The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1913-12-23
Court.

up criminal matters, Judge Homer made !
that he was the recipient
Of letter from the agent of the state
association announcing the lack of funds,
and that the matter of granting widows
pensions would not be considered until
February.
Judge Homer imposed a fine of S25
upon Charles Brewer which was paid by
his sister. The defendant was one of
three young men living at Paulsboro
who were charged with stealing S18
from Bridget Wells, near Centreton,
with whom they boarded. The case was
tried at previous session of court, when
the evidence was only sufficient to con-
Wet Brewer.
Walter Denning, of Bridgeboro, who
had previously pleaded non vult con-
tendere to several indictments charging
him with assaulting and threatening the
life of Mrs. Joseph Willie, and her son,
Joseph Jr., appeared for sentence, but
before disposing of the case, Mrs. Willie
was placed upon the stand in order that
the court could become more posted in
regard to the matter as the interest of
the Judge had become aroused by the
receipt of a letter from Mrs. Willie, who
was not present at the recent session,
wherein charges of a serious nature had
been made against defendant Denning,
which, on conviction, would send him
to state prison.
Mrs. Willie testified that on the night
of September Goth, she had made
second visit to Denning's home to get
her husband, who had left before her ar
rival.
On the first visit she heard Denning
and her husband talking, and said: Mr..
- n l.
sorry for this" There was another
home at the time.
Mrs. Willie declared that on her second
visit she and her son were invited into
the house to look for themselves, and
while there a fuss ensued. Denning
said if they didn't 60 away he would
use a water brigade on them. Witness
declared that defendant secured a revolt
yer, pointed the weapon at them and
threatened to shoot if they did not go.
Denning called Mrs. Willie liar and the
son resented the insult.
V. G. Palmer, who represented Den
ming, showed kMrs. Willie the letter.
Witness admitted sending it, but had
dictated the contents to a friend from
what she had heard, but not on facts of
which she had personal knowledge.
Counsel said he thought the letter should
be eliminated and that there was no
necessity for the woman's testimony.
Previous to the trouble Denning had as
sisted in financial way, and Willie was
at the Denning house for that purpose
that day.
The son threatened to hit Denning if
he called his mother liar, and the
Young man corroborated her testimony.
|
ming was called to the stand His testi-
mony was to the effect that on their
second visit he was in his garage, and
hearing terrible racket went to the
house to ascertain the trouble and asked
them if they wanted to tear the house
down.
1.-The boy called me names and the
mother threatened to smash my head. l
told them to get out and break this off.
/ knew Mrs. Willie of old, she hit her
husband in the mouth, assaulted other
people, and | didn't want any hair pull
ing match around there. If a bluff will
work l will get them away" said
Denning, 81 got revolver, removed
the cartridges and told them to get out
The boy said he would not go until he
got ready, and Mrs. Willie gave me a
good line of cussing. l had the unload
ed gun in my hand and only shook the
handle at them"
Matte Jewell, of Camden, said she
was at the Denning home when Mrs.
Willie came there. Denning did not say
he would blow their brains out. 81 saw
him remove the cartridges and place
| them on his desk. | went there to ar
range with the housekeeper to 60 to the
| fair.
ANN MurDbx, xroc not ourara IF oo,r
threats on the part of Denning, but she
heard the bad language used by Mrs
Willie. Witness saw the cartridges on
the desk. She heard the son curse Den
ming and threaten to punch his head.
Denning did little swearing but Mrs.
Willie didn't give him a chance to do
much along that line.
I Recalled to the stand, Mrs. Willie de-
MED using language attributed to her.
Richard Wells, who admitted having
served term in state prison for break
ing and entering, swore he heard Den
ming say: Il will blow your brains out. "
1t was shown later that Wells was over
one hundred feet away at the time
You were also suspected of robbing
the home of Denning, were you not?'
asked counsel.
MIR. Palmer, you ought not have ask
ed that question without a SMILE" sug-
gested the court, and the smile came.
Mr.. Palmer said the case had taken a
peculiar course. The only question was
one of sentence, if any, for what Den
ming did at that time.
Mr.. Davis said he advised Denning he
was technically guilty of assault, and
that the defendant had been an eve
witness of quarrels between Mrs. Willie
and her husband.
Prosecutor Atkinson said Mrs. Den
ming knew her husband was in Wille's
house with two women and she wanted
to get him away. If there was any
thing that would excite a wife more he
did not know what it was. The reputa-
ton of Denning was good before he be-
gan drinking. The prosecutor presented
an affidavit from a bartender stating
that Denning once entered hotel, drew
a revolver, and shot into the ceiling.
Judge Homer said he had gotten a
clear idea of the situation, which was
one of anger on both sides. Mrs. Willie
was provoked. 1t was an important fact
or that Denning had the forethought to
empty the revolver, otherwise a severe
sentence would be imposed. Denning's
story could be accepted to certain ex-
tent.
On one Indictment Denning was fined
500. On the other sentence was sus-
pended TO give him a chance to stop
drinking. He promptly settled with the
court.
Waving indictment, Joseph III. Par
ker, of Florence, pleaded guilty to steal
ing $40 from Mrs. Celia Hustled. SO was
recovered.
The prosecutor said the woman had
been saving the money to pay arrears in
a building association, and the theft was
the meanest he had heard of lately.
Parker had no justification to offer, and
he will spend four months in the county
jail
Freda Welsh, aged II years, pleaded
guilty to assaulting Eulalia Chafev.
Both girls live in Mount Holly. De
PENDANT said she would go out of her
way to avoid Miss Chafey, but the latter
would aggravate her every time they
met. Sentence was suspended.
Ernest Madden, a Burlington hotel
keeper, who previously pleaded non vult
contendere to two charges of assault and
battery on his wife, which was quite
serious in one case, was next called.
After the first assault, in November.
1912, Mrs. Madden asked the grand Jury
to pass the matter over, which was done;
ouo an lluicenenI was IOunu Tor an as
sault committed last July.
Robert Peacock, representing the de-
PENDANT, said in his opinion the woman
was crazy. If the court sent Madden to
state prison his business would be ruin
ed, but if fine was imposed there
would be different state of affairs.
Prosecutor Atkinson said Mrs. Madden
was handwriting woman, and he had
no patience with men who beat their
wives. She has eight children, and for
their sake has borne much. She claims