The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-07-28
Court

September 8, was held on Thursday, ant
because of this fact over a dozen prisoner
waived indictment and trial by jury ant
each one entered plea Of guilty.
Milton Beach Clarke, aged 10 years, o
Riyerton, listened to list of fifteen for
geries which he had committed, beinG
checks in amounts ranging from 81 tt
$500 on the Commercial Trust Company
of Philadelphia, the name of his uncle
James Beach, with whom the prisoner
lived, being forged in order to get the
money, the aggregate being 1884 70.
After other prisoners had declared
themselves guilty the case of Clarke was
resumed Prosecutor Atkinson said the
bank would stand to lose the money.
| James Beach was asked If he had any.
thing to say, and the words that fell from
his lips stung the nephew painfully.
''This young man." said the uncle,
a premature grave. He has been in
corrigible all his life. After his mother
died l took him. and up to the present
time he has done nothing but lie, mis-
represent and steal. He deceived me at
every opportunity He took money from
the mail and tore up the letters. Once he
forged check on my sister-in- law. l
think he is the most complete scoundrel
for one of his age that can be found in the
country to-day"
Forgery is very serious crime" re-
marked Judge Homer to the prisoner
1T cannot be accomplished without de-
liberate intent When you sat down to
forge checks you knew that you were
doing wrong. Being young man you
may have future, and am not disposed
to shut the door of hope completely
against you. | am going to give you a
limited opportunity. | am going to send
you to an institution where you will be
under strict discipline for many years. If
obedient, in time you may be paroled.
You are committed to the New Jersey
State Keformatory."
Casper Lippincott, of Burlington, who
stole pair of gold spectacles from Mary
Cain, whose home he had frequently Wis
tied, could not explain his action. The
defendant was somewhat apprehensive, as
he only recently got out of state prison,
where he served two years and six months
for stealing lead pipe. THAT experience
ought to have been enough for any man"
remarked the Judge, who sentenced the
prisoner to another year In the same insti-
tuition.
Henry Haley, of Burlington, stole bas-
kets to the value of $40 from Edward
Rigg, Jr., and after pleading guilty asked
mercy of the court. 'tBut you are not
entitled to any," retorted Judge Horner,
'as you did not improve your opportunity
when former Judge Gaskill suspended
sentence after you were convicted of bur-
glary and highway robbery" Haley was
sentenced to one year in state prison.
The next case was that against Edward
WILDER. On the night of July he COM
mitted an atrocious assault and battery on
Charles Albertson, at New Lisbon.
Prosecutor Atkinson said this was one
of the most atrocious assaults the court
has had for several years, and as
Albertson was not yet out of danger, it
was thought best not to pass sentence,
and the case went over until September.
Joseph Bennett admitted that his wife
once had him arrested in Camden, where
he was confined in the county jail for
her with a revolver Later
on Bennett went to Trenton after a posi-
ton, and on mis- way back he stopped at
Bordentown and asked his wife to return
to him, that he would get his home to-
gether once more and be good citizen
When she refused him he drew revolver
and would have shot his wife had it not
been for his daughter Ada, who wrested
the weapon from him.
Your wife has been to see me-" re-
marked Judge Horner," and from her |
got a history of you. The sentence
of the court is that you serve one year in
state prison.
William Bolden, colored, told of lit
tie trouble he had with Wesley johnson,
at Moorestown, whom he assaulted and
threatened to kill.
''Can you pay finer" asked the court
Eyes, sir, came the reply, coupled with
a broad smile, as though he was getting
off easy, but when the court made the
omOunt 950 ond fo otond ooror,i4tod ,,o+Il
paid, the smile quickly faded at this unex-
pected proposition.
Hugh and Irene Gordon, of Medford,
who had previously pleaded guilty to en-
gaging in drunken affray, which led to
their five children being taken away from
them, were the next to stand up.
Penitent and full of emotion Gordon
the court as follows: "Your
Honor, ask for mercy. because since
being in Jail have suffered something l
shall never forget-the loss of my chill
dren, all of whom l loved That pro-
ceeding touched my heart. l have never
been in court before, and promise you
that after getting out of Jail will never
be here again. Drink has caused my down
Fall, and l want you to understand that
am done with it. When l am permitted
to go back home and take my wife will
keep drink from my house and do every
thing possible to remove it from my sight.
When it robs me of my children am done
with it.
"a pledge from the heart is better than
any other kind you can make" suggested
the court.
Mrs. Gordon acquiesced In the words of
her husband. She said she would like to
have an opportunity to make another start
in this world and be good woman, as
she knew she could by letting drink alone.
81 am not going to sentence you to-
day." said Judge Horner. Il am going
to try to help you. The time that you
have spent in jail has been the best thing
that ever happened to you. Both of you
look much better than when you first ap-
peared here" The court instructed the
sheriff to be quite indulgent with Mrs.
Gordon on account of her infant child.
The case was laid over.
Frank Pagone, an Italian, working on
the Marter farm, near Beverly, admitted
carrying revolver, which was the cause
of his arrest. In explanation the defend
ant said he was foreman of gang of berry