The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1911-12-19

Court.
At the Court House on Wednesday wa
tried the Indictment charging Mary Cole
man with murder. The prisoner. col
ored woman, aged twenty years, wa
found guilty. Judge Voorhees, imposed
sentence Of not less than five years an,
not more than ten years in state prison
The defendant was represented by Georg
B. Evans.
In his opening address to the jury, Pros
ecutor Atkinson said he would ask for
second degree verdict and the one rendered
was for manslaughter. The state alleged
that Mary Coleman gave birth to daugh
ter on August 9th. and that while no ON,
was present, she drowned the baby in
commode.
Mary came from Virginia, and she be
came a mother two weeks after she haC
taken up her home with her uncle, Thos
Coleman, of Moorestown.
The most important witness for tn,
state was DR.. George l. McKelway, o.
Moorestown. His recital of the facts tina
came under his observation were mad,
in manner that was interestings
DIR. McKelway was the first physician
to arrive at the house after the crime hat
been discovered. On entering the bee
room he could not get Mary to talk. H,
asked where the child was, but the mother
only pointed to the commode.
why in the world, woman, didn't you
give this baby a chance to liver asked
the doctor. but no reply came from the
woman who spoke not word to the ply
stefan during his visits covering period
Of several days. He summoned Margaret
Fisher, the visiting nurse. who supplied
the attention which Mary needed.
There were no marks on the child's
body and no discolorations. The post
mortem, conducted by DR.. Stroud,
assisted by DR.. McKelway, showed by q
thorough application of the hydrostatic
test. which was fully described, that the
child had been drowned. The facts lead
Ing to this belief were stated by each
physician in the testimony which they
gave at the inquest conducted by Coroner
Leconey, of Delanco, and which was taken
down stenographically by Robert Pea
cock.
On orders received from the cononer,
Undertaken John G. Bolton took the re-
mains to his morgue and prepared them
Tor burial.
DR.. Stroud was called. He said there
was nothing In the case by which cause
of death could be determined. After Civ
ng but little testimony he showed an ap-
parent uneasiness and proved to be an adj
verse witness for the state. Witness said
MS memory failed to serve him. But to
'efresh his memory parts of his testimony
rs given at the inquest were read. Refer
ing to certain paragraphs the Prosecutor
asked:
Didn't you say thatf"
The witness answered quite eyasively,
Ind to other references that were read the
ioctor replied. II don't think did,"
1t was then suggested by the court that
Dr.. Stroud might be used as witness for
he defence, and later he served In that
The state rested.
Mr.. Evans asked the court to direct the
Jury to render a verdict in favor of the
defendant on the ground that the state
had failed to show that the child was born
live, that 1t had been murdered, and that
here was no testimony, except that given
BY DR.. McKelway, that 1t had lived.
Judge Voorhees, said he thought the
question as to whether the child had
ived was one for the jury to decide The
nucus found in its lungs might have
gotten there by its efforts to breath while
lnder water. The motion was denied.
Without making any opening remarks
or the defence, Mr.. Evans called DR..
stroud. The latter stated that the mu-
JUS In the lungs was no evidence that
he child was drowned, neither does 1t
,rove oonclusively that death resulted In
hat manner. Prom my post norton
the child being In perfect
health, / am not able to state the cause of
leath. have no direct proof that the
hild died from drowning"
Mary Coleman, the defendant, was then
worn. She killed her own case by tell
ng conflicting stories about the birth of
Ter child, and other statements which she
made In connection with that event were
ater denied by her aunt. Mrs. Coleman.
Robert Peacock was called and swore to
he correctness of his notes taken at the
inquest.
The facts CLEANED from testimony given
~ DR.. McKelwsy were embraced In n.y.
'othetical question prepared by the Pros
cutor. who next called DR.. r. 81. Parsons,
# Mount Holly. When the question was
cad Mr.. Evans objected.
The court questioned the right Of the
tate to bring in this matter as rebuttal.
t required some argument to settle this
ubject, and the Prosecutor was compelled
o change his questions somewhat. This
'lainly showed that it Is easier to frame
hypothetical questions after studying
hem than to get them up on the spur of
he moment.
On referring to the evidence 1t was
earned that foundation for this ques-
lon had been laid and 1t was admitted.
rom the facts as stated in the question,
10Th DR.. Parsons and DR.. William P. Mel
her declared drowning to have been the
ause of death.
Quality goods at Boyce's.
Tall Cedars Celebrate.
Mount Holly Fnraaf M Toll Nada-a