Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1902-02-06
GRAND JURY
FINISHING WORK
Man Who Refused to Swear
Took Oath Today
Did NOT MEAN CONTEMPT
Court and Jury Show Mercy to SeY-
eral Juvenile Prisoners in
County Court
Did NOT MEAN CONTEMPT

When John Lewis, colored. was cali
ed in General Sessions Court yester-
day to testify against Clara Lewis, his
daughter, who is indicted for the lar
ceny of $3.50 from Benjamin McVey
he refused to allow Deputy Clerk OF
the Peace Janvier to administer the |
oath, whereupon John was committed |
to the workhouse for contempt. I'M
mediately after the opening OF court |
this morning. Chief Justice Lore asked |
that Lewis be brought before the bar.
John, you did not mean to be in |
contempt of court when you refused
to be sworn yesterday" asked the
Chief Justice.
Lewis explained that he meant no
wrong; that he had never been in
court before, and did not understand
what taking an oath meant. All this
was explained TO him, after which he
was sworn, and the case was proceeded
with.
The court fixed next Saturday week
as the time for the hearing in the
case Of the State VS.. the Delaware
Surety Company, relating TO the re-
moval of certain papers from this
State to New York.
, Thomas Wood was sentenced to pay
$50 and costs for selling liquor with
out a license.
Margaret Shields was probated. She
r was convicted of larceny and has
, lserved some time in the workhouse.
, Her health has been bad since she has
been imprisoned.
Elwood Stevenson was sentenced TO
, six months in the workhOuse for steal
{ ing a pair Of trousers. Previous good
s character was proved, and the lashes
were remitted-
y Herman Sloss and David West were
C. put on trial on the charge Of stealing
r, tools from George Fleming's shop.
~ The testimony was strong against
l. the two boys Kloss is a boy under 10
n years old, and in charging the jury the
e Chief Justice told them that they
might in bringing in a verdict recon-
mend the prisoners to the mercy of the
= court because of his age.
y The jury retired and in about three
- minutes returned with a verdict OF
y guilty. with a recommendation &c
K mercy.
,f The lashes in Vests case were re-
= mitted because he pleaded guilty, and
e. KIoss because of his tender years
m Each prisoner was sentenced to nin'
m months imprisonment in the count!
le workhouse.
to The Jury in the case Of Clara Lewi
r. found a verdict of guilty with rec
ommendation for mercy. John Lynn
y, represented the defendant and Attor
at ney-General Ward the State
4 found Inv Tnn lrTHn
ke Jury as follows:
or Lottery policy writing, George Sea
brook. Sarah ]. Anderson and Mar
of Trusty; false pretenses, Harry +
m Stout and Amos Walton.
re- George A. Hayes, charged VIII
ire carrying concealed deadly weapon
he will be tried at the May term.
les The court has issued the court calel
ELL ldar which shows seventy-one cases Il
trial. against thirty-one last year.
According 10 the Interpretation Of q
new wife-beating law by the judges
the Court of General Sessions. it is di
cretionary with the court whether 1t II
~ nose a fine. Imprisonment or lashes or Z
upon the convicted.
Many of the attorneys thought that 4
am law was mandatory SO far as hne al
the imprisonment are concerned. Interpret
ms, ton was made in the case of James
fol- Finley. yesterday, who pleaded guilty
and striking his wife. Mr.. Finley was fin
$50 and costs.
d a I'VE want to say that under the ne
be- statute which we have carefully &C
lng sidered." said Chief Justice Lore, -
ing think this statute gives us the discreet
was of whether we shall impose a fine, or i
prisonment. or both. That is our int
fes- probation of the statute.
'ket These fines, we add, must be paid
lsk- the clerk of the peace until some furtl
ave order is made by the court. The trust'
list Of the workhouse are vested with
he powers heretofore vested in the sher
fes- but until some further arrangement
5ain made the fines must be paid TO the Oh
the of the peace"
- In the past all fines imposed in
,,nN Court of General Sessions were collec
bv the sheriff, but the court has direc
% that all fines imposed at this term
maid To the clerk of the peace, instead
the sheriff, or workhouse trustees.
William Cannon was sentenced to
months imprisonment for stealing
d Gl rel Of gin and several bottles of liql
He also will be whipped with ten lasl
Alonzo Turpin was sentenced TO
for months Imprisonment for larceny
D., o., Charles T. Simmons, who assault
af- John Melarkey, in Bellevue Hotel,
She fined $40 and costs.
was Cornelius Gould will serve six mon
She in the workhouse for stealing a pair
and boots
open Henry Clay Booker, colored. who !
charged i'm the Court of General Sessi
e in with stealing twelve chickens was
to Quilted of the charge The jury &C
said not decide whether any Of the f,
here chicken legs presented 10 them had
and cnt from the twelve fowls alleged 60 h
T. de been stoleu 10y Booker. Attorney-t
eral Ward nolle prosecuted the case