Smyrna times., 1917-03-14
SMYRNA NEGROES UNDER TRIAL
State Claims Defendants Took Dan
Ford's Horse to Haul Plunder From
Home Near BIackbird to Smyrna

Home Near BIackbrd to Smyrna
Trailing and sleuthing methods of a
remarkable nature, as we'll as the diff
ficulties of getting evidence from a
witness so deaf that questions had to
be shouted into his ears were features
of an unusual case heard in General
Sessions in Wilmington, yesterday,
before Judges BOyce and Conrad. The
case was that of the State against
Aaron Gibbs and John Starkey, two
colored men of Smyrna, accused of the
larceny of a quantity of picked meat
from Daniel Ford, of Blackbird hun
dred. According to the States theory,
on the night of February II, Ford's
place was entered and about 40 pounds
of brined meat stolen. At the same
time horse belonging to Ford disap-
peared. Later the animal came back
to Ford's place and upon it's back
were found traces of brine and grease,
indicating that picked meat had been
carried by it. Visits to the house of
Starkey and Gibbs revealed the pres
ence there of meat upon which were
horse hairs. Coupling these things,
it was the contention of the State that
Arthur Brewington alias "Hackel, :"
Gibbs and Starkey were the thieves.
Hackel eluded officers and escaped. l..
Irving Handy, was counsel for the de-
PENDANTS. The minute Ford went upon
the stand and proved so incapable of
hearing anything save what was deIiv-
cred into his ear in stentorian tones,
Mr.. Handy put up a strenuous fight.
Ford testified as to the loss of his
meat and when the State sought to
bring out the fact that he owned a
horse that had disappeared too. and
then come back with brine and grease
upon it, there was long series of
objections from Mr.. Handy, some Of
which were sustained and some over
ruled. Deputy Attorney General
Green then sought to show how Fore
had gone back over the animals
tracks, trancing them to the home Of
Starkey. Mr.. Handy objected to the
whole series of questions but Mr..
: Green succeeded in getting before the
jury the fact that the tracks had lee
J Ford to the home of Starkey.
Policeman Stanley Tells His Story
> William A. Stanley, the next wit
ness. carried the sleuthing of tn
9 meat a step forward. He said h
went to the home of Starkey, in cues
9 of the missing property. He said h
asked Starkey if he had any meat
Z Starkey said no, and when the witnes
opened the door of the meat closet h
l. found meat there with horse hair o
it. He asked Starkey where he &c
n it and Starkey replied that he ha
% bought it from Harry Greenwell,
h butcher. But Greenwell, when place
f on the stand, denied that he had sol
o the meat to Starkey. George "
Jones, neighbUr of Ford's said Fol
# had told him of the theft of the mea
70 that Ford had tracked the horse, While
"a was without shoes, to a place vel
20 close to Ford's house and that he he
no followed up in his automobile.
\. Aaron Gibbs Oismissed-No EvidenC
D. After Mr.. Handy's cross-examini
9 tion of the witne ss the State reste
a. Mr.. Handy Immediately asked that
al verdict of not guilty be ordered
~ Gibbs case, against whom there w
le no evidence. Mr.. Reinhardt said Il
u State would enter nolle prosequ
- Mr.. Handy objected to this form
o. dismissing Gibbs, but was overruie
u and Gibbs left the dock.