Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1900-03-01
Criminal Courts.

be held in the DEMOCRAT Office.
BY ORDER OF COMMITTEE.
Criminal Courts.
The trial of indictments was begun on
Monday morning before Judge Jessnp.
The first case called was that in which
VIM. and Berthe johnson, colored, were
defendants in a chicken stealing case.
Moses Croft, of South Harrison, was COM
plainant, and testified that he had lot of
chickens stolen on the night of Jan. 25
among them being a blind roost r. He
followed the tracks of wagon from his
home to YORKTOWN, Salem Co., a distance
of about eight miles, where the Johnsons
reside and carry on the poultry business.
He found several of his chickens in box,
among them his blind rooster, which was
the subject of considerable cross-examin-
alton on the part of the defendants coun-
sci, Lawyer ]. Boyd Avis.
The accused denied the charge, but adj
mitted that he had served term in the
State Prison for a similar offense. Rev.
Lawrence Jenerett, pastor of the colored
church at Fenwick, testified on behalf of
the defendant, who, he said, was mem
Der of his church, but on cross examination,
the witness said he could not say that
mans reputation for honesty was good if
he had served term in State Prison.
BERTHE Johnson, who was indicted with
his brother William. was acquitted under
instructions from the Court, the State
having failed to connect him with the
larceny of the chickens.
Charles Gould, formerly Superinten-
dent of Washington Park, and Thomas
Macy, of Gloucester City, were placed on
trial charged by William j. Thompson,
proprietor of the Park, with having broken
aud entered the barn at the park grounds
and stealing large quantity of material
used about the park Starr for State j.
Boyd Avis for defendants. Mr.. Thompson
testified that he visited Philadelphia and
found the stolen property, and was shown
receipt for the goods signed by the de-
fendant, Gould.
The witness further testified that Gould
had taken several horses belonging to him
and appropriated them to his own use.
Frederick c. Winning, superintendent of
the foundry where the stolen property
was disposed of, testified that he bought
the goods of Gould, who was accompanied
by Macy, and had a double team. The
case was continued on Tuesday.
TUESDAY, Feb. 81.
The defendant entered an absolute de-
NAL of the charge, and told story Of hav-
ing been hired by man giving his name
as Andrew Hewick to cart some iron to
Philadelphia, which afterward proved to be
the property stolen from the park. The
defendant said be had hauled iron on one
occasion previously for Hewick, and after
L i. Al -, h. hanIaA
on the last occasion had been stolen from
the park he made several efforts to locate
Hewick, bat without avail. According to
the defendants version of his completely in
the affair, he drove to Camden on the
Ct December 20 at the direction of
Heeick, and found two wagons loaded
with the iron and other material, which
was loaded into his wagon and taken to
Philadelphia and sold.
Mrs. Gould, the wife of the defendant,
testified that on the night of the robbery
her husband was home from shortly after
IL o'clock until half past four iu the morn
ing, when a man summoned him to haul
some iron.
James McConerty, hoy, testified that he
was a companion of Mr.. Gould on the
morning be hauled the iron, and the
stranger for whom they were hauling was
on the team.
Thomas Macy, who was indicted with
Gould, testified that he was home on the
night in question, and did not leave the
house until after O'Clock the following
morning.
The defense also called several promi-
nent citizens of WestYille, who testified to
the good character of the defendant,
Gould. A recess was taken until to-mor-
row morning, when the case will likely go
to the jury.
The case was given to the jury Wednes-
day afternoon, and soon returned verdict
of guilty of receiving stolen goods-the
fifth count III the indictment.
James Carter ,colored, with several aliases,
charged with attempt to rob the Wenonah
post office. withdrew his plea of not guilty,
and entered a plea of non vult
The next case called was that of Sam1
Seeds Mayor of Ziontown, Franklin
ownship, on charge Of stealing 81 chick
ems from Ashton Thomas, an old man who
lives enc mile from Newfeld.
Mr.. Themes testified that 10 pullets and
II fowls were taken from his 9x10 coop
between the hours of p. m and am.
on JdDudIV 20. OUHSbdOlC 11OuuCA
the 10 pulIets in the cellar of John Fl.
Palmer Curry's house three days after.
Mr.. Curry testified that he bought the
fowls Of Seeds about 730 on the night of
Jan 26, for zoe. each-$2 90. Curry's
identification of Seeds, who wears large,
fierce mustacbe. was positive.
Seeds. who gathers umbrella sticks fer
livelihood, in his defense, entered an alibi,
that he was home all night Cd Jan. 25
and in this he was sustained by his wife.
r. M. Henderson testified to the good
character of accused in as far as he had
business dealings with him.
Under instructions If the Court, the
Jury rendered a verdict of not guilty.
Francis Davis conducted the defence.
Our young lawyers-J. Boyd Avis and
Francis Davis-who have conducted the
defense in most of the criminal proceeding
at this term of Court are complimented on
all sides for the ability displayed in hand
ling the cases.