Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-12-01
J. wssLsr, YnHsox EDLsAsED.



Injuries 10 yaunss q. Stirling.
The police authorities produced the
body of j. Wesley Vernon before the
Superior Court on Tuesday afternoon
pursuant to writ Of habeas corpus
directed to Chief of Police John f.
Dolan. After hearing testimony, the
court decided that Vernon could be re
leased upon a bailbond for 5000.
Although tho writ had been taken
out in the morning, the sheriff's depu-
ties did not get service Oh Chief of
Police Dolon, to whom it was directed,
until about 9 o'clock. To expedite
matters, Mr. Vernon was taken TO the
county Court House by City Court
Officer William Heal. Chief Dolan ar
rived shortly afterwards and made re-
turn. on the writ. Deputy Attorney
General Peter Il. Cooper, Jr., repre-
'sented the State,an William 8. Hillcs,
the defendant. s33.
Y No evidence was heard except that
offered by Mr.. Hilles. Charles w.
Gooding produced a plot of the Repub-
lican press room in which James H.
Stirling had sustained q fracture of
the skull on Friday last, being struck
with wrench thrown by. Mr.. Vernon.
George W.. Vernon, the father Of the
prisoner, told the court that Just after
the accident he heard that boy had
been hurt, and went and saw Wesley
supporting Stirling and leading him
towards hydrant. Tho witness said
that Stirling had worked for the Re-
publican for a year or more, and came
to the Republican office for papers for
the Morning News. The relations be-
tween Wesley and Stirling were
friendly. 7if4; 8.{
John Wesley Vernon, the prisoner,
next took the stand. He said that be-
fore the accident, he was oiling the
engine, getting ready to- start. The
newsboys were annoying him and he
told them to stop. They were within
a pen which divides one portion Of the
press room from the other and keeps the
boys away from the press. The parti-
tion in the front of this pom is about G
feet high and the space to the ceiling
is about BE feet more.
When the boys continued their
racket, Mr.. Vernon said he told them
il they did not stop the noise he would
throw the wrench at them. They did
not stop and he thereupon threw the
wrench Mt the partition, striking il
about two inches from the top. Ac-
oording to Vernon, after the wrench
struck the partition it glanced, strik-
ing Stirling. The defendant said that
he had no intention of hitting Stirling,
and their relations had been pleasant.
Under cross -examination by Mr..
Cooper, the prisoner said that the boys
were making so much noise, he could
not hear what was being said up stairs.
The wrench weighs about half pound,
he said. It struck near the top Of the
partition. Had IL gone little higher
1t might have gone over the top and
struck one Of the boys on the Other
side, a9sfs5,
John Curtis Kirk, who serves papers,
was in the press room at the time OF the
accident. He saw Vernon throw the
wrench but did not see 1t strike Stir
ling. W.
After all the testimony had beer
heard, Mr.. Hilies maintained tba,
mitted TO bail; TINT in the event Of ths
death OF Stirling, the charge against
Vernon could be no more serious thar
nanslaughter. 8
Deputy Attorney General Cooper on
Z ttrBU no ODJbtliOH Ed Dali De1uR allowed
He drew attention to DIR. Howard
Ogle's statement that the Stirling boy
was seriously i'll from the blow on thu
head. w. x, ig,s,s II.
Bail was fxed in the sum Of IS, OOt
and George w. Vernon bacame his SON,
surety. The case is returnable to the
General Sessions Court. II the BIO,
gets well his case will be passed upor
by the, City Court. *,
The cases OF che Huber Manufactur
ing Co., d. b. a., John B. Nelson, D
b. r., and John b. Nelson vs. the Hubel
Manufacturing Co., was continued
until the February term. s.
Sherilf-elect John T.. Taylor appeared
before the court and bondedin the sun
of $50, 900 and pledged himself that h,
would faithfully perform his duties
His sureties are George W. Vernon
w. b. Clerk, Frank Woolley, Republi
cans; John IT, Didkey and Patricl
Fahey, Democrats. Each said no wa
worth $50, 900. Mr.. Taylor win ente
upon his dnties on january Cd. B. A
Groves of Kiamensi may be his ofiic,
deputy. SsR4 -
The court accepted the affidavit o
Coroner J. Thongs Wright, which ha,
been made tos conform with the ccnsti
tutional provision. V His term extend
until January Sd. gGS