Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1925-05-13
CIRCUIT COURT.

The jury III the case OF Geo. Nj.
Beethoven, Jr., against G. F. Wall,
commenced in the Circuit Court on
Thursday, was concluded on Satur-
day about noon with a verdict of
500 in favor of the plaintiff. The
amount sued for was $500.
The will case Of Conley and others
against the estate of Dir. C. G. Luz
cas-, of Kearneysville, began Monday
with special Judge II. H. Byrer. of
Martinsburg, presiding. This case
is the outcome of will left by Mrs.
Aneta Trussel, of Jefferson County,
when she left most of her estate to
the late Dr. Chas. G. Lucas. The
heirs contested the matter, and at
former term of the court the jury
disagreed. Judge Rodgers was coun-
sci for the contestants and Is
unable to sit in the case.
The only alleged moonshine case
tried at the present term of court,
was the Indictment against Frank
Knighton, who occupied part of
the farm house, on the Maltbv farm.
owned by the Lucas estate, east of
Manning's Ferry, when he was ar
rested the first week in March.
Knighton was arrested for carrying
a deadly weapon, and while the Off
GERS were searching him for wea-
pons discovered that his pockets con-
tanned besides a blackjack, three
half pints of liquor. This revelation
lead to search of his premises. A
small quantity of liquor together
with a keg of moonshine mash was
found After finding the mash, JUS
tice Shugart, who had issued the
search warrant that resulted in the
find. elected from Knighton an add
mission that a still was located on
the farm. Going to the location in
Dictated by the accused, officers re-
covered the still and coil. brought
the apparatus to town and produced
them in evidence at the trial
Knighton, when put on the wit
ness stand, had plausible explana-
ton of all the offenses charged
against him. The still, mash and
liquor, he said, were found by him
in the hills, near his house. As soon
as he had time to make the trip to
town in a wagon, he told the jury he
intended to bring the property in
and turn it over to the officials. The
jury acquitted him after deliberat-
ing half hour.
The Knighton verdict concluded
the criminal docket for the term
The case against Tom Rodefer, in
dicted for selling moonshine, and
whose trial at the January term of
court ended by the jury failing to
agree on a verdict, was continued
until the September term of court
The bond for his appearance at that
time was fixed at $500.
A sentence of four years at
Moundsville was awarded Lewis
Staubs, who was indicted for the
robbery of the Capitol Department
Store, at Harper's Ferry. There
was no trial in his case, he being.
sentenced on pleading guilty to the
charge.
Judge Rodgers ruled in the Will
hide case, brought before him to
construe some features of %he license
law. Wilhide, who is a resident of
Maryland, came to Shepherdstown
and sold fruits, fish, soft drinks,
garden and farm products, and had
only secured town license. The
case came up before Magistrate
Moler, who found him guilty of
operating without license, from
which the appeal was taken.
Judge Rodgers opinion permits
the sale of garden and farm products
bought from farmers without first
obtaining a State license therefor.
there being an exemption in the law
to this effect However, Judge
Rodgers held that stock of peddlers
purchased from commission men and
sources other than farmers made
nacassary license Fr1lits and
other goods, the Judge pointed out,
made a license necessary.
George Gordon, indicted for steal
ing meat from a smoke-house on the
farm of Mrs. M. f. Trussell, near
Leetown, plead guilty to a charge of
petit larceny. Judge Rodgers SEN,
fenced him to one year in jail.
All the matured timber in tract
of twenty acres on the Jordan farm.
r. o. a. A