The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-02-06

Because of the interruption to the
quarter sessions term, BY reason of
Judge +. w. Gunster's death, the cases
set down for trial Wednesday. Thurs
day, Friday and Saturday Of last week
have been attached to this weeks list
and an effort is being made by the
court to dispose of both lists in one
week. Wednesdays cases were placed
at the end of Yesterdays list; Thurs
days cases will follow today's list; Fri
days cases will be at the foot of to-
morrow's list and the surety cases for
both weeks will be heard next Satur-
day.
Judge Edwards is presiding in the
main court room and Judge Harold Nc
CIure in court room No. =. Judge Ed
wards informed the Jurors yesterday
morning of the purpose of the court to
clear uD both weeks lists, If possible.
before next Saturday, and asked them
To lend their cooperation. District At
toincy Jones and Assistant District
Attorney Thomas hurried the business
along as RAPIDLY as they consistently
could and the other attorneys, taking
the cue from the commemorative rep
resentatives. shortened their speeches
and made their examina,i lions as brief
as possible.
The plea of guilty by the burglars
reported at length in another column.
was welcomed as "a big relief to the
congestion. The non-appearance of
several prosecutors in trivial cases per-
mitted of their being summarily dis
posed of and this further encouraged
the court in its big undertaking.
CASES TRIED.
Half dozen cases were disposed of
by trial. In the main court room, be-
fore Judge Edwards. Attorneys j. j.
O'Malley and J. T.. Watkins convinced
a jury that William Thomas. Blakely
miner at the Sturges colllery. was not
hit in the head with sprag by two
driver boys. William Lynott and George
Taylor. and then robbed of his watch,
but that Thomas collided with a live
trolley wire in the gangway, was rem
dered unconscious and lost his watch
in the dark. The fact that Taylor had
confessed to Foreman Smith that Ly-
nett committed the deed. as described
in the information, had 10 weight with
the jury.
Sam Smith, the colorsl base ball
player, was on ,"ial at aii)urning time
In the main court room N the charge
of stealing a bicycle belonging to
David Fuhrman. The wheel was stolen
year ago from in front of the Ex-
celsior club hoflse on Washington ave-
nue.. Detective Moir found it in Smiths
possession six months later. 1t had
been enamel!ed new color and the
number and name filed off, but Mr..
thurman readily identified ii despite
all this.
Smith said he got it in a trade from
man named Williams, living in Hyde
Park. He knew Williams, but could
not tell where he lived or worked. AS
there is more than one man named
Williams living in Hyde Park the police
thought it best not to accept Smiths
story, and after giving him a week to
find Mr.. Williams, of Hyde Park, took
Smith into custody. Attorneys II. p.
Duffy and NJ. j. Ruddy represented the
defendant
.cc,,-,,, ,,,r .o,,,
jury from court room NO. was
ou' at auJourhlis TIME on the case or
charseu win assault ana battery on
i'e'' oosepii SiihoN, pastor OF the
syrian .athollc church on darheld ave-
nue.
rather simon charges that on Octo-
per ~ 1888 the delehuant raised dis
tur"ahce at iuherai Where ne was
lated with him the defendant hit h,rn
and pulled his whiskers. The defend.
ant saws this is all wrong and that it
was Father Simon who assaulted him.
Hon. NJ. l.. Mcdonald and Attorney T.
u. Hoban appeared for the prosecution,
and Attorney =. f. Loughran for the
defense.
John Petritus and Joseph Setholosky
We're found guilty of assault and bat
| terry on Michael Smith, of Providence.
| before Judge Mcclure.
In the case of Barnet Kobatznick.
charged by Louis Trachlenberg with
! assault and battery, verdict of not
on the defaulting prosecutor.