Evening journal., 1908-09-24
ACCUSE GIRL OF
DIAMOND THEFT
Julia E. Morrison, New Castle
Miss, on Trial in Court
on Charge
JEWELS VALUED AT $3.50

Julia E. Morrison, a 17-year-old white
girl of New Castle, was placed on trial
in General Sessions Court this morning
on an indictment charging her with the
larceny Of two diamond rings valued at
$3.50 from Mrs. Minnie A. Rennie also
of New Castle by whom Miss Morrison
was employed, on August Z of this year
Miss Morrison is the first white girl to
be similarly accused here for a long
time, and was accompanied in court by
her parents. L. Irving Handy appeared
as counsel for the girl. The court ex-
cused A. e. Goudiss, Of New Castle
from service on the jury because of his
intimate acquaintance with the parties
in the case.
Mrs Rennie, who is daughter OF
John 2. Taylor, a former sheriff of the
county told of having employed the
Morrison girl as a servant. and of hav-
ing missed her diamond rings from a
dining room table in the Rennie home
at New Castle on the morning of Au-
gust while Miss Morrison was in the
house. The witness said Miss Morrison
had denied taking the rings and after
being accused left the house
In cross-examining Mrs Rennie. Mr..
Handy brought out that four persons
besides Mrs. Rennie and the Morrison
girl, were in the house at the time the
rings were missed. One of the rings,
Mrs. Rennie said. was her engagement
ring. Mrs Rennie said the Morrison
girl remarked while the search for the
rings was in progress that the rings had
disappeared as many other articles had
previously.
Continuing her testimony, Mrs Rennie
said Miss Morrison had offered TO allow
Mr.. Rennie to search her for the rings
but Mr. Rennie did not do so.
Mr. Rennie swore that he was not at
home at 7 o'clock when Mrs. Rennie lost
her rings Upon his return at Il o'clock
I Mr. Rennie said he accused the girl Of the
/ theft. She denied It and a short time after
I ward ran home Mr.. Rennie said the girl
cried after being accused and had offered
/ TO allow him to search her for the rings.
John f. Taylor father of Mrs. Rennie
/ in whose house she was at the time she
lost her rings. described the location OF
/ the dining room. Mrs Rennie. upon being
recalled later, said the room was SO
situated that no one could have entered
State Detective Harry l. Gilns testified
to arresting Julia after her mother had
threatened TO shoot him. Gillis said he
found the girl in an upstairs room behind
a locked door which he had to force
open. Julia denied that she had taken the
rings.
Denies the Charge.
Julia, in her own defense. denied talxinl
the rings. She said she had not seen them
on the day Mrs. Renie missed them anC
that after Mr.. Renie had accused her OF
taking the gems she offered to allow him
to search her.
Annie Lennox, a 7-year-old girl, who
! also was employed as a servant in the
Taylor house at the time Mrs Rennie
list her rings, was called to the stand
by Mr. Handy. but burst into tears b, e
fore she could testifS. The child was
led from the court room by her father
The trial win be resumed this after
noon.
{. Trial of the charge Of embezzlement
against Benjamin L. Spence. former
city auditor, viii be begun after the
Morrison case is disposed Of
John Smith. who was convicted YES
terdav for the larceny Of wire from
the Delaware and Atlantic Telegraph
and Telephone Company was sentenced
this morning TO one years imprison-
ment. A recommendation Of mercy
by the jury saved Smith from. corporal
punishment.
William A. Thompson, a 20-year-old
white youth, who pleaded guilty to q
charge OF the larceny of iron from the
Wilmington Iron Company, was parol-
ed, c. J. Harrigan going on the young
mans bond. AS it was Thompson's fiisr
oense, the court remarked that it wa.
inclined to give him a chance to re-
form.
David Roach, a colored man, whC
pleaded guilty TO selling liquors al
Townsend without a license was fnet
$50 and costs. 1t was his first offense
Hirst Admits Bisamy Charges.
Two wives faced Frank Hirst a mid
die aged man in court yesterday after
noon. Hirst, who was indicted on a charg
Of blgamy, entered a plea Of guilty bu
sentence was deferred until ]. Frank Bal
for Hirst could present evidence whic
he hopes will mitigate the sentence.
Mrs. Frank Hirst, No. l. testified tina
she left her husband because Of cruelt,
and Miss Elmira Brock wife No. p VIII
appeared on the stand with her child. a
| infant. testified that she had also lei
: Hirst for the same reason The latte
testified that she first met Hirst in Ser
/ tember, 1906. and she was under the i'm
preston that he was an unmarried mar
} She married Hirst in May. 1907. and tn
! ceremony was performed by the Rev +
! A. G. Westerheld.
William A. Thompson, colored. charge
r with larc'Gv pleaded guilty and was ser
fenced to six months imprisonment
John McKinsey, white. charged wit
carrying brass knuokles, pleaded guilt
and was sentenced to twenty days in
prisonment.
Ezekiel Lindsay, colored. charged wit
stealing chickens frem Edward Donohr
at Edge Moor was given six months in
prisonment after he had pleaded guilty.
Jane Smith, colored, was found guilt
3 of the larceny Of clothing. the property {
Susan Saunders. and she was given or
year in the workhouse.
p. A Jury found John Smith and Edwal
4 O'Neal, colored, guilty of the larceny
a mandolin from Elinor Taylor. and II