Smyrna times., 1921-07-13
KENT COUNTY COURT MEETS
AND ADJOURNS TO JULY 16
NEW JUDGES ON BENCH RE-
CEIvE GREETING FROM COURT
Divorce Cases Heard-Eight True
Bills From Grand Jury Receive
Attention and Fines Imposed

blils From Grand jury Receive
Attention and Fines Imposed
At the July term of the Kent county
courts which opened at Dover last
week, four out of the five law Judges
occupied seats on the bench at the
opening of the court. They were Chief
Justice Pennewilland Associate Judges
Rice, Harrington and Richards. After
the swearing of the grand jury and
the scheduling of cases on the argu-
ment list, Chief Justice Pennewill
withdrew temporarily, leaving Judges
Rice, Harrington and Richards sit
ting.
During the morning session a con-
ference of the five law judges was
held in the judges parlor at which the
assignments and other matters were
discussed.
The Grand Jury concluded its work
on Tuesday, having eleven bills pre-
sented, eight of which were returned
true bills and three were ignored.
Among those ignored were two
against Lawrence Smith, negro, who
was accused of manslaughter and as
sault and battery. Smith was the
negro who shot and killed Harry Bur-
ris, also negro, on the night of May 2
last. Burris' bad reputation and his
threats, not only to Smith but others,
caused a sentiment against him and
in favor of Smith, who claimed he
shot in self defense.
A charge of larcency against Adam
Winters and Merritt Handy, both ne
groes, also was ignored.
True bills returned were as follows:
Three bills against Guss Duerr, a
white boy, alleging pointing a gun at
another person, assault and battery
and discharging firearms on a public
road; against Adam Winters and
Merritt Handy, charging embezzle-
ment as bailee, also joint indictment
against the two charging the same
offense; against Emanuel Benson us
ing female child for immoral purpos-
es (plea of guilty entered; against
Isaac Cook, carrying concealed deadly
weapon (plea of guilty..
DCCduSc VI lllC dDSCHCC VI LilS
states main witness in the Winters
and Handy cases, they were continued
until the October term of court.
The case of Isaac Cook, colored, i!
an instance of Delaware's speedy sys
TEN of justice.
Cook, who it is claimed was drink
ing on Monday at Harrington ant
shooting recklessly at the fair grounds
at that place during the races, was ar
rested and placed in the lookup a
Harrington. He became violent ant
unmanageable and attempted to breal
out. Fearing the police force of Har
rington was not sufficient to cop
with him, Sheriff Graham, of Dover
was called. When the sheriff arrive
in Harrington several hundred pei
sons were gathered around the locku
some drawn out for curiosity, other
keeping guard. Sheriff Graham an
his deputy, accompanied by Chic
Lane secured the negro without muc
difficulty, handcuffed him and too
him to Dover where he was lodged
Jail He was held in $1,000 bail b
Magistrate Wood Wednesday an
within a short time his case was bt
fore the grand jury of the county an
a true bill found.
In Superior Court Tuesday sever;
divorce cases were heard. William
Webb was granted a divorce frol
Rachel Webb on the ground of desc
tion and Alice Downham Jester W;
granted a divorce from Thomas Jest,
on the ground of desertion.
An interesting case heard was TIL
of petition for annulment of Il
marriage of Caroline S. Deveral
from Martin Benson Deveraux,
grounds of insanity. Deveraux is
inmate and has been for the past Sc
eral years of the State Hospital f
the Insane at Farnhurst. This is t
first case of it's kind heard before
Kent County Court. Expert tes
mony was produced to show the exi
tence of insanity in the Devera
family for many years. The col
asked the attorney in the case, Jam
Hall Anderson, to produce a br
on certain material points of the ca
which he consented to do, decisi
meantime being withheld.
Earl Eckard, white boy, "
pleaded guilty to the taking of bc
without the consent of the own
was probated to State Detective d
Wharton for two years.
A divorce was granted Harry
Daniels from Helen H. Daniels.
The Court of General Sessions "
adjourned until July 16.