Bridgeton pioneer., 1900-10-18

AAANhNSA w oo pAetCCu dllNSl ollOcbs
There were a number of witnesses
who assisted Mr.. Shoemaker in i'm
pressing this story upon the jury,
and a number more, personally ac-
quainted with Mr.. Shoemaker, who
declared him to be a man Of excep-
tionally good character, honest and
upright.
James s. Ware was counsel for Mr..
Shoemaker, and skillfully presented
the case to the Court. On the:other
| side the State was assisted by former
Prosecutor John Acton, of Salem,
who was private counsel for Silver
man. Mr.. Ware in his plea to the
jury expressed his opinion somewhat
vigorously of the attempt to bldcken
and beSmirch the character of rep
utable citizen such as is Mr.. Shoe
maker. He was indignant, too, be-
cause Mr.. Acton was in the case.
How could Mr.. Acton afford to lose
his time to come to Bridgeton in
| little bunco case like this, asked
Mr.. Ware, unless the State was pay
ing him good fat fee.
To this Mr. Acton replied by offer
ing to exchange fees with Mr.. Ware
so far as this case was concerned.
Mr.. Acton was somewhat suppressed
by Mr.. Ware. He thought, he said,
when he came over here that Shoe
lYnp fpfo Iout II
hao changed things around until it
looked for little while as if Silver
man was the defendant, and then
Mr.. Acton himself felt as if he was
being tried for some offense or other.
The Court reserved the charging
of the jury until this morning, and
that was the first matter that at
tracted the attention of the Court.
After the Shoemaker jury retired,
another installment of defendants
were brought before Judge Trenchard
for sentence.
Matt Gordeannia wa the first one
He was sentenced to pay fine of S75
and costs.
George Lennox, charged with keep
ing a disorderly house, was sentenced
to three months in the county jail
and fined $25 with costs.
John Willis, for petit larceny, was
sentenced to the county Jail for for
ty-five days from date of commit
ment. He has served thirty days of
the time already.
The Blot and the Bishop juries
wrestled all night and till the break
OF day with the problem of guilt or
innocence, and thus far have been
unable to agree.
The case of the State aga inst Roy
Oliver was called next and a jury
drawn
Oliver is charged with stealing
watermelons from a farmers patch.
George Harris, of Greenwich, farm
er, said he saw the boy in the patch.
1t was moonlight night and he
started after him. Oliver ran, and
Mr.. Harris ran after him. Oliver
fell by running into fence and was
caught. After being recognized by
the farmer he was released.
Mr.. Harris testified to knowing
Oliver and of being sure it was him.
Then Roy Oliver was placed on the
stand. He said on the morning fol-
lowing the night Mr.. Harris caught
the boys in his patch, while at the
post office at Greenwich he heard he
had been accused of stealing water
melons. He at once went to Harris
and spoke to him about The affair
Oliver called Harris liar when he
accused him of stealing.
Mrs Mary Wheaton. James Mullen,
Mrs. May Horner, Chris Johnson.
Helen Hague and Elmer Opdyke all
testified to having seen Oliver that
night and from the testimony given
Oliver was seen from eight till ten
O'Clock and then VIM. Q. Oliver,
father of the defendant, was sworn
and testified that he was sitting
home when Roy came in at 1915
O'Clock and saw Roy go to bed.
Mrs. VIM. g. Oliver said pTac-
tically the same as Mr.. Oliver.
Wade Bacon was sworn who said he
was in the patch and Roy Oliver was
positively not there.
The case was submitted to the
jury without argument and they
retired.
The j Try came in and gave ver-
dict of not guilty in the case of Paul
! Shoemaker.
The jury of Greenblot came in and
gave verdict of guilty of assault
but not battery after being out since
yesterday morning.
The jury on the case of Roy Oliver
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