The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1904-07-16
FORTY-NINE YEARS.
Negro Assailants of Mrs. Bid
die Convicted.
WERE GIVEN The EXTREME PENALTY
Military Guard Seat From sea Girt
Camp TO Prevent Any Mob ViO-
Ience - sheriff Feared
nm Attack.


an Attack.
MOUNT HOLLY, n. j., July 1G.-
Guarded by Company A of the New
Jersey militia to prevent attempts at
lynching, the three negroes, Aaron
Timbers, Jonas Sims and William Aus
tin, who confessed to attacking, rob
bling and i'll treating Mrs. Elsie Biddlc
Of Burlington, were brought here by
special train from Camden.
They were taken to the courthouse,
where Judge Gaskill sentenced them to
forty-nine years each in the state pris
on.
When the negroes were brought be
fore the court Judge Gaskill appointed
counsel to defend the men, \ brief
consultation was held between counsel
and the three men. and it was an
bounced that they would plead guilty
Judge Gaskill accepted the plea and
in pronouncing sentence said:
THE sentence of the court is that for
the charge of assault, to which you
have just pleaded guilty, each of you
he confined in the state prison mt hard
labor for the term of fifteen years, up
on the charge of robbery fifteen years
upon the charge of assault with in
tent to kill an officer twelve years and
upon the charge of robhing the house
Of William Suealler seven years, max
ing Il total of forty-ninc years.
This is the maximum penalty under
the law. including the penalties for the
several crimes of which the men were
guilty.
In Camden the prisoners appeared TO
De much frightened when they saw
lie crowd of persons anxious to get a
look at them. The soldiers and the po-
lice had little to do. however, as there
was no demonstration. The prisoners
were handcufTcd to detectives
After leaving Mount Holly court
house the culprits We're hurried to the
Trenton prison.
The sheriff of Burlington county tele-
phoned 10 Governor Murphy ~ the
state camp at Sea Grit explaining that
The people of this place and vicinity
we're still in an angry mood and ask
ing that troops he sent to Camden
where the sheriff was TO take over the
prisoners from the Pennsylvania au-
thorities. The sheriff said he feared
that there would be a violent demon
stration should the prisoners be unac-
companied by troops
l.. .,Il That tho nrisnn-
ers had already been indicted, and it
was understood that they were ready
to plead guilty, so that the trial would
take but little time The troops. he
said. could act as escort to the state
prison after conviction.
Governor Murphy held hurried CON
sultation with Colonel Collins. Adju-
ant General Breinnall and Major
Frank Gulkyson. and then the entire
party drove to the quarters of Briga-
ller General Gilmore A further con
! sultation was held and it was decided
to comply with the request Of the sher-
In and send a company Of soldiers to
Camden. where the start for Mount
Holly would be made.
Shortly after the orders had been Is
sued to the company commander an
orderly from Captain Mccullough APP
peared before General Gilmore and
stated that his captain has asked for
blank cartridges besides ball ammuni-
/ ton. General Gilmore looked nard at
/ the orderly and said:
"Tcll your captain TO use hayonets on
any mob ne may encounter as long as
possible. When cold steel does not
avail he IS ta shoot bali cartridges.
| There is to be no blank cartridge bust
ness in this little maneuver"