The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-05


Raft of Divorce Gases Heard by
Judge Kelly.
In Judge Edwards court yesterday,
yohn Ward, "a well-known voIing
scrantonian, was defendant to charge
of larceny by bailec, preferred by B.
S. Wakeman.
In October, 1900 Wakeman borrowed
300 from Ward, for six months, giving
as security u diamond stud, which he
claimed was worth $500. Ward left the
stud in the care of jeweler, and at the
end of the six months took 1t out to
return it to Wakeman, who was ready
70 pay back the loan. When Ward
handed back the stud, Wakeman looked
at 1t critically, and then declared the
stone had been substituted by II smaller
and cheaper one. Ward denied having
done any substitution, ana insisted
further that no one else had. The stone
was. he averred, the identical one that
was in the stud when he received IT,
Wakeman refused to take the stud, and
had Ward arrested.
A jeweler who had repaired the stud
for Wakeman n short time before the
period of the loan. testified that the
stone in the setting then was karat
larger and worth $175 more than the
one the setting now contains.
STONE IS THE SAME.
For the defense. a number of wit
nesses testified to having examined the
stud about the time it came into
Wards possession and that the stone
it then contained is the same it now
contains. Two jewelers. also testified
that the setting could not hold a three
karat diamond, such as Wakeman and
his witnesses claimed was in it when
it was in Wakeman's possession.
Joseph OBrien. attorney for the de-
fense. was satisfied that no comments
on the evidence were needed from him
to acauit his client and submitted the
case without argument John j. Muir
ply, private counsel for the prosecu-
ton made a brief argument, in which
he tried to make the jury see that
while Mr. Ward possibly did not make
Il substitution, as alleged, IL substitu-
tion, nevertheless, was made, and as
il was made while the diamond was in
Wards care Ward was responsible
for it,
A jury in Judge Edwards court ac-
quilted Mrs. Mary Thomas. of Gan
mons hill, West Scranton, of the
charge of selling liquor without a
license, preferred by Robert Wilson.
agent of the Municipal league. Two of
the league detectives swore they
bought liquor at her place, July 6, 1900.
She denied it. Her counsel joseph
O'Brien, as a further defense. showed
that the defendants husband. Thomas
Thomas, was convicted of this same
offense and fined by the mayor in the
early part of 1900, and argued that
even if the jury believed she was SELL
ing after that date. she should be ac-
Quilted as she was selling under CO.
errion from her husband. The jury, it
is said, acquitted her on the latter
ground.
VERDICT NOT GUILTY.
In the case in which Thomas Cole
man, of South Scranton, was charged
by his brother, James, with aggravated
assault and battery, the jury returned
a verdict of not guilty, and divided the
costs.
A plea of guilty was entered by w.
w. Abbott to the charge of embeZZling
$50 from the Painters, Paper Hangers
and Decorators union, of which he was
treasurer. p. NJ Stoff. secretary of the
union, who appeared as prosecutor.
spoke a kind word to the court con-
cerning Abbott, saying he had had Il
lot of sickness in his family and prob
ably used the money for medicines and
doctors. Judge Edwards let him off
with three months in the county Jail.
James Finnegan, bartender at Cor
mans hotel in Carbondale, pied guilty
of aggravated assault and battery on
Patrick S. Mannon. The latter became
obstreperous in the barroom and in
ejecting him, the bartender gave him
shove, which caused him to fall and
break his arm. Sentence was deferred
until a week from Saturday.
Louisa Weaver the Green Ridge
woman, accused OF setting fire to the
house of which she was n tenant to
secure $500 insurance. which she had
on her furniture, was acquitted. before
Judge Newcomb, on the ground of in
sanity. Jail Physician Longstreet and
other Jail attendants supplied the evil
dence of her defective mentality. Judge
Newcomb ordered her sent TO the Hill
side Home.
CALLAHAN ACQUITTED.
James Callahan was acquitted of the
charge of malicious mischief preferred
by Liveryman H. NJ. Snyder, of Car
hondale, but the jury deemed him re-
sponslble for the breaking OF the car
riage and directed him to pay the
costs.
A plea of guilty was entered by
Tedeasamo Martino, of Old Forge,
charged by his mother-in-law with
wife-beatng.
John O'I3rien and John Baskerville,
two Providence youths, We're acquitted
of the charge of aggravated assault
and battery, preferred by John Moran.
Their defense was mistaken identity.
Ralph L. Levy defended them.
Morris L, Benewitz. of South Wash
ington avenue, charged with obtaining
from the Central Pennsylvania Brew
ing company $400 worth of beer OH
credit by falsely representing his as
sets, is on trial before Judge Newcomb.
Felix Gursly, Bernace Lampchank,
Joseph Sibina and John Sibina, four
small boys, charged with stealing cop
per wire from the Scranton Railway
company, offered to plead guilty, yes
terday, but Judge Edwards refused TO