Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1902-05-22
Joel F. Pierce's Trial for Ille-
gal Sale OF Liquor.
CONVICTED AS CHARGED.
Detailed Proceedings of the May
Term. Court Takes a Re-
cess for Few Days.
IFrom Daily Pioneer, Thursday May 15.l

LCkom Ldliy IloHeefi IHurSQay, May lfl
Charles Salley was the first witness
sworn yesterday in the case of the
State against Joel F. Pierce, the ex-
Justice of the Peace, indicted for IL
legal sale of liquor. He testified to
getting whiskey in less quantities
than quart and that he had paid Mr..
Pierce for it.
Another witness testified that he
visited the place five and six times a
week and that he had always gotten
something to drink. 1t was whiskey,
and he got it in any quantity he
wanted and paid Mr.. Pierce for it.
Had gotten pint at time and paid
so cents for it,
Harry Brown, the hackman, testi-
fed to getting whiskey of Mr.. Pierce.
Got it by the half pint and paid %
cents for it. On Hallow e'en night
witness said he went to Pieroe's to
get some whiskey and Mr.. Pierce
made him take off his mask before he
would let him have it.
Sheppard Westcott and Harvey
Hand, both testified to similar facts
and the State rested it's case
Mr.. Iredeli then went into consul
tation with his client and later an
noucned that he would put in no de-
tense. The case was submitted with
out argument and after charge from
the Court to the effect that only
verdict of guilty could be reached
under the circumstances in the case,
the jury returned verdict of guilty
as charged without leaving the jury
box.
The next case moved was that of
the State against Samuel Swift, on
indictment No. 2, charging him with
the larceny of a watch, the property
of James Moss, engineer at the Cum
berland Packing Company on Eagle
street.
Mr.. Moss was put on the stand and
told of the stealing of the watch,
which took place last October. 1t was
taken from the pocket of his vest
hanging in the boiler room The
watch was afterwards recovered from
the pawnbroker's exchange of A.
Voldevick, on Commerce street, and
upon information as to who brought
the watch there young Swift was ar
rested.
The defendant side of the story
was that he came into possession of
the watch by trading razor for it,
and that after he found out that the
watch had been stolen he tried to have
it returned to the owner He was ar
rested. secured bail, was afterwards
given into custody, escaped the officer
and went to Philadelphia, returned in
February and was arrested at the
Cumberland glass factory.
The jury retired shortly before three
O'Clock and in half an hour returned
verdict of guilty
George Branch, a young oolored
man, indicted for the larceny of So
from Lewis w. Tomlinson, the coal
dealer, was next placed on trial The
States case briefly told was as fol-
lows:
On Friday, the 10th day of January,
the defendant, went to Mr. Tomlin-
sons store, and after ordering some
cracked corn and wood, spoke of be-
ing very cold, and Mr.. Tomlinson per-
mitted him to stay by the stove to get
warm. While he was sitting there,
Rev. Mr.. Harris came in and paid
bill of So. Mr.. Tomlinson placed the
money in the drawer beneath the desk
where there already was some money.
Mr.. Harris departed and the boy re-
mained at the stove. Some time after
this the young man asked Mr.. Tom
llnson to get him 25 lbs. of bran and
while Mr.. Tomlinson was out in the
feed room getting the bran, the money
was stolen and the young man took
his departure.
Lawyer Iredell looked after the
young man s side of the case, and set
up an alibi for the defendant A
number of witnesses were called to
testify as to the whereabouts of the
defendant on the morning of January
10th, and according to the evidence
ne had not been in the vicinity OF Mr..
Tomlinson' store at all.
Allen Branch, father of the defen-
dant, was one of the witnesses called
Tor the defense, and referred to him
SELF as "the same old Branch, I" when
questioned as to his identity. The