The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1910-06-28
Court.

Court.
On Wednesday morning Walter G. Pen.
hollow was placed on trial for an alleged
serious misdemeanor on the person OF
Hattie Aaronson, the crime having taken
place on October 10, 1909. At that time
the defendant was supervising principal
Of the Bordentown high school, the girl
being one of his pupils.
In the selection of a jury prosecutor
Samuel A. Atkinson was assisted bv law.
yers Robert Peacock and Joseph Swain.
The defendant was represented by v.
Claude Palmer, and James M. Davis an.
peared on that side in the jury getting.
After sitting the panel for about an hour
twelve acceptable men were secured as
follows: Warren G.. Lloyd, Cinnaminson;
Harry Schaffer, Medford; John M. HUFF,
Northampton; Thomas Newman, East.
ampton; Andrew Wright, ST., Southamp-
ton; Leonard Denlar. Cinnaminson; Georg
q. DAYS.. New Hanover; Theodore B.
Martin, Beverly city; Joseph H. Ashead,
Mount Laurel; Raymond L. Haines, Gin
naminson; William R. Henry, Southamp-
ton. and Henry R. Walton, Chester.
When Penhollow was first tried for this
offense he was found guilty of indecent
assault. AS it was shown that the jury
had been tempered with, the verdict was
set aside and new trial granted. By
reason of the jury not having passed on
the first three counts charged against the
defendant. they were eliminated on motion
of counsel, the amended indictment
charging indecent assault only.
The first action taken by Mr.. Palmer.
ON Wednesday. was to ask the courts per-
mission to withdraw his clients plea In
order to make motion to quash the in
dictment. In stating his reasons Mr.. Pal
mer said: II base my motion on the
ground that there is no such crime as in
decent assault recognized by the statutes
OF this state, and also because In the de-
scriptive part of the Indictment 1t charges
assault and battery"
The motion was refused and an excep-
ton granted.
John W. Harris, of Mount Holly.
deputy county clerk, was the first witness.
he was called upon to identify a map
which showed the position of the princi-
pals office on the second floor of the
building, In which the crime is said to
hsye taken place. To enter this room
1t was necessary to pass through a glass
door, by which those on the inside could
be seen.
On cross-examination 1t was shown tn at
Mr. Palmer wanted Harris to make map
of the scene for the defence, but that the
prosecutor would not permit him to do 1t.
All the witnesses for the state had been
ordered to the judges private room, and
those for the defence were sent upstairs,
until they were sent for.
Hattie Aaronson, the complaining wit
ness, was the first to appear from the
lower room. She was much affected on
taking the stand and burst into tears. In
order to lessen her embarrassment she
spoke so low that she could not be heard.
1t became necessary to change the usual
order of things for the benefit of the jury.
Hattie was given a seat on a level and
directly in front of the jury, the steno-
grapher also came down off his perch, and
Judge Horner spent much of the morning
session Immediately in the rear of the
jury. Even then it became necessary at
times for the stenographer or Judge to
repeat her testimony. Hattie's voice
strengthened, however, after all the
nauseating details had been related.
Declaring that she was 16 years old last
February, Hattie said that Penhollow's
object in calling her to his office was to
kiss, embrace and assault her, and not to
demonstrate against her familiarity with
William McKeag. a base ball player and
married man.
Because of the extreme hot weather the
usual court formality was dispensed with
during the afternoon session, and a mum.
Der of the jurors removed their coats.
During Hattie's cross examination she
admitted that she did not repel Penhollow
In his actions, but remained passive
throughout the entire affair. She also
admitted that week previous to the day
of the alleged attack. the school principal
had a conversation with her relative to
her relations with McKeag. Another adj
mission was the fact that not until Oc-
tober 90 did she speak of the occurrence.
Mrs. Mary Aaronson, the mother, first
learned of the misconduct charged against
Penhollow from her daughter at the home
of Mrs. Larue.
Clara Larue was the next witness. She
was an operator In the Bordentown Tele
phone Exchange, and on the day 10 ques.
ton had been asked by Edison Aaronson,
Hattie's brother, to telephone to the schoo
to learn why Hattie was detained. Pen
hollow answered her call and said tha
Hattie was on her way home.
Miss Eliza Bloomsbury, the girls teach
er, testified to having purposely retained
note excusing Hattie for lateness, an,
admitted that Penhollow had all but de
handed the note from her. 81 had n
feeling against Penhollow at that time,
the witness said in answer to question
The note was turned over to the presiden
of the Board of Education.
i Some telling points were scored by tn
defence at Thursdays session Of. court, a