Smyrna times., 1923-07-11
SEVERAL CASES DISPOSED OF
BEFORE JULY TERM OF COURT
4 NEGROES GET HEAVY PENAL
TIES FOR PEDDLING NARCOTICS
Seven of Twelve Cases Listed for Ar
gument Heard and Given DEGREES
Nisi-Grand Jury Indictments

gument Heard and Given DEGREES
Nisi-Grand Jury Indictments
That "dope" peddlers in lower Del
aware receive substantial prison pen
tence when apprehended and convicted
as in other counties of the State, was
fully demonstrated at Dover, Thurs
day afternoon, in the Kent county
court of General Sessions when four
negroes, Edward Rolsal, Jr., William
F. Lumm, William Sturgis and Clara
Simmons, were sentenced to the New
Castle WOrkhOuse by Judge Rodney,
Rolsal for term of five years and
the other three to four years each
and ordered to pay costs of prosecu-
ton. Rolsal and Sturgis, while not
changing their plea of "Not Guilty"
to selling narcotic drugs, both pleaded
guilty to indictments presented by
Deputy Attorney General Wiley, with
the unlawful possession" of narcotic
drugs, and it was on these indictments
they were sentenced. Lumm and the
cOlored girl, Simmons, both protested
their innocence of selling the drugs,
and stood trial, jury returning a
verdict of guilty in both cases. Prior
to the sentencing of the prisoners,
Deputy Attorney General Wiley in
formed the court of RolsaPs reputa-
tiOn of long standing, that of being
suspected for several years of being
the main distributor of narcotic drugs
in Dover and vicinity. Judge Rodney
in sentencing the prisoners made it
plain as to the seriousness of the
crime and the increased penalties by
the Delaware Legislature for the past
three sessions, the maximum being ten
years Imprisonment and $500 fine.
Larceny and Other Cases Before Court
At Tuesdays session of court, Will
liam Rias, negro, indicted for carry
ing a concealed deadly weapon, and
who pleaded guilty to the charge,
was sentenced to pay a fine of S25
and costs of prosecution, amounting
to S6.65, which was paid and he was
released. Ernest Brown, negro, who
, had pleaded guilty to larceny of chick
ems, was given a sentence of one
years Imprisonment and ten lashes,
besides paying cost of prosecution.
Meredith Ford, negro, who also plead
ed guilty to the charge of carrying a
revolver, was sentenced to six months
Imprisonment in New Castle County
WorkhOuse. Leon Starkey, colored,
aged sixteen years, was indicted on a
charge Of carrying a concealed deadly
weapon and entered a plea of guilty
to the charge. The Court is consider
ing an application for parole in his
case.
Seven of Twelve Divorce Cases Heard
The first divorce case heard was
that of Roland N. Van Bushkirk VS..
Lillian Wescott Van Bushkirk on the
grounds of desertion. The court,
which had just convened with Chief
Justice Pennewill and Judge Rodney
on the Bench, ordered a decree nisi
entered on the case. The same decree
was also ordered entered in the case
of Emmett Baker for a divorce from
Lille Baker on the grounds of deser-
tiOn. DesertiOn was given as the
grounds for the divorce proceedings
brought by William j. Derrickson
against Helen G. Derrickson and also
in the case of Edith E. Cook Holmes
against James D. Holmes. The Court
ordered decree nisi entered in both
cases. Mary K. Jones brought suit
for a divorce against Clarence w.
Jones on the grounds of adultry. The
defendent did not contest the suit.
After hearing all of the evidence in
the case, the Court ordered a decree
nisi entered. Desertion was the
grounds on which George D. Vincent
brought suit against Sarah P. Vincent
and Bessie J. Hart entered suit
against William Hart. The Court or
dered decree nisi entered in both cases.
There are a number of divorce cases
listed for final decree at this term of
Court.
Grand Jury Returns Number of Bills
The Grand Jury returned the fol-
lowing indictments, William Rias,
carrying concealed deadly weapons;
Leon Starkey carrying concealed dead
ly weapons; Julius H. Cooper, assault
and battery; Harry A. Porter, deser-
ton and non-support; Stanley P,
Smith, larceny; Ernest Brown, lar
ceny; Claude Vernon Cafles, illegal
possession of spirituOus liquors; AL
bert Davis, unlawfully selling narcotic
drugs; William F. Lurn, unlawfully
selling narcotic drugs; Edward RossOl
unlawfully selling narcotic drugs;
William Stdfgis, unlawfully selling
narcotic drugs.