Smyrna times., 1899-05-03
KENT COUNTY COURT.
An Active Session in Which Many Cases
are Disposed Of.-Newspaper
Cases Dropped.

The court of this county commenced
It's session the first of last week with a |
crowd really as large as that which was
IN Dover the closing day of the last |
session of the Legislature, when il |
was expected senator would be elec
ted. But for the political bills. the
session would not last longer than
usual, a week or so.
The cases for libel of the State
against Clement Ii. Congdon, Eli NJ. /
Shilling and John II. Butnan, were
continued until Monday.
On motion of Walter II. Hayes of
counsel for Mr. Congdon, Norris S.
Barrett of Philadelphia, was admitted
to assist i'll the case of the State VS..
Clement II. Congdon.
A number of minor cases came ND on
Tuesday, and were disposed Of
Carl Ross was judged not guilty of
stealing a two dollar pig.
August Berger, the aged German,
who assaulted in Dover jail while
awaiting trial, was sentenced to one
month in prison
The case against Jennie Might.
charged with stealing a ring, was
| dropped on account of lack of evi-
dence.
Horace David, near Smyrna, charged
with deserting his wife, was acquitted
| Saturday.
On Wednesday, Alfred Gibbs, col
ored, was charged with murder of
Howard Harper, also colored. Gibbs
pleaded not guilty to the charge of
murder IN the first degree. but pleaded
guilty of manslaughter. -Four witnes
seS ana prisoners were examined.
After statement Of counsel on both
sides and consultation with the court
GlDbs was sentenced to five years i'm
prlsonment and $500.
The three boys near Cheswold. were
convicted Of putting railroad ties on
the railroad near Dupont Station last
winter.
The grand jury returned bills against
Johh Green, cOlored, for carrying con
cealed deadly weapons; George w.
Fowler, larceny; Albert Cubbaoe
colored, also larceny; George Fowler.
failed to answer when called. where
upon his bond was declared forfeited
and capias forthwith issued.
NEWSPAPER SUITS DROPPED.
The State authorities at Dover.
Monday, announced that the suits for
alleged libel brought by United States
Senator kenney and ex-Secretarv of
State John F. Salisbury against
Clement II. Congdon, proprietor of tn e
Wilmington Sim, and of Mr.. Kenney
against Eli VI. Shilling, the city editor
has been dropped and nolle proseuui
entered, as had also the case of Ken
ney against editor Bateman of the
Stafc StItfinci. Mr. Congdon and Mr.
Shilling, with their attorneys, were in
Dover ready to proceed with the case.
The actions grew out of publications
by the S"n in reference to the cOnnec-
tiOn of Senator Kenney and Mr.. Sauls-
bury with the First National Bank OF
Dover scandal.
Monday morning, the case of Frank
w. Downes VS.. the commissioners OF
the town of Smyrna, to recover $40, ,O0l
damages, for injuries alleged to have
been received by driving into NOV
ing machine, at Smyrna, which occu
pied the attention of the court last
Friday and part of Saturday, came tC
an unexpected end, when Edward Ridg
ely, attorney for the commissioners
asked that the jury be Withdrawn, as
the case had been settled. The reques
was granted. One hundred and fifty
dollars and costs were agreed upon il
the settlement.
The libel suit against d. X. Reeder
brought by Charles b. Butler, wai
nOlle pressed.