Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1899-05-11
BOAT RELEASED.
fhe Case Was Ably Defended on Both
sioes' But Justice Appelgate De-
cidss Against the Association

The Case Was Ably Defended on Both
Sides, But Justice AppeIgate De-
cidss Against the Association.
Under the Rough Gull law, the case of
the seizure and condemnation of the
oyster boat known as the schooner "Edna
NJ. LORE" owned by Captain William
sheliingberg, of Camden, came up before
Justice E. Milford Appellate at the
Mayors office Monday morning, ard
continued all day. The case was a very
hard fought one, and the defendant had a
stenographer to take the testimony,
1t was the Maurice River Cove and
delaware Bay Oyster Association against
capt. Shelfingberg. Ex-Prosecutor VIM.
A. Logue looked after the Captains
| interest, while the Oyster Association
was ably represented by Walter S. Bacon.
| Esq. 1t was case of great interest to the
/ oystermen, and the little police court of
| the Mayor was crowded with men from
the oyster towns in the lower part of the
| county.
| AT 10 O'Clock, the trial started with the
DEFENDANTS lawyer raising a number of
objections as to the right to try the case
in Justices court, but the objections
were over-ruled.
Ihe first witness called, was Captain
Gibson c. Andrews, special officer of the
Maurice River Cove and Delaware Rav
/ oyster Association. He patrols the
grounds in the steam tug "John Patton, !,
ION April 10th, 1899" he said. swe first
sighted the Edna NJ. Lore about one
| O'Clock in the afternoon, on the natural
| beds near the Cohansey. She was dredo-
ing for oysters, and at times we steamed
near enough to see if the oysters were
properly culled and did not think they
We're" On the day following he saw her
/ again and at 1215 p. N. be boarded her
| and took her to Greenwich Piers and
/ tied her up. He saw half deck load of
| shells which were not properly culled.
| Against his will the boat passed out of his
possession, and Captain Shellingberg
ordered the captain of the Lore" ster-
ling, to go into the bay and Gull off. He
took possession of the boat again on the
Eth OF April on Stow Creek flats. After
the seizure of the 18th, information was
then given before a Justice of Peace.
She was released and seized over again
for violation of the law on the 10th inst.
! Mr.. Logue cross-examined the officer
| sharply.
| Samuel Sweeney. the mate of the watch
| boat, gave extended testimony which was
substantially the same as Captain An
| drews'. Sweeney was subjected to a rigid
| ross-examlnation. i
Captain William Il. Weldon, of New
port, was sworn and he testified to seeing
her on the Cohansey beds on the morn
ing of April 10th. She was dredging
He also saw other boats on the beds.
Constable Harry R. Dare was on board
the boat while she was on the Cohansey
beds. He had warrant to arrest She'll
ingburg for interfering with an officer.
Alfred Harris, the captain of the tug |
Patton" used by the Oyster Association,
was called. His evidence related to his |
part as captain. /
The defense opened with LAWYER
Logue quoting a number of cases. and
law, also explaining the Rough Gull act
of '97. Lawyer Bacon went over the
testimony of the morning.
William E. Sterling the captain of the
Edna NJ. Lore was sworn. He testified
to the fact that he did not carry any
oysters away from the Cohansey beds.
Then followed lengthy discourse be-
tween the witness and Counsel for the
Oyster Association, on his various posi-
tions since the opening of the planting
season. He then told of the boarding
and seizure OF the schooner by the special
officer.
James Lee, one of the crew corroborated
the statements of the Captain in general.
Did not catch any oysters off Cohansey
on 10 tn. The boat was headed up the
Say early in the morning for the middle
ground. He said there was about 125
bushels of oysters on board when the
boat was seized on the II tn.
James Carry. captain of the oyster boat T
"E S. Connor" and George S. Mason. of
the "Scora." neither saw the Lore in
the morning of the 10th, Watson saw her
late in the afternoon on the middle
ground.
Captain Elmer Talbot, of the "Grover
Cleveland, was in the Bay, sailed across
the Cohansey beds early in the morning;
did not see the Lore"
Captain James Lodge saw her going up
Ihe Bay at9 O'Clock, and Capt. Thomas
MOTIFS, OF the" Clipper" said up in COM
pany with the Lore at O'Clock.
Several others testify to seeing lore.
going up the Bay in the morning.
The owner of the boat, Capt. Shelling-
berg, was the next witness. He told of
he boat being towed to Greenwich. He
said he gave orders to cast off the lines
md go back to the Bay. The officer had
10 badge or insignia of any kind. He