Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1899-10-19

mission closed the case and presented
most effective argument, and impresse
his hearers greatly.
A couple of brass. journals were pre
sented in evidence in the court room. YES
terday afternoon, and laid upon the un
occupied stenographer's table. 1t wa
alleged that these two pieces of brasse
were a part of the machinery of the Cum
berland Nail q Iron Works, and Prose
cutor Fithian, by chain of witnesses
attempted to convince jury that these
brass journals had been deliberately
stolen from the mill by John Daniels, {
young man of this city. The evidence
tended to show that these pieces of brass
which were more or less valuable, had
been taken from lathe in the pudding
mill, of the iron works, one SATURDAY.
night, early in September, the second Of
that month, to be more accurate.
After the Prosecutor had established
the fact that the journals were really the
property of the Iron Works, he estab-
llshed the connection of them with
Daniels by producing George Hughes, a
junk dealer, on Willow street. The Junk
dealer said that Daniels brought the Jour.
nais to him, and sold them for seventy
five cents.
Samuel Iredell represented Daniels.
having been assigned for the purpose nv
the court. He permitted the accused tc
establish his own innocence. His story
was that some time in September he was
back of Tomlin's livery stable and noticed
bundle and upon opening it found these
brass journals wrapped up in a piece of
muslin tied with tarred rope. Daniels
took the brasses to Hughes and sold
them.
To strengthen the defense it was shown
that Daniels could not have been about
the iron works September I'd, he having
been only at the Tumbling Dam and at
home during the night. Witnesses were
produced to establish the alibi.
Henry West was to have been tried this
and when he was called to the
bar, he changed his mind and plead non
vault.
Thursday Afternoon.
This afternoons session of court was
not prolific of great incidents and inter
esting developments. There were but
few criminal cases placed before the
court, and that was soon disposed of, the
jury promptly acquitting John Daniels of
stealing lot of brass from the Cumber-
land Iron Works.
The jury in the alleged illegal oyster
dredging case did not reach verdict un-
Ill last night, after six o'clock. When
the bell in the Court House tower called
Judge Trenchard and the ether court
officers to the building, the Jury was
brought up from the little room, in
which they had been deliberating. The
verdict was announced as guilty, and
Heverin, Reed, and Smell were recon-
mended to the mercy of the court.
Inc verdict was something of SUR
PRISE from the fact that the twelve men
nao Deen Out something like seven hours,
ana IL was hot believed that an agree
menu would oe reached. When the iury
hrst retired it stood six to SIX; Tic. n he.
came to 4, favorable to conviction; then
10 to 2 for conviction, and, finally, an
agreement was reached, with the COM
promise of recommendation of mercy.
Friday Morning.
Bright, beautiful, sunshiny morning,
tle sun beams streaming in the court
room, lighting up the entire interior with
effect. Yet the happy sunlight
was dimmed by the horrible story that
those in the court room were obliged to
listen to.
Over by his counsel, John s. Mitchell,
sat short man, who, from all appear
ances. was some. fifty-five years of age.
1t vas John Rape, and the Grand Jury
had charged him with the enormous
crime of felonious assault upon his own
child, a daughter, seventeen years of age
now young mother, little child hav-
ing come into the world last Spring. Ac-
,ording to the story of the black haired
,hild, her father was the cause of her dis
grace and awful trouble.
The evidence produced by the State
went to show that John Rape, with a
family of four children. lived in Mill
Vile. having moved there from Philadel-
phia, four years ago. Mrs. Rape, mother
of the girl, died six years ago, and little
Rape was keeping house for the
family.
Some time last November, the father is
charged with having committed the
crime, and this first assault was repeated
at least twice.
Friday Afternoon.
Business in the criminal courts was
concluded for this week, this afternoon,
Just as the sun went down. There were
but couple of cases taken up during
this unlucky Friday, the 18th day of the
Rape felonious assault case,
and the clearing from the docket the in
found last May against William
Moore, charged with breaking, entering
and stealing.
The Rape case occupied but little of
the afternoon, the charge of Judge
Trenchard being only necessary after the
session convened. The court laid down
the law, covering the case, and the jury