Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1905-12-14
4 FINE EVENINGS
ENTERTAINMENT

The mock trial given in Association
Hal! Tuesday eve under the auspices
of the Y. NJ. G. A. proved to be one
of the best evenings sport ever fur.
nished DanVille people. Things moved
rapidly and there was not dull mo.
ment from the opening until the ad.
jourument of Court, no5 moment
when something crisp aud unexpected
did not develop. 1t was an evening OF
happy "hits" and there was not part
of the proceedings that did not reject
upon some one in an exceedingly wit
ty and humorous way. All of which
shows that Colonel A. Y. Newton
who was at the head of the mock trial,
is a gentleman of many talents and
knows how to get up a fine entertain
ment.
The make up of the Court was print
ed in these columns Monday morning
1t was shortly after 8 O'Clock when
the Court. consisting of W. V. Ogles-
by, Judge 7. &. Vincent, Clerk and
W. NJ. Heddens, Court Crier, filed up
the steps and occupied their places on
the stage, 1t was with real judicial
dignity that His Honor W. V. Oglesby
settled down upon the bench of the
i'm 3rovised bar which had been con-
stIucted during the afternoon. Pro-
thonotary Vincent and Court Crier
Heddens, Of course, were experienced
hands and performed their parts with
dignity and dispatch.
When Court was opened the usual
inquiry as made concerning cases on
the docket. 1t developed thar there
were large number of these, which
were in turn taken up and disposed
of. Three of these which stand as a
sample of all the others, follow here.
Case No. 1865 was that of Common
wealth VS.. W. Y. Oglesby. Mr.. Ogles-
by was charged with 81 oyer-exertion. "
The defendant being the Judge presid.
ing opened the way for some COM
plicatlons, it is true, but the case was
disposed of TO the satisfaction of ev-
erybody including the defendant, who
pleaded guilty aud threw himself on
the mercy of the Court Colonel New
ton made strong plea for clemency,
afa inn hnf hn ret h1
defendant ever committed the offense
of lover -exertion" aud that he would
never "do it again. " The sentence of
the Court was that the defendant be
committed to the Old Ladies Home al
Wilkes Barre at soft labor for the term
of his natural life.
Case No. ITO was that of Common.
wealth VS.. Frank G. Schoch. The
charge was eating all the oysters at a
church supper. Iu this case the attor-
ney declared that the indictment was
defective and moved that it be squash
ed. = The fatal defect, he said lay in
the fact that the term 'oysters" was
used instead of the singular form ''oys-
ter" Who, he significantly asked ever
heard of more than one oyster at a
church supper at Danville? His Hon.
view prevailed. The indictment was
quashed.
n nGf
Rick etts, who was charged with sell
ing undressed kids. A." He pleaded
guilty through his counsel, but the
fact was cited as an extenuating cir
cumstance that he sold undressed
kids" in order that the hands OF the
Dauville public might be better dress
ed" and he went Scott free.
Finally the case of Commonwealth
vs. Ii. NJ. Sober was reached. which
went to trial. The charge was stealing
a rooster. The jurors named in Mon
days issue were called each, how
ever, under the name of State or
National celebrity. The jurors as call
ed to the box were: Grover Cleve-
land. David B. Hill. Chauncey NJ, De-
Pew, Alton B. Parker. John Wana-
maker, Samuel W. Pennypaoker. Ad-
mral George Dewey. J. Piermont
Morgan, General Nelson A. Miles,
Theodore Roosevelt. John L. Sullivan
and Thomas G. Platt.
As customary the jurors when call.
ed were obliged to answer certain
questions before they were permitted
to take seats The questions had ref
erence to the man and his public
career, and were in every case ire
sistibly funny For instance David B.
Hill was asked whether he was a
Democrat, Alton B. Parker, whether
he heard anything drop" Admiral
Dewey whether "his wife knew he
was out" Samuel W Pennypackel
whether he would like to have Sup
RENE Court Judgeship, and so on tC
the end The replies were in keeping
with the questions. Admiral Dewec
stated that his wife did not know ht
was out and that he wished to keel
her in the dark about it. Samuel W
Pennypacker stated that he would tak'
supreme court Judgeship or any
thing else he could get.
The following oath was administer
ed TO the jury: Gentlemen arise
hold up your left hands, You swea
and promise that the verdict you shal
render in this case now pending shal
be according to your own views Oh
the question without regard to thu
testimony of the witnesses. the argu
ments of the counsel or the charge 0
the Court under the pain and penalt
of polygamy. You further promise il
case you are called by the Court t
vocalize you will do SO in long meter
short meter or common meter by moon