Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1901-01-17

court of the Twentieth century. Thi
leaves five cases to be tried before tn
Wintersteen murder trial is reached
Judge K. K. Little is presiding and As
sociates Thompson and Blee are wit
him on the bench. The court room wa
crowded most of the day, all of the seat
in the ladies' gallery being occupied.
When the court convened Monda
morning Associate Judge Frank q. Bic
occupied his seat on the bench for tn
first time.
All of the Grand Jurors answered t,
their names, except Thomas B. Schuyle
of Limestone township, who was excus
ed. Patrick Kerns was appointed fore
man after which the jury was sworn an(
instructed and retired to consider tn,
criminal cases. Mcclellan Diehl, Johr
K. Krum and George w. Bennett wer,
appointed tipstaves.
The witnesses in the Wintersteen cass
were notified to appear in court on Wed
nesday morning.
During the forenoon petitions were
granted and orders were entered in
several civil cases relating to estates
Several orders were entered confirming
accounting OF the administrators OF
estates, unless exceptions are filed
within four days.
When court convened in the afternoon
one witness was examined in the case
against Peter Roden, charged with as
sault and battery and who is held on a
peace warrant. The Judge held the case
open, without permitting it to go TO the
Grand Jury, and he will render de-
cision later.
During the forenoon the Grand Jury
returned an indictment against Edward
Burke. Clyde keefer and Charles Filling
er, charging the larceny Of stove from
the tool house of the Episcopal cemetery
When a jury was called for the trial OF
the case in the afternoon, the three
boys appeared without counsel. and the
Court appointed c. V. zimmerman, Esq.
to defend them.
After consultation with the boys.
MIR. zimmerman stated that they
were ready to plead guilty to the charge
The Court would not accept the plea,
and ordered the trial continued. The
request for a postponement Of the case
was denied, as was also "a second request
of Mr.. zimmerman to permit the entry
of plea of guilty.
On the trial A. N. zimmerman, Officers
Mincemoyer and Voris and Justice-of
the-Peace Bare were examined for the
prosecution They told of the loss of
The stove, finding it in the possession of
the boys and arrest and hearing of the
defendants, as it was published in this
paper several weeks ago. No witnesses
were sworn for the defense.
The jury soon returned verdict of
guilty and the Court pronounced sent
ence as follows: Burke and Fillinger to
each pay a fine of $50 and undergo inn.
prisonment in the county Jail for four
months, and Keefer to pay $25 and be
imprisoned in the county Jail for one
month.
The Court refused to grant an order to
send TO the Grand Jury the case against
William HonGhton of.Exchange, charged
by David Mitchell with violation Of the
excise law.
The next case called was that against
William Ii. Messer, indicted ON the
charge of larceny. William Oglesby was
appointed by the Court to defend
Messer.
Messer was charged by d. R. Eckman,
with keeping and refusing to give up
goods that were delivered to the house
of the defendant by mistake. The goods
were valued at $7.20.
This case did not 90 the jury until
just before court adjourned, and Judge
Little instructed that sealed verdict be
handed in if decision was reached be.
fore morning.
A nolle prosequi order was entered
dismissing the case against the Super
visors of Mahoning township, charged
with negligence in not keeping road in
repairs.
During the afternoon the Grand Jury
! returned true bill against Wellington
Rote, charged by Mrs. Catherine Brown
with assault and battery.
TUESDAYS SESSION.
Only three cases were tried in county
court Tuesday. Two or three othel
cases have been considered by the Crane
Jury, in which no reports have beer
presented. 1t was the intention to try
all of these cases before the WintersteeI
murder trial, but it is probable tha
some of them will be put over until afte
that case is out Of the way.
The jury in the case of William III
Messer charged with larceny by ID. X
Eckman, handed in verdict of guilt,
when court convened in the morning
The court postponed sentence until lat
er.
The next case tried was that of Well
ington Rote, ch arged by Mrs Catherin
Brown with assault and battery. Tn
trial occupied but little time, and tn
jury returned verdict of not guilty, bu
the defendant to pay the costs.
Thomas |aul was next tried on tn
charge of stealing $50. from John J
Dietrich.
The jury found Saul guilty but recon-
mended him to the mercy of the court
Judge Little said that the recommends
2 ton was considered, and sentenced Sar
to restore the property to the ow ner, t
: pay fine of $500 and undergo imprisor
e ment in the Eastern Penitentiary fc
5 one year.
The next case called was that again