The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-11-18
GENERAL SESSIONS COURT.
A Prisoner Before That Tribunal Yesterday
Afternoon That Wears Stolen
Trousers.

General Sessions Court had three jury
trials yesterday afternoon and five convic.
tions. The first trial was the case of the
State againsI James Smith, colored In
die ed for robbirg the store OF j. c. Cough
of Bear Station on the night OF October
20 OF dozen pairs of shoes and three re.
volvers. The States testimony showed
that a cap and watch charm belonging to
the prisoner had been fOnnd In the store
the day after the robbery. Wiines ses
called by the prisoner endeavored to provo
an alibi which was unsuccessful, however.
The jury retired without charge and In
twenty minutes returned u yer dict OF
gutty.
In sentencing the convicted man to pay
$33 restitution money, serve IL months
imprisonment to be whipped with 20
lashes aud stand one hour in the pillory.
Chief Justice Lore said 1t was the purpose
of the court to make the homes and stores
throughout tho state safe at night from
such men as he and would therefore make
an example Of him. Smith did not worry
because of the severe sentence.
Another trial was that of tho State
against Martin Edward, charged with
carrying d concealed deadly weapon:
James Shields sworo that on the night OF
September 26, az st. Georges, he saw Mar
tin with revolver. This testimony was
corroborated by several other witnesses.
The prisoner offered no testimony, not rs
much us going on the stand IN his own de-
fense. There was no address by Deputy
Attorney General Cooper, nor charge by
the court, and the jury returned verdict
Of guilty without leaving. the box,
The court sentenced Martin to thirty
days imprisonment.
George Draper, colored, stood trial by
another jury upon the charge of larceny
of a coat, pair of trousers, shirt, vest and
hat from David Fisher on September 8.
David told of going to his home Oh that
day and missing his clothes.
"When did you next SEQ the clothes3"
inquired Attorney General White.
''At the station-house the next day. He
had them on. He has my pants on now,.'
was the damaging testimony David Of
fered.
"Stand up Draper said. Mr.. White, the
prisoner responding and showing palr of
light blue trousers Of tho apparent value
of about 81. The court and lawyers laugh.
ed when the prisoner exhibited the trous-
ers and the prisoner himself enjoyed the
situation.
Officer Matthew Ralston testified to
making the arrest ana to q confession by
the prisoner, which was that he. Draper.
had taken tho clothes because Fisher owed
him SO board. Fisher denied that he
owed for his board. The state offered no
further testimony.
Draper went OH the stand and aoknowl-
edged the theft, Offering as his excuse the
statement that Fisher had owed him the
$40.
Sadie Chambers, colored girl, was call
ed by Draper but she fuiled to help his
case. She saw him pack up the clothes
and carry them off. At the time he said
nothing Of Fisher owing for board. No
other testimony was offered. A verdict
of guilty was found and tho priso or scn-
fenced to but ten days imprisonment in
view of the circumstances which the court
regarded us mitigating.
James Riley, who pleaded not guilty on
Tuesday to stealing u coat from James r.
Diehl, changed his plea to guilty.
He told the court the offense was his
first and that he had family depending
upon him which had its effect, tho Chief
Justice imposing the light sentence Of two
months Imprisonment.
The jury in the case of Daniel Green,
who was on trial during the morning for
murderous assault, returned u verdict Of
guilty after one hour anG three quarters
deliberation nnd the court sentenced tho
man to pay fine of $500 to stand one
hour in the pillory and servo three months
imprisonment.
Francis H. Ryan, tho colored man in
dicted for bigamy did not know the nature
of his offense when called upon to plead.
The Court informed Ryan what bigamy
plea of not guilty. Ryan was not repre-
sented by counsel.