Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1911-09-28
In The Circuit Court.

Court convened Monday morning, and
the criminal docket was taken up. Judges
Urner and Motter presiding. The GRIM
inal docket this term is comparatively
short, and as many of those charged with
the more serious offenses have pleaded
guilty, the trial of the cases on the dock
ct promises to take much less time than
was expected week ago.
Indicted and brought into court to an
swer a charge of gambling and betting
on races at the age of SO, was the fate
of ]. C. Meddinger, who appeared in
court and pleaded guilty to the charge
against him and was fined 5000 and costs.
He was unable to pay, and upon request
of his counsel, VIM. P. Maulsby, was
given 80 days in which to raise the mon
ey.
Lawrence Gray, charged with passing
ing forged check on Victor Kaplon. Of
Brunswick, was taken before the Court
and pleaded guilty. He was at once sem
fenced to three years in the penitentiary.
Charles M. R. L. Mokomes, Russian,
aged "a years, charged with the larceny
of some clothing from porter on Pull
man car, while in the Brunswick yards,
was tried before the Court. The testi-
mony showed that after taking the cloth
ing, the Russian at once put them on and
was wearing them when arrested. He
was given three years in the House of
Correction.
On Saturday afternoon Chas. f. Toms,
living near Hamburg, came into Freder-
lex and gave himself up to the officers.
Toms was indicted by the recent grand
jury, upon the charge of placing poison
in a spring, the water from which was
used by the family of Mrs. Bessie Pat
terson, and also upon the charge of un-
lawfully stabbing cow. Toms heard of
the indictments, and came into the city
before a warrant was served upon him
and gave himself up. He was held in
the sum of $500 bail on each charge for
court, and furnished the necessary bail
and was released.
Twenty years in the Maryland peniten-
tiary was the sentence imposed upon
Hanson Dorsey on Saturday afternoon,
when he pleaded guilty to the charge of
attempting to assault Mrs. Della Ste
phens, residing at the time short dis
lance east of Frederick. The attempted
assault took place on August 18th and a
few days afterward Dorsey was taken
to Baltimore by Sheriff Grimes, who
feared an attempt might be made to
lynch the negro. Wien Sheriff Grimes
returned from Baltimore, to which place
he took Edgar Shawen, who had escaped
from him two days before, he brought
Dorsey along back. The matter was
kept very quiet, only the court, States
Attorney, aud the few persons around
the Jail, knew of Dorsey's presence in
Frederick. He was taken into the judges
chamber on Saturday afternoon, pleaded
guilty and was given 20 years in the pen
itentiary. Sheriff Grimes left at once
with his prisoner. On his way down,
Dorsey remarked to Sheriff Grimes that
he had been given an awfully long term.
Mrs. Stephens is daughter of Mr..
Charles P. Smith of near Thurmont, and
with her husband, is living on Mr.. Geo.
E. Willhide's farm east of town, they
having move here since the experience
with the negro.
A copy of the decree of divorce grant
ed to Margaret Ellen Fitz, from her hus-
band, Levy Fitz, by the Court of Com
mon Pleas, Montgomery county, Ohio,
has been filed for record at the Clerk
office, Frederick. She is also given the
right to resume her maiden name. Mar
garet Ellen Willhide. She is residing
near Thurmont.