeks before the assault. He had u
crooked finger.
Joseph Chiswell, lived in Catoctin
District all his life. Knew Charles
Wilson and pointed him out. Knew
him before August q, 1896. Wilson
workt d two years for him. On cross
examination he said that Wilson work.
ed for him in 1892 and 1893 He
worked for Mr.. Nicodemus in 1894.
He had not seen him since 1894. Saw
him in Westminster, Pa. Wilson was
a farm hand. He had a crooked finger
on his right hand and was a peculiar
man in many respects. Subject to
rheumatism.
John Goings knew him is 1895. Was
at his home in Frederick in Cat Alley
at the time of the shooting. Saw both
| Wilson and Crum. On cross-examina-
ton he said 1t was at night. Will
son came to get his satchel. He went
out of the front door. Was in the
front room talking. Wilson heard
some one in the alley. 1t was Mr..
Crum and Mr.. John Croft. Crum
passed the house and then came dag
onally across the alley to the yard be-
low me. Wilson looked out, blew out
the light and ran out of the house.
Crum fired. Wilson wheeled about
and shot. Here the State closed.
The counsel for the defence made an
appeal to the court and spoke of the
trying nature of their position, that
the prisoner was penniless and stran-
ger they thought there was room for
doubt as to the Identification of the
prisoner as Wilson, and that as most of
the facts testified to only substantiated
a simple assault and at most burglary.
The court RETAINED from a lengthy
discussion of the case, but decided that
| the prisoner was guilty as charged.
10 ooa