Milford chronicle., 1905-05-05
Kent County Court.

week, several trials Of interest to the
lower part Of the county, were acted
upon.
The free fight that took place about
one year ago between George w. Hig-
mutt, Alfred Hignutt and George S.
Hignutt, and Sherry Masten, GOldey
Isaacs and Asbury Johnson, on the
public road leading from Benefits
Pier to Milford, was tried and the jury
brought in a verdict acquitting George
w. Hlgnutt, the father, and Alfred F.
Hignutt, the elder son, and cOAvicting
Of assault and battery George d. Hig.
mutt, the younger son. The jury con-
sideTed that the acts Of the elder Hig-
mutt and his son Alfred, were justifia-
bic, but that the act committed by
George D Hignutt in stabbiEg Sherry
Masten in the back was criminal. Mas.
ten was ordered to strip in court and
he showed the ugly vertical scar from
which he suffered for eight weeks.
A jury was empanelled to ascertain
what became of twenty-one gallons of
fine brandy belonging to distiller Job
Kemp Of Harrington, or more directly,
to decide whether or not Thomas WOot-
ers, big farmer, took it or any part of
it. Two gallons Of the brandy, valued
at So, were found in the possession of
WoOters, but evidence was produced to |
show that the caTetakers had been fra |
ternizing with Wooters on the night Of
the alleged robbery and that both had |
sampled the brandy so frequently that
they could scarcely account for subse-
quent happenings. Wooters was con.
victed and sentenced to one year in
prison and twenty lashes.
In the Court Of Oyer and Terminer
the jury in the case Of Ollie Paige, in
dicted at the present term of court for
the murder of Martha Rochester, col
ored, near Dover, on the night Of No
vember 9th last after being out all night
returned early Saturday morning with
a verdict Of "murder in the second de-
gree" He was sentenced to pay $1,000
fine and be imprisoned for life.
After hearing evidence in the deser-
tiOH case of Thomas Fountain VS.. La
Yinia Fountain, both Of Harrington,
the court ordered Fountain to pay his
wife $40 a menth.
On Monday last Elmer I. Abbott, in.
iieted for embezzlement as bailee, the
Indictment alleging that he appropri-
ated certain money collected by him
'Or phosphate, the property of George
F. Pierce Of Milford, was placed on trial, ,
The evidence showed that Elmer /. :
Abbott was not regular agent Of the
Pierce Phosphate Co., but that his 7
,rother, James M. Abbott, was The
after had asked the assistance of Elmer
/. Abbott in the delivery of the goods :
md the collection Of the funds. The case :
n question was the selling Of several =
luahels Of phosphate to John LOatman,
cOlored man, residing near Cheswold.
n which LOstman gave his note for :
he amount $3.50, which Elmer I. Alb. =
ott afterwards collected, and which
lis brother, James NJ. Abbott, claims
7as never paid over to him. Elmer 1.
AbbOtt claimed that he did pay his
rother the amount, with other ac- L
cunts which he turned over. The jury G
eturned verdict of guilty and Abbott n
7as sentenced to six months imprisen- CT
lent. n
The case of State vs. Alfred M. Powell, iT
arried over from the October term, at p
'hich Powell was indicted for violating n
ne age Of consent law, was taken up. "
the same evidence was pro- 70
uced at this trial as was produced at al
le trial in October last, when the jury ].
isagreed. Both sides closed their case Ol
nd argument was begun Tuesday
forming. The jury could not agree Al
pom a verdict after being locked up
r two days, and the jury was dis a
laTged. Powell is the husband of the 70
oman who murdered Estelle Albin, h,
r which she is now serving a life sem .r
nee, and the prosecuting witness was ar
le little girl who lived with them. bo
The next case taken up was that of III
dward Brown, colored, charged with 81
ling James Lethran, white man, in
Clayton, by striking him on the head Dl
th a pitchfork. The case is pending. DO
ST.