The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-07-14
Court

se Not In long time has there been sue
at an affecting scene in court as was witness
lie ed on Thursday. The principals in thi
Is drama were Hugh and Isabella Gordon
If of Medford, and their six children, fror
whom they were separated, with the ex
# ception of the nursing baby.
}. Prosecutor Atkinson said he had mat
Y ter of Importance in which he was no
directly interested, but which would b.
8 heard at the pleasure of the court. Tit
i. Prosecutor called attention to family
t group sitting in the prisoners dock, they
4 being Gordon and his wife and children
t The New Jersey Children's Home Society
had petitioned the court for possession OF
the children, the allegation being that the
parents were unfit to have charge of them,
as they get drunk at every opportunity.
{ At one time one of the children was found
said that the little ones have been almost
totally neglected, and at times their con-
dition was deplorable. The father and
mother are being confined in Jail for the
grand jury, because of fight at their
home about month ago. when the baby
was struck with beer glass in the hands
of the father, which was hurled at his
wife. The society had tried to obtain pos
session of the children when the family
lived at Millville and Glassboro.
V. Claude Palmer, who represented the
family, said he took issue against all the
allegations in the petition, excepting
that the parents were court prisoners.
He did not. however, offer any proof or
contest the matter seriously.
Judge Horner issued an order commit
ting to the care of the State Children's
Home Society the following children:
Ethel, Hugh Mckinley, Margaret and
Katherine. Lizzieis the most unfortunate
of all, she being feeble-minded, and she
will be sent to the home for such persons
at Vineland. 1t is said that she was
thrown into fits and practically lost her
intellect by fright, caused by the brutal
ity of the father against her mother. The
infant child was left with it's mother.
Because of the scene which followed
their leave taking business Of the court
had to be suspended, and there were other
moistened eyes than those of the little ones
as they Rugged and kissed their parents
and babe them good-by. The loving
affection displayed by the little ones for
their parents was very touching. The
children were crying bitterly as they we're
led from the Court room by Rev. j. III.
Brewer, representative of the society,
who took them away. Their sobbing at
tracted crowd in front of the Court
house, but this was somewhat subdued
when Detective Parker gave each one a
nickel. This brought smile to their
faces and they went off apparently happy.
Somebody got rag doll baby for Lizzie
and this Strengthened her out. although
she seemed to be more affected than any of
her brother and sisters.
Sentence was suspended on Winfield
Thomas, of Masonville, whose incompat-
Utility of temper had caused great deal
of domestic trouble with his wife, from
whom he has now been separated, and
ordered to keep away from her. Thomas
is of a nervous disposition. He recently
went to an asylum but failed to remain
there. In the breaking up of their home,
Constable Charles Gilbert will look after
the interest of the wife, who appeared as
willing party to the separation.
Harvey Still, colored, of Mount Holly,
was brought up for sentence. He pleaded
guilty to robbing the residence of Mrs.
Theodore Fl. Rsdon,. on High street.
Judge Horner. In addressing the prisoner,
said: You are here on very serious Of
fence, because you have been trusted by
these people. If you had not been APP
pretended you would have gone on in
your career of crime. There is a we'll
founded suspicion that you were aided in
this burglary, but you have denied that.
The sentence of this court will be a
punishment which you must regulate.
You will be your own keeper. and can
make your punishment light or severe l
hope this will be lesson to you and your
associates. l hope that when you do
secure your liberty you will return to
Mount Holly and become an honest man.
The prisoner was sentenced to the
Reformatory at Railway.
Spencer G. Barnes, of Camden, is the
young man who had a loaded revolver in
his possession when arrested on freight
car, and who got out of Jail after his con-
finement
Prosecutor Atkinson said he had writ
ten letter to the ship-building firm at
Camden, and to the defendants brother
but that neither had been answered. He
did receive a letter from Probation Officer
White, of Camden. This was handed to
the court, who could find nothing en-
couraging In it.
Barnes" said the Court, IT have
thoroughly investigated your case, and
your trouble in life is that you have no
stability. The Probation officer of Cam
den did everything he could for you, even
to hunting employment for you. Your
disposition is TO be a sporty boy At
home you wanted to run the house and
would come in at any hour of the night.
You showed no disposition to accept the
employment which your brother-in-law
obtained for you. When arrested you
carried revolver. The authorities were
lenient with you after you were in prison,
and you made an effort to break jail
You need discipline. will sentence you
to the Reformatory, where you will be
taught the essentials of manhood, which
will be beneficial to you in after life"
John Alloway, of Vincentown, having
been adjudged guilty by the court after
trial for burglary, came up for sentence.
The defendant was represented by Law
yer Davis, who made plea for clemency.
He said that drink had been the downfall
of Alloway, and thought he should be
given a chance to reform His former
employer was willing to take him back.
After consulting with relatives, counsel
was of the opinion that Alloway was not
morally responsible The ends of justice
might be met by suspension of sentence
and the administration of words of warn
ing. Mr.. Davis had some doubts about
the guilt of Alloway He was not his
counsel at the trial, but he heard the tes-
timony. To his mind 1t established an
alihi for the prisoner.
II want to be the last man to sentence
AllowaY if he is not guilty" said Judge