Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-11-25
SOLDIER PAYS $50
FOR ASSAULT; TWO
FINED $500 EACH
Judge Changes Highway Robbery
Charge Against Man in Uniform;
Weapon Carriers Hit Hard.
MEXICAN IN TROUBLE

After MANY witnesses had testified
against him, William Simms, soldier,
was fined $50 and costs IN City Court
this morning for assault and battery on
.Ioseph Ruark several nights ago. Smms
was charged with highway robbery, tn"
couplaint accusing him with going through
Ruark's travelling bag after striking the
owner. and making Oft with pair OF high
toppc1 hunting boots valued AT about sl4.
Testimony showed that both men had
been drinking and that after Simms had
demanded a drink he had nticd Ruark 5
bag and taking the shoes had walked away
Lillian Swan, Young married woman,
sworc she had seen Simms throw the shoes
into a dark corner as he walked up Fourth
street The trouble began at Fourth and
French streets.
Several witnesses had testified they
had seen Simms making on with the
shoes bus none but Mrs. swan saw him
set nd Of them.
NOT ROBBERY, SAYS JUDGE.
Judrr Churchman ruled that the case
was not one of highway robbery, and could
hardly be classed as larceny. He there
fore dismissed Simms OF the robbery charge
and immediately arraIgning him Tor as
sault and battery imposed the penalty
named
One hundred dollars and costs or one
vear in the workhouse was the punish
ment visited on Manuel Pan, Mexcan
for carving revolver. He said he
feared he would be robbed OF large amount
Of money which he wore in a belt and
carried the weapon for protection.
One witness testified he had come up
behind Pan on Second street whiie the
Mexican was making threatening motions
at his hip pocket while wrangiing With
several American youths The witness
said he grabbed Pan hand and searching
him found the revolver, lie took nun 70
a police station he said.
Another 500 hne was imposed On
Oscar Gardner, a Negro. tor cutting
Charles r. Williams. a white man, with
a pen knife One year IN the workho'l~e
( for failure 10 pay the hne was ne ai'er-
/ native -Four witnesses beside the com
/ plainant identified Gardiner IS the Negro
who had come up behind Williams and
slaehed him while the latter was standing
! AZ the corner of New Castle avenue anc
Heald streets few DAYS ago. Gardner
/ denied that he had welded the knIie
Roland Games, another Negro, was fined
+ $50 or three months in the workhoust
! for carving an unicaded revolver
N COURT 81 TINES.
Three $40 fines for drunkenness wer'
imposed in City Court this morning ou
Of thirteen cases called before Judg
Churchnan.
Nine defendants had 10 put up 50 an'
costs while one was dismissed William
Long. who had been in court 81 times or
various charges, according 70 the Judge
and had been released from the workhous
October 10, was one OF those who wer
heavily assessed. The other two wer
strangers here
Georre Adams who said he came +
Wilmington several months ago iron
! New York and that he never had bee
arrested before. was fined 50 Tor drunken
ness and S25 for carrying razor.
policeman testified that Pusey d Jone
worknen had complained that Adam
was begging IN the street
Charles Davis paid s. and costs to
swearing around the Philadelphia an
Reading Railway station Louis MartagC
a Spaniard. also paid s. and trimming
for creating disturbance IN q lodgln
house at 1I6 Shplev street several night
ago The proprietor testified that afts
Marriage had been elected for raising
rough house" the SpanIard threw
, brick against the door, breaking II.
Thomas kilden, accused OF using VI
words on the street in the presence
women, was fined -. John Wardel
white, and James Huges, William Sarke
and Mckinley Daniels, colored, each wei
forced To put up s. and costs for shootu
crap or watching games.
Leroy Lilly, who. according TO
policeman, dared any one to put m
off a street car while feeling particular
valorous from numerous drinks. was tne
s. and costs for his belllgerancy. III
ease Of John Taylor, colored charge
with assaulting Moses Begel and h
wife was dismissed
Harry Logan and John Heiacro
each were fined $25 and costs for viola
ing the speed laws in the autos. Ma
Hanning also paid $40 for a simlli
ofense
ITALIANS OC( UPY INNSBRUCK.