Evening journal., 1900-11-06

& room call for an officer. lie saw ser
n son enter the room and strike Welch
d twice over the head with his cluD
4 while he was sitting in chair. He
did not see Welch attempt to strike
Serson He contradicted Mr.. Pyle by
saving that the agreement made in the
morning was to the effect that chal-
lenger from one party should not be
allowed in the room unless one from
the opposite party was permitted to
enter. After Welch came in, Jones
was at liberty to enter, had he chosen
to do so.
FOR THE DEFENSE.
Thomas Hennis. Republican assis-
tant registrar, said that when Welch
came in the room that he, (Hennis,)
remarked that Welch had no more
right there than Jones. He did not ad-
dress the remark particularly to Welch
but said it loud enough for everyone
in the place TO hear it. He said that
he had told Jones to call Officer Ser
son, which he did, Serson came to the
window and he, CHennis) told him
that he wanted Welch taken out. He
saw Serson when he came in the room
and heard him tell Welch that he
would go out when he got ready. lie
saw Serson place his hand upon Welch
and saw the latter arise from his chair
and strike the officer in the face. The
men then clinched, but he did not see
Serson hit Welch with his club. He
stated emphatically that Jones sum
uloned Serson at his request.
Frank Jones testified that he had
called to Weleh to come out OF the
room as he had no right in there ano
that Welsh in teply had cursed him
He said that he had called Officer Ser
son at the suggestion of Hennis. He
saw Serson 90 to the window anC
heard Hennis tell him he wanted
Welch out OF there. He did not heal
either Pyle or Dugan make any obJec
ton to his request. He also saw Welcl
arise from his chair and strike Sersol
in the face. He did not see the otficei
hit Welch with his club. He noticed
bruise on Serson's forehead, whici
the officer said was the result OF
blow delivered by Welch.
Officer Serson testified to having
been called by Jones and to havinl
been requested by Hennis to TAX
Welch out of the room. He said whel
he went in he asked WEIGH to leav
and that he refused. Welch then go
up from his chair and struck him il
; the face. He thereupon hit Welch OF
the rim Of his hat with his elur
knocking the hat off. He then ellnch
ed with Welch and both fell in IN
corner, he on top. Welch said II n
would let him up he would go out. ii
did so and Welch left the room.
That is all there was to it, sal
Officer Serson, as he was about I
leave the witness stand.
wait a moment" remarked Judg
Cochran. THAT is all is it? Don
yor consider that enough?"
Officer Serson made no reply to tn
remark of the court.
A number of other witnesses test
fed to seeing Welch strike the office
in the face before he made an attemI
to use his club.
The defense rested here and tn
prosecution recalled Mr.. Dugan, wn
said that Welch did not strike Sersol
but that the latter struck his hea
against a table while falling. Williai
S. Hilles, representing the defendan
made a lengthy speech urging
clients dismissal claiming that he ha
not overstepped his duty, and had bee
called into the registration room
proper authority. City Solicitor Col
rad, representing the state, said tn
had he known all the facts of the ca
he would have advised that the su
not be brought. Mr.. Conrad said tn
technically there was an assault, b
taking all the facts into considerable
he was convinced that the policems
had sought all reasonable ways so 1
not to overstep his duty. Judge Coo
ran, however, said that the court w
satisfied that Officer Serson had e
ceeded his authority an imposed III
of S25 and costs.
INDICATED BY POLICE COMM
SION.
On October 23, the case
officer Serson was brought to t
attention of the Police Commission,
an affidavit made and sworn to as Il
lows:
To the Board Of Police Commissione
for the City of Wilmington a
State of Delaware.
Gentlemen.
We, the undersigned, Joshua Ply
inspector, ana James a. DuBan, ass
tant registrar, for the Third electi
district of the First Representa-
district, of the city Of Wilmington a
State of Delaware. do hereby ent
complaint against Robert Serson, he
by charging him with entering
room where we. the said yegistrati
officers were in the lawful dischal
of our duties as said officers, on
goth inst, without being requested
any of the registration officers, so
enter the said room, and removi
from the said room one John p. We
by force, thereby interfering "
the said registration officers in
discharge of our lawful duties.
Respectfully yours.
~ JOSHUA PYLE,
Inspector
JAMES A. DuaAN,
Assistant Registra
Sworn and subscribed before