Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1900-05-17

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room and was cared for by Soncini.
when he received it he put it in a
cupboard and locked it up. When
thirsty member appeared at the club
he would borrow the keys of Soncini
and help himself or have the janitor
hand out bottle. When the club
members received the beer they would
drop a nickle in a box. Soncini had
charge of-the box and paid for the
beer. Ii there was any shortage Sou
clnl was called upon to make it,good.
Soncinl had another story to tell.
1t was very short and pointed. He
admitted that he was janitor of the
club, but he never took any money
out Of the box and never paid for the
club beer.
Samuel Iredell, counsel for the de-
PENDANT, made a strong plea for So
cini and it must have made an i'm
preston for the jury stuck out good
while.
Short but not sweet was the next
case. 1t was the case against Loren
G. Davis, who is charged with steal
ing something like twenty-five loads
OF manure. 1t was something like
this. John Harvey leased farm to
Davis and one of the agreements was
that all the manure made on the place
should be left on the farm. When
Davis gave up the place he sold a lot
OF manure, and the state had witnesses
to prove that they bought manure of
Davis and paid for it.
Davis went upon the stand and de-
clared that there was no written agree
ment to leave the manure upon the
place. On cross examination. how
ever, Davis admitted that he knew it
was the general understanding with
farmers to leave the manure made
upon the place upon the plantation.
The case went to the jury in this
shape and the twelve men agreed that
Davis was guilty.
The jury in the case against Loren
Q. Davis was not out great while
before it decided that he was guilty
as indicted.
Just when the jury in the Soucini
case will reach an agreement, is not
clear Not very soon evidently. The
twelve gentlemen were conducted to
private room yesterday afternoon
about three o'clock for deliberation,
and they are still celebrating. The
argument for and against the convic-
tion among the jurymen continued all
night and is still on. Little birds
who fly about the Court House chirp
out the information that eight of the
jurors favor conviction, while four
are standing out for acquittal. Judge
Trenchard left town yesterday after
noon, and before going directed the
Clerk to take the verdict if one was
reached.
He further said that the Jury
would be kept out until an agree
ment was reached. This may mean
quite a considerable time as some of
the jurors are said to be very de-
termined. Meals are being furnished
the jurors, but the sleeping accom-
modations are not great.
Frank Soncini the italian restau<
ant man, of Vineland, was late Sat
urday afternoon convicted of selling
liqour illegally. The argument was
not reached without long struggle
upon the part of the men who COM
prised the jury
When, Friday afternoon, at three
o'clock, the jury retired, nobody
thought there would be any length
of time elapse before Soncini was con-
victed. 1t seemed to be plain case,
and Judge Trenchard evidently
thought so, for he intimseed that he
would not-.receive any disagreement.
Friday night wore away and Satur-
day morning came and there was no
signs of an agreement. Clerk Betch-
ner was sent for but he declared that
Judge Trenchard had instructed him
that there should be no disagreement.
The struggle among the jurors con-
tinued all day Saturday and it was
nearly six O'Clock before the entire
twelve men concluded that Soncini
had sold liquor illegally.
When. the jury first retired, it is un-
deIStood that the twelve men were
nearly evenly divided between acquit-
tai and guilty. The vote of seven
for conviction and five for not con-
tinued ifor some time. Saturday
morning there were nine for convic-
tion and three upon the opposite side
and later the vote was ten to two.
Then it dropped back to nine to
three and hung for awhile.
Balloting was resumed in the after
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