Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-08-30
MUST FACE COURT
FOR HIS GUN PLAY
Negro Who Shot at Wife Year
Ago Held Under $1,000
Bail.

William +. Spear, the colored man
accused of beating up his wife in May of
last year, taking, it is said, n quick re-
volver shot ut her as she fled from him over
a fence at their home COS Lincoln street
and then making himself scarce III this
vicinity, turning up a few days ago only to
be arrested. was before Deputy Judge
Hellings in City Court this morning.
Philip Garrett defended him and made a
siren uoua effort to show William had not
really fred at his wife in an attempt To kill
her. as the charge reads, but in the end
the court decided General Sessions was
the place for Spears defence.
Mrs. Spear said the affair happened in
Nav 1917, one evening whcE. after a
hard day s work away from home, she got
back TO their incolu domiclle late for
supper-prepariug. William rsred when
he found no food ready Just when he
wanted il and gave her 3 SORT of contiuu-
ous performance beating all over tier
quarters" Finally he got a gun and to
escapc from him she got out of the door,
rolled down short flight of steps picked
herself up and climbed fence. 1t was nj
this phase of the situation the revolver
let go. Mrs. Spear said William pointed
IL at her sir Garrett tried 10 get her TO
s8v she didn't sec the revolver. itself or
which way it poirtcd but the woman
stuck to her story
William. in his own defe?cc. said he
hadn't actually fired NJ his wife but that
the revolver went of accidcrtallN rs he
w.AS putting il IN his pocket Tie said he
was cleaning il during II" squabblc he
had been having, and when Mrs Spear
started ont ct the room he wanted to head
her off and put the weapon iowa ri his
pocket =; which time it went of
On request Of James salisbury. Judge
IIeliirgs continued un:il l'ri'oN ncV. the
three cases Of illcgl hrroia selling agaius;
Elsie Johnson colored. Tho ease against
Niliiarl | smith. Fl, culorcd. on n sim
liar charge. waS also Continued until the
SAM dctc, althouch Philip Garrett.
Smiths counsel objected SAYING he had
all his wiinesSc~ prescott and thar at he
0riguGl hearing cortlpdaucc only u'tfltC-
day had been asked t. insure Httcrda;,,.e
Df tnl State chemist I)r Watson
teSi~tan- Citv Solicitor NaIlov saii
llr. Watson wasn't present and thc case
therefore mus; accoSsPrllN % oytr at.r
on DIR. Watson aPpe.r 4
The ,a> arsI, i Peter Zaren-li
charge with norsupport. went nycr uGl'i
tomorrcv. Hirs IareCSki not being IN
court Nirilar action was takr:. I -i,r
ca.c Il Nick Nartoll accused nf IN,
theft # J small quantity of Strap metal
When Carmclo Dc,loru the itaiiap
arrested some DAYS ago while irving to
get oft - town on the first train leaving
French street. after he arrived at the
station. was arraigned On the charac Of
carrying concealed weapon and
assault with intent to cxnmit murder
upon Joseph ketmcr. 4 Negro kclFpcr
was found to be still in the hospital and
unaDle 10 appear. whercupau The
assault charge went over for week But
the weapon charge didn't. the court Inn
posing a fine Of S25 and costs
Dedoro met kilmer and a couple If
other colored men in an alley near Second
and Poplar streets. and il IS said with
out provocation shot kilmer in the Jaw
and neck Two nights later. when he
tried to get out of town, his suspicious
actions caused his arrest and prompt
Identification by Policeman Wallace as
the man wanted for the shooting
Upon request Of the prosecuting wit
ness, Eva shelton. young woman 4
charge OF assault and battery against
Robert Wade .Ir was dismissed She
said they he'd had IAN argument and
she slapped ms face whcrcGpon hc struck |
back
Charles Fortune an itincraut street
was held ia 500 tail for !
General Sessions on the charge Of doing
business without license