Evening journal., 1912-05-01
DAVIS'VICTORY
PLEASES MANY
GOOD FRIENDS
Republicans and Democrats
Join in Behalf Of Prom
inent Sussex Republican
ENTIRE CASE OF STATE
FELL BENEATH EVIDENCE

Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL
DOVER, Del, May l-lhe acquittal
Of Mark l.. Davis, Clerk OF the Peace
of Sussex county, and formerly chair
man of the Sussex County Republican
Committee. of a charge of attempted
bribery has aroused great interest
in the case. which Just has been tried
in the Court of General Sessions in
this county. Many persons seem to
be eager to know upon what grounds
the Attorney-General and his assist
ants based prosecution that fell so
Hat when put to the test of judicial
inquiry.
Chief Justice Ponnewill and Judges
Boyce and Rice heard the case and
the Court decided quickly that Mr.
Davis was wholly guiltless of the
charge made against him.
AttOrney-General Gray and Deputy
Attoney-General Harrington repre-
sented the State. Former Judge Daniel
o. Hastings and James NJ. Satterield
appeared for the defendant.
Chester Marshall was the first ma
tcrial Witness called for the State. He
testified that about four O'Clock in
the afternoon of November 8, 1910, he
heard a conversation between Mr..
Davis and Moses Turner, in which
Davis offered Turner 81 to vote. Mar
shall admitted that it WAS his pur-
pose before Mr.. Davis came up TO in
duce Turner to vote. but stated that
Davis took the matter out Of his
hands The witness also stated that
besides himself, Davis and Turner,
there was also present Jacob C. Will
son. and several others whom he could
not recall Marshall added that the
j conversation was had in front Of the
Masonic Temple in Milford Mar
shall. upon crOss-examination, denied
that he had admitted to Colonel Theo-
dore Townsend that he did not hca.
Davis offer Turner money TO vote Flo
also denied that he had made the sams
admission TO the defendant.
Moses Turner was the next wit
ness produced by the State. He tes
tihej that Mr. Davis had AT no tim
on 7ction day Of 1908. or at an.
othr time. offered or promised hin
money for his vote The witness salt
the defendant did ask him to vote OF
election day. 1908. but that nothini
whatever was said about paying hin
for doing so. The conversation tool
place. he said. in a public place il
Milford and in the presence Of sew
eral persons.
Deputy Attorney-General Harring
ton. claiming TO be surprised by tn
evidence given by Turner. asked leav
Of the court TO cross-examine the. wit
ness That leave was granted Il
4 him
Mark L. Davis was the first wit
ness placed upon the stand by the de
fense He testified that he did Sc
Turner on election day and aske
. him if he had voted Upon receivin
a negative reply he advised Turne
d TO go and vote at once. The witnes
4 denied the statements made by tn
prosecuting witness. Marshall. in r.
spect TO the promise of money mad
A 10 Turner. II was brought out
4 Mr. Davis testimony that in the elec
tion Of 1905 he was running on tn
. Republican ticket in Sussex count
for Clerk Of the Peace. and that h
had been around the polls in Su'
sex county almost the entire da,
The violation was alleged to hay
been committed in Kent county.
The defense next produce
Charles Mitchell and John Van. tw
Milford men. They testified that The
were present and heard the CONVEX
. ,sation between Mr. Davis and Tul
ner on election dav, 1908 They adde
that Marshall was present Thos
two witnesses corroborated Mark !
Davis In every particular and cor
tradicted the evidence produced h
Marshall with respect to the offe
made by the Clerk Of the Peace
T. q =
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