Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-03-08
WOMEN'S SHR|EKS
IN A COURTROOM
STARTLE THRONG
Ada Johnson and Lena Piner. Col
orcd. Increase the Excitement
by Painting and Failing.
JUDGE REVISES SENTENCE

Two stvlishlv-drcsscd colored women.
.br,cl ING and fainting. startled crowd
:, Room No. at yesterday afternoons
',tt,nc of the Court of General Sessions.
m. women were Ada johnson, alias
S,,san 4 Johnson. alias Ada Simmons
and lena Pincr. daughters OF Rev. W. Ii.
Ienkins. SupCrannuate of the Phila-
delnhio Conference of the African Metho-
dist Episcopal Church, who resides in
Wilmington.
Ada Johnson had pleaded guilty to a
charge of bigamy, she having married
Prince Summons at Elkton. Md. Decem-
her 10. 1917. notwithstanding her lawful
husband. w. II johnson. formerly of
~mvrna. was alive J. Frank Ball, at
torncy, submitted note from DIR.
x Stuhbs, saving he had treate Ada
Johnson for nervous exhaustion from
February - to March :, and she exhibited
urrvousness while testimony WAS being
aiken. her fingers twitching constantly.
MIR Fall sTpke Of Negroes varied views
concerning marriage and said there was
a scnhlancc of conformity TO law in his
clients action Rev Henry Arnett.
pastor Oi Bethel A. NJ T.. Church, and
Rev II L. Moore, pastor of Shiloh
Baptst Church, testified that her reputa-
non WAS good Tcstifying in her own
behalf. the defendant said she and
Johnson separated eight years ago and he
had contributed 10 her support but
once SINCE thCir separation. As she was
alone and Johnson did not support her
she did not think she was doing wrong
when she married Simmons. but since
her arrest she realized having done
wrong Attorney-Gencral Rcinhardt
sahd Johnson offered her a home at Smyr-
mn hut & hc would mot rO there
After commenting on the wrong the
defendant had done and telling her she
should have obtained a divorce from
johnson before marrying again Judge
Rovrc SAID he would impose the minimum
sentcr,cc-thrCC months imprisonment
and 500 fine and the costs ot prosecution,
Immediately after the imposition OF
sentence lena pInCr sitting with her
father IN the rear Of the courtroom,
shrickrd and tainted. hut soon revived
m corridor. where she was earned
Meanwhile Ada Johnson also shrieked
and farntcd. falling from a chair to the
aour Detective Sergeant Green and
Workholsc Warden Cross lifted her TO q
table and administered stlmuants, but
she vas srmI-uncOnscIous when carried
fr,rm tho courtroom RcconsiderinE the
sentence. because of her physical condl-
ton. Judge Bovcc paroled the woman
10 Rcv Is 4 Moore for one year After
tins disposition ot her case the judge
said she must not live with Simmons
whhc Johnson Is alive and not divorced
Prince summons, having pleaded guilty
to a charge of mgamv knowing Johnson
was alive ~ tho tlrnc of the illegal marriage
was sentenced To serve three months
mprlsonmcnt and To pay fine OF S4OO
and the costs Of prosecution
Ada Johnson and her sister, Lena
Piner. were mattresses ~ tho Wilmington
postoflicr for two wears during Postmaster
testers tenn
" II johnson came from Smyrna
~ Wilmington two wears ago and Is
cnplovei ~ Dr Henry 4 Spruanoo aS
chauffeur Tic married Ada Johnson n
1905
CTHFR COUNT MATTERS
joseph Il Rartlcv Jr charged with
non-slIpr,ort. appeared before Judge koYce
and pleaded not guilty
IN Room No ? with Judge Conrad
presiding lury heard the case Of Charles
Ratten charged with assaulung Alfred
Williams with intent 10 commit murder.
Nircd GoldShorough similarly charged.
had pleaded guilty - common assault
Dcputv AttorncNI General Green con
dnctca the prosecution. and Herbert
n Ward .lr was counsel for Battcn.
Tho frlo NEGROES. met March on the
mad leading from MIddctown tO Summit
Rrldrr and PLAYED crap. Williams losing
al his money except 81 Tie accused
Rattcu and Goldshorough oi stealing
81 of the sum nc still had when the game
was finished 4 fight enSued, and Vii
hams was severely cut with knife Nr
Ward SAID Williams was the aCgr'ssoT
and charmed Rattcn acted IN sc'f-dc.cncc.
The mrv found Batten guilty Of common
assault Judge Conrad sentenced Ratten
to serve three mouth imprisonment
ana 10 pay the costs ui prosecution and
imposed on Colds or0ach sentence Of
IN months lpr~ ~pImcnt and the costs
81 prosccs'
Judge .,ee and Conrad went over
th,, li~ - ,.4~s> t. 10 trIcd IN the Court Of
,cnsr sessions and set dates for trials
~, .. unc the following March 2, hap
p,I, case March Is. Greco case; March
ii Buckmas;er case. March l5, coal
cases March Il was designated argu-
mcni dav
The Judge also went over the Superior
Court Inst and announced determination
t. enforce the rule to retire cases after
four contnuances
Gases aS follows were retired:
Reuben Satterthwaite. Jr., receiver
Of the State Trust Co. vs.. the Equitable
1nI>t 60
tharlcs " jefferson vs.. john Stuckert,
garulshec ol James | Padley.
George " ard vs Florence A. White.
owner or rcpuied owner, and Edward J.
Curren and Nananches Harold Curren,
contractors
James b IrcxlCr vs.. the Delaware
Water Improvement CO.
John " Graham VS. James + White
Counsel referred the following cases
"a referees
Warren Collins d b a. vs. John r
Jones p. b