The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1914-11-03

Harry b. Wright, of Westampton town
ship. The suit is the outcome of an &C
cident last winter, in which Wright
automobile skidded into Assays wagon
Ct. M. Hillman represents Wright,
Court.
On Tuesday Prosecutor Atkinson
moved the indictment against Watson
Buck, who was charged with atrocious
assault and battery on James Tomlinsor
and Alfred Sexton. The parties LIVED
near Rancocas. Tomlinson.was engaged
at the sand pits of James Stokes. where
he ran an engine. This job had for
merly been in charge of Buck and wher
Tomlinson displaced him Buck brooded
over the matter and made threats to
get" the other man. On the fifth OF
July as Tomlinson and Sexton were going
along the road near Rancocas Buck sud,
denly appeared from behind some bush
es and pointed gun at them. He did
not seem to have much grievance
against Sexton, but in his frenzy he was
not particular as to whom he got. The
that Tomlinson was the man he was
after. The facts Of the assault seemed
to be pretty well established by the state,
but the defence set up an alibi and offer
ed evidence to show that Buck was in an
entirely different neighborhood on the
day the assault was said to have been
committed. The jury acquitted the
defendant on the charge of assaulting
Sexton, but convicted him of assaulting
Tomlinson, coupling with the verdict a
accommodation of mercy.
Henry Miller was next to face the jury.
The indictment against him charged
him with breaking and entering the
house of James w. Clawson, at Maple
Shade. The evidence showed that Mil
Ter got into Clawson's house one night
through cellar window. He was found
in the place by the owner who at once
tried to capture him. There was quite a
struggle in which Clawson fred his re-
volver four times, but did not succeed in
hitting the intruder. Miller got away.
A few weeks later Mr.. Clawson was on
a trolley car at Maple Shade and happen
ed to see Miller among the passengers.
He quietly took complete description of
the man and then notified the authorities
who caused Miller's arrest. The de-
fence was an alibi. Miller claimed he was
having birthday party at his home on
the night Of the robbery. He travels
under more than one name. His Phil
adelphia alias is Phineas Foster.
His record is bad and the Burlington
county books showed that he had been
before this court more than once. Two
members of the Philadelphia police force
were in court to show that Miller had
been under their care more than once.
The jury returned verdict of guilty
On Wednesday Thomas Call and
Frank Goodwin were placed on trial on
an indictment charging them with arson
in setting fire to barn at Moorestown.
The principal witness for the state was a
Mrs. Petit, who claimed that Goodwin
had confessed to her that he and Call
were the parties who fired the barn.
She said the confession was made in
March but she had withheld it until
lately. The defence was an alibi. 1t
was shown that Call went home in
toxicated about midnight and the fire
broke out at three o'clock in the morn
ing. He was SO drunk it was impossible
for him to get out of the house. He took
off his shoes and flung himself on a
lounge and his sister testified that he was
there shortly after three o'clock when
she went down stairs to get the alarm
clock. When this testimony before him
Judge Lippincott directed the jury to
find verdict of not guilty. for Call.
Goodwin's wife and daughter testified
that he went to bed at nine o'clock and
did not get up until the alarm of fire was
given. He also went home under the in
fiuence of liquor. He admitted that he
had been quite intimate with the Petit
woman, that she had bought him
whiskey, shoes and other articles, but
he said he had never told her that he
had set fire to the place. The argument
of the state was that Mrs. Petit delayed
telling the authorities in order that she
might have something to hold over
Goodwin and keep him with her and
that after Mrs. Goodwin had caught her
husband and Mrs. Petit together the
latter told the story in revenge. The
testimony was very flimsy aud Judge
Lippincott delivered charge that was
very favorable to the prisoner and the
jury was not long in finding verdict of
not guilty.
On Thursday portion of the day was
devoted to clearing up the criminal cal
endar.
William H. Bramall, of Riverside,
waived Indictment and pleaded guilty to
weakness, like many others who are
brought before the court, is strong drink
He was placed in charge of the proba-
ton officer for one year, to pay the costs
and abstain from the use of intoxicating
liquor.
Henry Barnes pleaded guilty to lar
ceny of some money in Beverly. His
case was laid over.
Cashmere Ferguson halls from Dor.
dentown city. He was charged with
getting S. under false pretenses. 1t was
claimed he borrowed S. from a friend
and told him he had money coming in 8
few days. This proved to be untrue
Cashmere waived indictment. He adj
mitted getting the money but denied the
false pretence portion of the accusation
The court ordered plea of not guilty tC
be entered and the case will be trieG
later.
James Robinson, also of Bordentown
was charged with trying to cheat two
women out of board bill. He pleaded
not guilty, The court said the cas-
would be tried after awhile, but james
was quite anxious to go ahead as he sale
he had very important business awaiting
his attention.
Thomas Nelson Snowden was callet
for sentence. He was the man arrested
for stealing q cash box at the Fai
grounds. William II. Heisler, Jr., plead
ed in behalf of the young man ant
said this was case where there were bu
two witnesses who sc testimony could b
taken notice OF. One was a boy VIII
identified the defendant as the thief, tn
other was the man himself who said h
was not the guilty party. MIR. Heisle
cOntended it was a case OF mistaken
identity but as the jury had found tn
/ man guilty he must be sentenced an
the court was asked to show leniency
Judge Lippincott sentenced the man
the county Jail for six months. Whe
the sentence was pronounced the prison
/ er asked the Judge to change it and sen
him to Trenton Observation-Disclosures
stood.
Harry Miller, for breaking and ente
ing residences at MOorestOwn, was ser
r fenced to not less than three and ha
, years or more than seven years in tn
state prison.
J. V. Claude Palmer made strong p lie
t in behalf of Watson Buck, convicted {
l atrocious assault and battery on Jam,
Tomlinson and Alfred Sexton near RAJ
: cocas. Mr.. Palmer called attention
: the fact that the jury had not convicte
J, on all counts of the indictments and,
|. addition, had recommended the defen,
r ant to the mercy of the court. This,
his mind, meant that the jury felt the
u were extenuating circumstances in tt
8 case which should be taken into cOnSi,