The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1901-05-25
SIXTY .LASHES
FOR BUTTON
Was Sentenced on but One OF Four
Poison Charges.
ENTERED PLEA OF GUILTY
Got a $4,000 Fine, One Hour in the
Pillory, Sixty Lashes, Four
Years Imprisonment
and The Costs.
ENTERED PLEA OF GUILTY

Five thousand dollars fine, one hour IN
the pillory. sixty lashes, four years I'M
prisonment and the costs i'll the ease was
he sentence imposed yesterday ~ 1hiel
Justice Lore on Ernest button, coiored,
Indicted On the charge of putting rough
on rats''in Il pot of pork and beans ut the
home Of William Ellcgood on Mechanic
street and attempting t. murder VIII
liam Ellcgood, ltacnrl Eflcgcod, his wife.
and Joseph Hopkins, William Gibbs,
anl William Dennis, bonrdors.
they wrra MI taken i'll. Gibbs is still
in The Delaware Hospital under treat
mant
When first araiigncd button had
nlca,led not guilty to the chargcS, ycSter-
lazy, however. his attorney William y.
Smallcy, .Tr, entered 4 plea Of guilty T.
administering poison to William Ellcsood
With uml,crous intent.
The attorney general dropped the other
four eases in which Rachel Ellegood.
Joseph Hopkins William Gibbs William
Dennis were the prosecuting witnesses.
Rachel Eilcgnod, who is buttons
nothor-in-law. WINS placed IN the stand
hy DCppty Attornry-tiencral Richards.
There had been some trouble with but
ton ard She told him if II" did not behave
'lm,S,i hc would have to take his clothes
mi leave. About the time the poison
was administered she had cooked SOME
iork and beans ard il made members Of
he household Sick Did YOU eat amy
IL thn pcrk aud beanS%. asked Mr.. Rich
, ards. Diced | did and like to died on
| The strength Of it," answered the Wit
I ness.
| Mr.. Richards said The State could
prove there had been some difficulty be
tween DHttti AMI others Oh account Of
buttons wife and button remarked to
ono man that there would be II big
change H. that house III The course Of il
week The night before the crime Button
bought rough on rats" from Harry
Stradlcy ut Dr. Michael OStIo's drug
store. The diagnoses of the eases by Dr.
astro and Dr. B;lstian and the analysis
BY DR.. Frank Roop Smith Indicated ar
scllicnl poisoning.
/ Chief Justice Lore IN pronouncng sen
trncc. told lbnttnn that he was lucky
| That he WAS moi on trial for his life. The
court hal no discretion ms to the cor
lpolal punishment ami saw no reason IL
mitigate the sentence.
i ltiltur was entirely composed and az
lparentlN did not realize what the punish.
non would mean 10 him Chief Instic,
Lore III speaking Of the case afterwards
said lr had never imposed II 60 lash nlm.
islment before and he had 10 RECOLLECTION
Iof having ever heard Of its imposition.
/ lie was attorney general in 1869 ana his
memory ms t. sentences GOES back to that
time. After commencing The jury for its
work in general sessions the court dis
charged il until next Monday when Su
nerior Court eases are set for trial Til,
deScrtion case of the State VS.. Russell
was dropped The disposition of Til,
button case closed the General Session.
Court calendar. Chief Justice Lore re
turned thanks TO Attorney General Ware
and Deputy Attorney General Richard,
for the prompt and efficient manner il
which they had transacted the grea
mass Of business unexpectedly piled mo,
hem 1T this term. They had kent IN
court and Jury busy and prevented then
FROM setting there ami simply looking Il
each other.
The cost Of the grand iirv fer III
present term was about S24O: il was o.
duty five davs. The cost of .hc pcti
llr"rs for the seven days they hay
nus far served was about 5000.