The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1913-04-29
BURLINGTON COMMON PLEA
Yesterday Judge Horner granted the
following applications for license:


Andrew j. Kelley, Mansfield, 100 $50
Geo. l.. Garwood, Northampton, $50
Richard Lamb, Northampton. $50 800
Edwin G. Stead Chesterfield, l25
John ID. Stellman, Eyesham, 100 lbs
Rebecca B. Marren: North,ton, l50 300
Charles Braddock, Medford. 100 $50
Halleran & Co., Chester, $50 300
VIM. Ii. Jennings, Lumberton, 100 $50
VIM. II. Hartman, Pemberton, 100 275
Charles Sack, Riverside, loo 1O
The application of Henry F. Lehman,
Fieldsboro, for hotel license, was re.
fused on the ground that recent law
provides there shall be but one license
for each 500 population. Fieldsboro has
4S0 population and another license had
been granted in that borough.
The application of Harry NJ G. Fry,
of Northampton, and Edmund l.. Hoy.
of Riverside, were laid over until Thurs
day, as the applicants were not present In
the court room, which is rule of the
court.
Judge Horner told the applicants that
the first and important function of a
hotel is to accommodate the travelling
public; incidentally the selling of liquor
is tolerated and is of minor Importance.
Any hotel keeper is expected to furnish
good meals at reasonable hours and some
kind of food at any hour If there is a re-
quest therefor
Criminal cases were next taken up
Charles Walker, colored. indicted for
breaking and entering and larceny of a
revolver, was placed on trial, and was
represented by William A. Slaughter.
The defendant worked for Barclay B.
Lawrence, a Medford township farmer.
On the night of January 9th, before the
family had retired, Mr.. Lawrence heard
some one going up the back stairs and
later heard a person walking In his bed
room. Upon investigation 1t was found
that the room had been entered and ran
sacked. A revolver valued at about $40
was missed. Mr. Lawrence sent for Con-
stable Peak, who went to defendants
room and found the colored man in bed
An examination of the bed revealed the
revolver hidden under the mattress.
The defendant entered denial to the
charge. He claimed that the revolver
belonged to him.
Verdict guilty.
Harris johnson, another colored man,
was placed on trial for breaking and
entering the residence of Mrs. Anna
Coles, of Moorestown, and stealing SO
silver watch and two pairs of spectacles
valued at $50. He was also represented
by Mr.. Slaughter.
Miss Mary Coles, daughter of above
named witness, was In the house when
her mother was at the funeral. While
sitting down stairs witness was startled
by seeing a colored man, the defendant,
walk into the room. Upon being asked
his business, the man said he was looking
for employment. After his departure it
was found that the upstairs rooms had
been entered and the articles stolen.
Miss Charlotte Coles, sister of the last
witness, was In the kitchen at the time of
the robbery She did not see the colored
man or any one else during the robbery.
Chief of police Linderman, of Mer-
chantville, testified that he had arrested
the defendant upon a description sent to
him from Moorestown. He saw johnson
in Merchantville on January Sd and 4th.
The defendant, johnson, testified that
his home is in New York city. Last
January he lived four days in Mount
Holly. On January I'd he said he was in
Mount Holly all day until seven o'clock
in the evening, when he went to Camden
on trolley car He denied having been
in Merchantville on January Sd.
Upon cross-examination he admitted
having served time twice for similar
offences. He also stated that his correct
name is not johnson but Smith.
James Washington, "a Willow street,
Mount Holly, said the defendant boarded
with him several days preceding the time
of the crime and was in the house all day
January I'd, when the weather was
stormy. Defendant did not leave that
night, as stated, but left on January Sd,
in the evening.
Sallie Thomas said defendant came to
her house on December 9th and staid
one week as a ledger. One stormy day
during this time he remained in the house
all day, but she was not certain as to the
date. Other days he was out of the house
during day time.
The jury rendered verdict of guilty.
The next case was the State against
George P. Benson, colored, charged with
assaulting his wife and threatening tt
kill her. Benson was formerly employed
In the barber shop Of Tom johnson. o.
Mount Holly. He was represented By
William A. Slaughter.
The wife, Mrs. Jerushia A. Benson
testified that her husband treated he
badly; that he struck her, pulled her hal
and knocked her down; that he compelled
her to write and sign two papers, which
he dictated, stating that she had been I'm
true to her husband, and that she loved
man named William Brown While thes
statements were being written. she said
Benson stood over her with blackjack II
his hand and threatened to kill her If sh
did not comply. On one occasion he cam
at her with large knife, stating, "Pre
pare to meet your God; am going to xii
you, " but he did not strike her.
The defendant, Benson, denied cruelt,
to his wife and that he had ever struc
her. The letters or statements referred t
by his wife, witness said. were write
voluntarily and were true. One nigh
last March witness went home and foun
letter under the table cover. 1t ha
been written by his wife to young ma
named Willie Brown, of Fairhaven, N.
In the letter she stated she hoped soon t
be with him, when they could renev
their former pleasant relations.
When confronted with this letter sh
admitted her guilt and said she was sorr
she had been untrue. He then told BIZ
she had better go home to her parents
he would not further tolerate her In til
house. The statements were write
voluntarily, at his request, SO he coul
show her parents why he had abandone
her.
The jury rendered verdict of nj
guilty.
The next case considered was the chare