Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-09-03
NEARLY A MURDER
OVER GEOGRAPHY
City Court Evidence Shows Wom-
an Almost Killed After Dispute
as to Delawarc's Position.

is Delaware Northern or n Southern
State? That was the question, still unset
tied SO far as the debaters are concerned
which came within ah ace Of costing
Arnctta Robinson a young colored
woman. her life n couple of weeks ago
The argument over it began between
Arnettas cousin an aged Negro named
Vincent. and tall military looking
Negro named Osborne Avant Arnetta
finally got INTO it several different places
notably IN getting knife wound in the
neck, which she accuses Avant of giving
her, although she herself admits she
handed him one with shovel and even
after she was cut SO that her iugular vein
was exposed cha cd him almost from
Second and Poplar to Fourth street wharf
Avant was a prisoner in City Court
thus morning on charge of assault with
intent to commit murder III having
stabbed Arnctta She just out of the
hospital told her story the while she in
dustriousy chcwed gum. She said Avant
had gotten INTO an argument on the
Robinson front steps with her cousin
Vincent both being about half drunk,
that Vincent ordered Avant away and
that she did, TOO Vincent got gun and
there was general trouble, but no shoot
ing Avant she said struck her and
knocked her down She threw q glass at
him and he got a shovel and let drive at
his head after which, she said, he cut her
and took flight She despite her wound,
pctcd after him TO prevent him finding a
safe refuge on Wilson liner at Fourth
street wharf
Philip Garrett, who defended Avant,
qulzzed Aruetta who didn I hesitate to
say. she had thrown the glass at Avant
and Int him with the shovel Quite a
string Of witnesses Vincent told how
he had gotten his gun TO drive Avant
away hut finally had gone hock into the
house with IT and left Arnetta and Avant
continuing the sQuahhle Another wit
ness said he had heard Avant tell Vim
cent he'd cut his head off
Avant denied absolutely he bad cut the
woman, when his turn came 10 he sworn.
He said he didn't have any knife. and said
II most emphatically How she got cut
he didn't know. But he did know she had
attacked him with a shovel
Mr. Garrett told the court he thought
the case was one of pure assault and bat
terry only, and the intent to murder Gle
ment was missing He offered TO inter-
pose no objection 10 a charge OF that
character Judge Helhngs howeve
thought IGcncral Sessions should have the
ease and held Avant in 1000 bail
RAID CASE CONTINUED.
Owing to the absence from the CITY
Of Sergeant hing, who participated IN tho
RAID early on sunday Of tho Spanish
''posada in East Front street and the
arrest of Joseph Charbonncl on the charge
OF keeping gambling table there and the
capture Of huge squad Of card players.
the case when called this morning was
continued unit. Friday. James Sauls-
bury. counsel for Charhonne. made
strenuous objection but Judge HcIlings
thought the State hbelled TO Kings cvi-
dcncc
Charles Wcntzel pleaded guilty to
driving motor vehicle without the proper
registration tags and was fined $40 and
costs
Charles Warner. colored, was gwen a
hearing on the charge Of threatening
woman named Phyllis Murray. The case
was continue until the last Saturday in he
month
Lido Stevenson, colored. was fined 81
and costs for disorderly conduct She WAS
accused OF starting a disturbance and us
ing highly colored language One Of the
witnesses. q Young colored man, thought
what she said was so outrageous he said
he couldn repeat il aloud James Sauls-
bury. Lidas counsel, wanted TO know
what il was and the witness whispered it
nro Mr. Saulshury's ear.