Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1899-01-05

in sheer desperation was compelled to
bring suit. For fifteen years Mrs. Shell
don had been an attendant upon funerals,
and in that time had assisted in prepar-
ing eighty-nine persons for burial. She
had heard Mrs. Surran say of her, in the
presence of others, that Mrs. Sheldon was
thief, and had stolen rings from the
dead but where, she did not hear Mrs.
Surran say, the thefts occurred.
Mr.. Sheppard, in his cross-examina-
ton, endeavored to make it appear that
Mrs. Sheldon was quarrelsome, talking
woman and was herself. the cause of the
chickering's among the neighbors.
Mrs. Sarrh Davis, now living in Fair
ton, was at one time neighbor of the
Sheldons and Surrans. Mrs. Davis said
that upon one occasion Mrs. Surran
had dropped in her home and volun-
teered the information that "Mrs. Shell
don was thief, and could call her that
and she wouldn't do anything with me.
Mrs. Surran said she had called her that
and Mrs. Sheldon had never done any-
thing with her," Mrs. Surran also told
Mrs. Davis that Mrs. Sheldon stole things
from funerals.
Mrs. Hannah Buck added weight to
the plaintiffs case by saying Mrs. Surran
had told her in Mrs. Bucks home that
Mrs. Sheldon was thief, and if she
didn't know it she wouldn't have said it.
From the testimony it appeared that
Mrs Surran very frequently called upon
~, l.
volunteered the information that 'old
Phebe Sheldon was thief and she never
went anywhere if she could not make a
dollar or steal one"
Mr. Sheppard endeavored to show that
Mrs. Chamberlain was biased against the
defendant, and had had Mrs. Surran ar
rested upon previous occasions. Mr..
Sheppard intimated by his questions that
Mrs. Chamberlain was not entirely a
proper woman, and Mrs. Surran had cut
her from her visiting list, thus making
Mrs. Chamberlain angry. The E lrt re-
fused to permit the questions answered.
Willis Brodwater had heard Mrs. Sur
ran say of Mrs. Sheldon that she was
thief. Mr. Sheppard endeavored to show
that Brodwater was not properly related
to Mrs. Cham berlain. Mr. Fithian re-
marked, 81 don't see what this has to do
with the case," and Judge Gummere
laconically replied, Neither do To- and
Mr.. Sheppard dropped that aspect of his
examination.
Mrs. Olive Kennels was positive
woman upon the stand, and repeated
language used by Mrs. Surran toward
Mrs. Sheldon. The most damaging SEN
tence was ''Phebe Sheldon is thief and
stole rings off dead peoples fingers
Louisa Christ was a disappointing wit
ness to the plaintiff. she summing up her
testimony by saying that shd knew moth
ing concerning the case, being employed
in factory and not having time to tslk
about the neighbors.
Margaret Carton simply heard Mrs.
Surran say Mrs. Sheldon was thief.
The plaintiffs closed their case, and
Mr.. Sheppard made very brief state.
ment in opening, and called Mrs. Surran
to the stand.
1t was some time before Mr.. Sheppard
could get Mrs. Surran to speak loud
enough to be heard by the jury. In fact
Mrs. Surran must have talk ed a good deal
louder when she was heard across Parker
street to say that Mrs. Sheldon was
thief, than she did this afternoon during
her testimony.
Mrs. Surran positively and without re-
serve denied all the statements alleged to
have been made by her by the witnesses
for the plaintiffs. In fact as far as the testi-
mony of Mrs. Chamberlain and Mrs.
Kennels was concerned, it could not have
been true, for she did not associate with
them for reasons that the could not ex-
plain because the Court would not allow
her to go into details.
Mrs. Surran explained that she did not
do anything of this kind, as she did not
approve OF slandering her neighbors.
She endeavored to show that Mrs. Shell
don was vindictive against her, and in
many instances had endeavored to en-
barrass and annoy her. making re
marks about her; Mrs. Sheldon declaring
that she would get even with Mrs. Sur
ran if it took until the day of her death.
The only other evidence offered by Mr.
Sheppard was that given by Joshua Sur
ran, husband of the defendant. He ecould
only say that he had never heard of his
wife using the language attributed to her,
and knew her to be a woman who would
not slander her neighbors.
Mr.. Sheppard then occupied the time
until adjournment with his argument be-
fore the jury.
Wednesday Morning.
Court convened as usual this morning,
Judge Gummere being promptly upon
the bench, and the opening formalities
were soon dispensed with. The plaif-
tiff's counsel in the slander suit closed its
argument before the jury, which was fol-
lowed by clear, comprehensive charge
upon the part of the Court. The first
charge given by Judge Gummere indi.
Gated him to be man especially we'll