The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1919-01-14
Court Proceedings

hotel licenses at Palmyra would be
postponed for two weeks more, in view
OF the certiorari proceedings in the re-
cent local option election held in that
township. The setting aside of the
election on technical grounds by Judge
Kalisch has been carried to the Su-
preme Court, and until a decision is
made no action will be taken on the
license applications before the Com
mon Pleas Court
Ethelbert and Ernest Haines, under
indictment for assault on George
Worth, at Chatsworth, when they used
vile language and made threats against
the complainant, changed their plea
of not guilty to non vult contendere.
The court imposed a fine of $50 each.
Mrs. Sarah j, Reed, of Mount Holly,
who was placed on probation on Sep
TENDER 3 on charge of disorderly con-
duct, has not been paying the monthly
instalments of the costs of prosecution,
which was part of the terms of her
probation. She claimed that owing to
her multifarious domestic duties she
had not been able to earn any money
to pay the costs. Judge Lippincott in
formed her that if she desired to re-
main out of Jail the costs must be paid.
Leo McGrath, aged Is, Of Burling-
ton, pleaded guilty to stealing some
iewelry from his sister, This lad, it
was learned, is bad actor, having
been arrested over dozen times in
Burlington for being connected with
various unlawful acts. He was COM
mitted to the Jamesburg reform school.
Mrs Ethel NJ. Bird, who appeared to
be OF very retiring, shy and reticent
nature, pleaded guilty to the larceny
of some linen, silk stockings, ETC., from
the Manhattan Supply Company, of
Wrightstown also to a charge of
adultery with Camp Dix soldier She
WAS committed to the New Jersey Re-
formatory for Women An investiga
ton of her case revealed that her retir-
ing appearance is very deceptive, and
that she is bird by nature as well as
by name. She is married and has
OllANC OuJ NCSClbCh HcI ldlllllN
three years ago 20 take up a gayer
Plains, N. j., but she preferred to live
in livelier and more cosmopolitan
neighborhood, so she removed to
Wrightstown, where she had sundry
places of employment in restaurants, (
stores, etc.
About year ago she met man
ho h e, I
son, mechanic employed at Camp
Dix. She had been on intimate terms |
with him for about nine months past |
and they were engaged to be married, |
Notwithstanding that both were mar
ried, he also having wife and three
children. 4
On January 4th the couple went
from Wrightstown to take a walk.
Suddenly Wilson drew a revolver and
fired at Mrs. Bird. The bullet missed i
its mark but the woman was so fright
ened that she fell. Evidently believing
that he had killed her, Wilson turned
the weapon on himself, inf1icting a
that caused his death a short
time later. An investigation revealed
that Wilson's proper name was Albert
x. Chitman, and that his home was
in Buffalo, N. ", to which city coro-
ner Oliver shipped the body.
Yesterday the trial of indictments
began. The first was against Bartis
Comegys. There were two charges
against the man. One was for carry
ng a concealed deadly weapon, the
,ther for assault upon William and
Thomas Phifer. The latter leased
arm from the defendants mother.
There were several disputes about the
allure of Phifer to pay rent and there
vas an understanding that nonpay-
nent meant vacating the premises.
The Phifers were ordered to leave
md when they went to get some goods
1omegys saw them taking what did
lot belong to them. He went out,
eaving sick bed, and during the
he drew revolver which he
hot at the two men.
The defence claimed that Comegys
lad a right to carry a revolver on his
wn premises, that one of the Phifers
ook off his coat and went toward the
defendant, shaking his fists. Comegys
rev his revolver and shot away from
lis alleged assailant.
The defendant was represented by
7. Claude Palmer and after he had
his case, Prosecutor KELSEY
made one of the most novel requests
yer heard in the courtroom. He re
marked that Mr.. Palmer's own words
lad shown that Comegys was guilty
nd he asked the court to direct
erdict of guilty. The court asked the
if he could present any
for such proceeding; as Mr..
Kelsey could not do so the motion was
enied. The jury returned a verdict of
utility of carrying a concealed weapon,
'ut not guilty Of assault.
The next case was against William
{. Boothman for bigamy The woman
Who married him told of the ceremony
nd acknowledged she was only. II
ears of age but that she swore she was
1 years of age when she was married.
The state claimed that Boothman had
married girl named Jane Brown.
'wo witnesses were brought from
'ittsburg who testified that they knew
he girl Brown and one that Boothman
lad introduced her as his wife, but no
violence was produced showing that
lie ever lived with her, and one of the
witnesses said she had never seen Jane
nut once in four years. An exemplified
opy of the certificate of marriage
'etween Boothman and Jane Brown
vas produced.
The defence claimed that previous
marriage had not been proved beyond
Ioubt and that there was not positive
violence that Jane Brown was living
When the marriage now in question
vas performed. Robert Peacock repre-
ented the defendant anG Said the state
lad signally failed by not producing
ane Brown or the minister who per-
ormed the first ceremony.
The verdict was guilty.
John l.. Doerring was the next to
ace the jury. The crime with which
lie was charged was Misrepresentation
If his financial circumstances and OBJ |,
aiming money thereby. He had a
suit of clothes made by David Cerlin,
4 Mount Holly tailor. He gave a
check in payment, receiving cash in
change, then he skipped.
Mr.. Cerlin and his wife testified to