Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1899-01-12
and stealing.

The first criminal case moved for the
term was the indictment against Chester
Carsten, charged with breaking and en-
tering and stealing.
Carsten is the young man who was last
summer paroled from State Prison. He
was defended by James Boyd Potter.
| The story of the State was told by Mr..
and Mrs. James M. Demaris, of Cedar.
vile. Carsten had been living with his
mother, in Cedarville, in a house adioiu-
ing the Demaris property. On Sunday
afternoon, Sept. llth, Mr.. and Mrs. De-
maris closed their house and went to Sum
day School. Returning, Demaris drove
around to the rear of his house. while
Mrs. Demaris entered the house by
| the front door, and as she went in
| she heard noise at the kitchen door. at
! the same time Demaris saw Carsten run
ming out of the yard, and Jumped the
fence. Demaris followed, and catching
Carsten asked him what he meant sMy
/ God, replied Carsten, was coaxed into
/ 1t. Carsten admitted to Demaris that he
had stolen the money, and gave him a
| dollar. Afterward the defendant gave
Demaris watch as security for the other
money, about $l2 being taken. 1t was
shown that Carsten had entered the De-
maris' house, by taking pane of glass
/ from the kitchen door.
Mr.. Potter declined to cross-examine
Demaris, and offered no testimony in
Carsten's defense, and submitted the case
| without argument.
Carsten was Immediately placed on
trial on a second indictment, the stealing
! from Mrs. Deborah A. Bateman, of
Cedarville. of S32 so in gold. The bur-
| glary occurred Dec. oath. A few DAYS af-
ter Christmas $40 in gold was paid VIM.
Smith, the barber. which he changed.
Before Justice Powell, Carsten had ad.
mitted that he had ,he same amount of
! geld in his possession as was missed by
| Mrs. Bateman. but he had received it
/ from another tuan.
There was no testimony in thedefense.
but Mr.. Potter argued strongly that the
!! State had not established clear case war
rantipg a conviction.
Mr.. Logue felt hat the uncontradicted
testimony of the State established case
against Carsten, and that the logical con-
clusion must be the guilt of the defend
| ant.
While the jury was being charged, the
! jury in the first case returned verdict of
/ guilty.
Ward Hamilton's Case.
James ,sayci Potter, the young LAWYER,
continued to have his own troubles. the
4 court havina assigned him to the defense
of Ward Hamilton. the celebrated colored
burgular. who is under six indictments
4 for burglary.
Hamilton was brought in from the iail
closely guarded by constables, and took
chair by his counsel. The colored gem
tlenan was noticed to have a whispered
consultation with Mr.. Potter, when the
popular young lawyer arose and said,
May it please the court, the defendant
says he prefers to try this case himself.
aud with the courts permission, 1 will
withdraw Mr.. Potter's troubles were
at an end.
Hamilton has developed some beard
since he has been in Jail. When he came
in Court, Hamilton had on light over
neck was white handkerchief
While the jury was being drawn Hamil-
ton assumed d business air which indi-
Gated that he was not a stranger in the
court room. He briskly walked over to
the Prosecutors desk and asked fof
copy of the Indictment which was fur
nished him, together with other papers
in the case.
The first Indictment was for breaking
and entering the store of Herman Tucker,
OF Rosenhayn.
II was shown that fuckers store was
entered upon the night of Nov. 23d, and
some 90 or 60 pennies were taken. The
store, Mr.. Tucker said was entered by
raising window. Tucker heard noise
and the thief ran out of the front window.
Neighbors were alarmed and the tracks
OF the man were followed.
There Hamilton crossed examined
Tucker. He was a cTacker-jack. He
asked questions faster than the witness
could think. He attempted to show that
Tucker was controdicting his own testi-
mony and began a little argument,
which, Judge Hoagland promptly sup
pressed; this led Hamilton to say that he
would like to have IAN ounce of jnstice.
just ray of justice"
you can have all the justice you
want" replied Judge Hoagland.
ut don't seem so," said Hamilton,
Here / am rushed into Court without
being asked whether 1 am ready for
trial."
You must not reflect upon the Court
or jury" sharply returned the Judge.
and Hamilton submitted.
Tuesday Afternoon.
One cannot begin to tell all that was go
ing on in court to-day. Not often do the
habitutes of the court room have such an
experience, as was brought about by
Ward Hamilton, the notorious colored
burglar, conducting his own case.