Bridgeton pioneer., 1907-10-10
BUSINESS
In COURT NOW,
Tu sday Afternoon.

Betchner. He testified that he was
passing down Commerce street about
IL O'Clock when he was attracted by a
crowd blocking up the street. He
noticed that those of the crowd who
were creating a disturbance which
raised the crowd were John Cuff, John
Bunting, Luther Bunting, Bessie
Bunting and Richard Pitts. These
people had been drinking and John
Bunting was drunk. John Bunting.
ne said. struck him, and then he
struck Bunting and Pitts and Luther
Bunting jostled him. He was knocked
down and considerably battered. With
the assistance of William O. Allen, of
Hopewell, he succeeded in srresting
John Bunting.
Allen was sworn and said he saw
Bunting strike Betchner. He himself
was struck in the face by Bessie Runt
ing. with a blow like the kick of a
mule.
Augustus Spitznagle said he saw
John Cuff strike officer Betchner; he
said there was general effort to get
Bunting away from Betchner.
Frank Robinson testified that he
saw the melee. and saw Cuff strike
Betchner.
The defence was, as outlined by Mr..
Iredell, that officer Betohner was over.
Jealous in the performance of his
duty, and inteifered with the rights of
| these people in a manner not alto
gether jusrifisble. These people had
their team or teams standing on Co.
| hansey street. Some one had dropped
some money on the street, and was
lighting matches, and while this was
going on officer Betnhner came along
and ordered them to move out of Co.
hansey street. which they did.
John Bunting was the first witness
called by the defence. He testified
that when officer Betchner told him
to drive out of Cohansey street, he
did SO and after driving his team down
Commerce street he returned to con-
tinue searching for the money which
he had lost when officer Betchner ar
rested him. He. said Betchner hit
him with his club.
Several others of the colored people
testified similarly.
| Luther Smith. a white man, said he
saw Betchner strike Bunting after he
was down; did not see Bunting strike
the officer. Saw no blows struck ex-
cepting the blow struck by Bstchner.
He was five or six yards away.
VIM. Nichols, of Camden, was a
witness OF the scrimmage. He was In
Ohild's store when the thing occurred.
By the time he got across the street
from the store it was all over and he
saw but little of il.
Sarah Emma Cuff, wife of John
Cuff, was the last to testify when the
defence rested and the case went to
the jury.
Prosecutor Fithian moved the case
of the State against Elwood Ford and
jury was put in the box.
Albert MoAllister appeared for the
defendant.
Ford Is charged with assault and
battery on Jacob Dare.
The first witness called was Jacob
Dare, of Millviile, who said he is so
years old. He said that Elwood Ford
resided on his farm he desired him
to move, and when he went to see
Ford on June 1st last about moving
Ford cursed him and struck him In
the face with his hand, and then
struck him twice with hoe, breaking
the roe off the handle, oursed him and
with an oath said "I'll kill you; get
off the place or I'll kill you." The
blows left bruises on him.
James Parks testified that he saw
che attack and saw Ford strike the old
man with the hoe. Mr.. Dare hallooed
sistance.
Miss Mae Dare, daughter of Jacob
Dare, said that she saw the marks of
the hoe on her fathers side and
shoulder.
The defence was first, aggravating
conduct on the part of Mr.. Dare /;
second, an attack by Dare on Ford
which indnoed him to fend Dare off
with the hoe.
Ford was put on the stand and said
he lived on Dares farm on the Mill
Vile pike near the schoolhouse. He
said on the day of the alleged assault
Dare came to where he was hoeing
potatoes for Harry Getsinger. Hs
wanted to know when Ford. the wit
ness. was going TO move. Not being
satisfied with the answer he said Dare
seized his hoe, saying, 1--WE will have
this thing settled now," and snatch
ing the hoe off thu handle threw 1t at
witness as he pulled the hoe of the