Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1903-01-22

opened this morning promptly. Pros
ecutor Fithian is making good head
way with the work and will finish the
term by Tuesday or Wednesday of
next week.
Harry Harris, colored fellow,
who had plead guilty to abusing
livery rig, was sentenced to pay fine
OF $25 and stand committed till fine
was paid.
Jacob Schwartz, indicted for illegal
sale of liquor. entered plea of not
guilty to the charge
The jury ON the forgery case of Pas
quale Matera and Carmine Mersa re-
turned verdict of guilty on all three
indictments The jury came in about
half past seven last night.
The second forgery case which was
opened yesterday afternoon just be-
fore adjournment was continued this
morning.
John Greene, who has plead guilty
to being one of the gang of forgers,
was put on the stand He said that
he was at Minotola when the defend
ant in the case before the Court-Pas-
quale Mignonia-came up to him.
After some talk the two went to
Landisville post office, where Mig
nonia stole three letters out of a box
in which the mail had been placed.
Tn la&k
Mignonia told witness that if he
would forge the name on the back of
them and get them cashed at Vine
land, he would divide the money with
him. The two went to Vineland but
Mignonia would not go into the bank
Witness got the money from the bank
and after receiving his half took the
train, went to Philadelphia and
bought suit Of clothing.
John Maestrandrea, another of the
forgers, told of being with Mignonia
in Philadelphia when one of the
forged checks was cashed. He also
said that Mignonia had told him of
having $l4 SO check cashed at Vine
land
Paqsuali Matera and Carmine Mersa,
two of the already convicted forgers,
testified that they heard Mignoaia,
the defendant, say, while in the Vine
land lookup, that he had forged some
checks.
The defendant claimed that he was
not guilty of forgery at all but that
the other boys had gotten him into
the trouble by telling things about
him that. were not true. Lawyer Her
bert Bartlett, of Vineland, defended
Mignonia
There are several more indictments
for forgery to be tried and the entire
day will be taken up in disposing of
them.
From Daily Fioneel. Friday, Jan 49,
There was some pretty tall lying
by the different defendants in the
forgery cases in Court yesterday while
on the witness stand The one, for
instance, would tell tale duplicating
the other, who in turn wonld deny
the testimony of the other in toto, and
endeavor to place the crime ON one
of the others.
Pasquale Mignonia, one of the Ital-
ians indicted for forgery, when placed
on the stand denied that he had
forged check and bad it cashed in
Philadelphia, as testified to by John
Maestrandrea for the State, but that
instead it was Maestrandrea who had
the check cashed Witness said he
was born in Italy, that his present
home was at Minotola and that he was
one of the strikers of the Minotola
Glassworks.
On cross-examination by the Prosce-
utor Mignonia admitted having forged
check upon previous time, but the
witness said that it had been settled
for. Witness also admitted having
been in the House of Correction in
Philadelphia, for having taken money
from his mother
The teller of the Philadelphia bank
where the check was passed, was a
witness for the defendant. Witness
was positive that the man who had
the check cashed at his bank was not
Mignonia. He thought the party re-
sembled Maestrandrea.
The case went to the jury just be-
fore the noon recess a5 12 80 o'clock.
Afternoon Session.
Immediately after -convening of /
Court, Ethel Stewart was called to
answer to an Indictment for conspir-
ing with Arnot Waddington to extort
money from Mr.. Clayton MCPHERSON.
Lawyer Samuel Iredell appeared as
her counsel and entered plea of non
vult.
Arnot Waddington, who had previ- |
o-nIx~ .~lo,I x.1A a-s1A. AZ.