Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1900-05-17
TIE MAY TERM
is ENDED.
Some Sentences This Morning
We're Imposed.
JURORS WILL COME BACK.
The Business of the May Term Was
Wound Up Wednesday and!.
Court Adjourned.
"Wednesday Afternoon.

Wednesday Afternoon.
1t was pretty hard shedding over at
the Court House to-day for Joseph
Emerson, the young man who created
big sensation about here some
month or six weeks ago by shooting
Harry Dare, the constable, and hav-
ing upon his clothes a lot of goods
that were stolen from Bridgeton resi-
dences.
Emerson was the central figure of
court pretty nearly all day. When
court adjourned at one O'Clock, one
of the jurymen, Leonard Brandriff,
had tainted, but he revived and the
case went on in the afternoon.
The jury convicted Emerson of rob-
bing the house of John Minch, and he
was then put upon trial for breaking
and entering the house of Horace
Shosemaker and stealing therefrom
money and articles of jewelry There
was nothing sensational in the evil
dence. The same testimony, very
nearly was given regarding the
arrest of Emerson, his shooting
Constable Dare, and subsequently
the finding of the stolen articles upon
Emersop's person. The goods were
identified by Mr. H. H. Shoemaker
as his, and it was up to Emerson to
explain. He tried it. He told the
same story concerning the Shoemaker
property as he did regarding the
Minch stolen articles. He purchased
them, he alleged, in Newfield, of a.
stranger. Who? He didn't know. He
explained the shooting of Harry Dare
as serious accident, but it was pure
ly accidental nothing more.
1t is not surprising the jury did not
believe this fairy story, but it was
some time before the verdict of guilty
was reached.
Then Emerson had to answer the
Indictment of assault with intent to
kill. DR.. J. r. G. Thompson testi-
fed to the nature of thes,wound re-
ceiyed by Dare. He attended the
Constable and explained just how the
bullet had plowed along the skull.
Then Constable Dare, told in detail
as he had explained twice before, how
the shooting occurred, and Jail War
den Watkins, who was with Dare,
gave corroborating testimony.
Again Emerson went upon the
stand in his own behalf, and again
told the story of how he went into
the barn in North Bridgeton to sleep.
He told of Dare coming there, and
how the two had long conversation
and finally the accidental shooting
which he much regretted. There was
no other testimony and the case went
> to the jury, and for the third time
druing the day Emerson was con-
yicted.
Frank c. Koetz, charged with lar
ceny as bailee, was put upon trial
1t was little story of the defendant
getting $l2 worth of cloth from an
express company, which had been
shipped from Philadelphia, and the
goods did not belong to.Koetz. There
was not much in the story, and the
jury soon rendered a verdict of not
guilty.
Thursday Morning.
Judge Trenchard has made it rule
to dispose of defendants as soon as
they have pleaded guilty,t or are con-.
victed, and this morning, following
out that proposition he imposed sew
eral sentences.
James Jones, the irrepressible boot
black and chimney sweep.was the first
victim. He was warned that another
appearance before the court might be
disastrous, and was then sentenced to
thirty days in jail.
Joseph Emerson will spend the next
ten years in jail. The court had no
compassion upon him. For burglariz-
ing the home of John Minch, Emer-
son was given seven years and three
years were added for attempting to
Kill Harry Dare. Sentence was sus-
pended for the burglary of the home
of H. H. Shoemaker.
Belford Candy, for illegal dredging.
was given a substantial sentence.
Is months in State Prison being i'm
posed.
Prosecutor Fithian then moved the