Smyrna times., 1905-05-03
SESSION Of KEHT'S COURT
GIVES BUSY WEEK At DOVER
NUMBER OF CASES ON THE DOCKET WHICH
HAVE BEEN QUICKLY DISPOSED OF.
Much Interest Centered in the Murder Cases
Which Were Transacted at Dover
and ClaytOn-Many Other Cases.

and ClaytOn-Many Other Cases.
The April term of the Kent county
courts, convened at Dover Monday with
Chief Justice Lore and Associate
Judges Spruance and Boyce on the
bench. James W. Anthony, ofSmyrna,
was appointed foreman of the grand
jury and William E. Smith, of Dover,
was chosen secretary. After swearing
in the foreman, Judge Lore charged
the grand jury in the manner of con-
Quoting its business, with a view of
getting out of the rut of spending
many days in attendance in the courts
on grand jury work and trying the
cases in the grand jury rooms. "GeD-
tlemen," said Mr.. Lore, "you have
only to ascertain a probable cause.
1t is never necessary for you to hear
all the witnesses in a case to decide to
send it to jury in open court. Indeed
tits rarely ever necessary to hear more
than one witness. We trust that the
grand jury will act speedily upon all
the cases and keep the court and petit
juries busy all the time"
John Carter Fails to Appear.
On Tuesday the four cases against
John II. Carter, colored, indicted at
the last term for keeping a gambling
table, gambling and selling liquor
without a license, were called. As
Garter was not in court his bond was
forfeited and capias issued, return
ing forthwith. Carter's surety was
Joshua Parker, colored, who died
about three weeks ago. Unless Car
ter appears the attorney general will
proceed against Parker's estate for the
amount of the surety.
Negro Assailant Escapes Ten Years.
Andrew Bradley, colored, indicted
for assault with felonious intent,
pleaded guilty. His victim was Mrs.
Nina Hill, white woman, residing
near Milford. The court heard the
facts of the case, after which Bradley
was sentenced to 10 years imprison-
ment, fine of $500 and costs of prose-
cution. Chief Juctice Lore admon-
ished Bradley that it was more by
good luck than anything else that he
was not sentenced to 20 years, the re-
cent legislature having extended the
farno of iporrio0npoonk Go, khok oero.oo
from 10 to 20 years, but his case did
not come under the new law.
..s.-s Years and Twenty Lashes For "OOIay."
Twenty lashes at the whipping post
and five years imprisonment was the
sentence imposed upon Wilbur Ridg-
way by the court for robbing the resi-
dence of John S. Barnette, Dover, on
the night of February 2S. Ridgway
claims to be a deaf mute and the
court once more experienced consider
able difficulty in trying a deaf and
dumb man. When it came time to ask
the witnesses questions, Ridgway
could only look at the witnesses and
shake his head. When the opportun-
ity was offered him to address the jury
he simply stared at them and with a
gesture or two sat down. Deputy At
torney General Hastings, who con
Quoted the States case, showed that
Ridgway. who had been asking alma
that day, appeared in a barroom late
that night with paper money which
corresponded with the currency Mr..
Barnette had lost. When arrested he
escaped to Wilmington, but when De-
tective N. FL. Hutchins afterward found
him Ridgeway held up two fingers in
quiringly, which the detective swore
indicated desire on the part eff Ridg-
way to know whether he was being ar
rested for the robbery of Mr.. Barnette's
two dollars.
No Lawyer, But Acquitted.
When John Logan came to face for