Hill Hired to Murder Dodson
Philadelphia Inquirer —
A Youthful Slayer’s Story of a Cold-Blooded Crime.
Plied With Liquor and Urged on by Reed and Derrickson.
Remarkable Defense in a Camden Murder Trial—The Prisoner Unconcerned—His Counsel Endeavoring to Secure a Second Degree Verdict.
Lolling in a big arm chair in the Camden Criminal Court yesterday John Hill, a diminutive specimen of colored humanity, listened with baffling unconcern to evidence which is likely to consign him to the gallows. He was on trial for the murder of Joseph Dodson, on October 16 last.
Hill is barely four feet and a half high, 18 years old and an orphan. If his story is true, he was hired to kill Dodson by Alfred Reed and Marwood Derrickson, proprietors of a colored saloon and “free-and-easy” at Seventh and Sycamore streets, where he was employed. Reed and Derrickson are under indictment as accomplices, and their trial will follow Hill’s.
POLITICS, WHISKY AND MURDER.
There seems to have been a combination of politics, hatred and whisky back of the Dodson murder. The parties concerned represent an element of Camden’s colored population which keeps the criminal court busy.
Besides keeping a saloon and dance hall Reed and Derrickson are Democratic “workers.” As a large majority of the colored voters of their ward are Republicans, political disputes and rows in their place are of frequent occurrence.
Dodson was just coming of age and had announced his intention of voting the Republican ticket. This put him in ill favor with Reed and Derrickson, as well as with young Hill, who was employed by them as floor manager of their dance hall.
Dodson was shot about 1 o’clock on Sunday morning, October 6. On the preceding Thursday night he raised a row in the dance hall and beat young Hill when the latter tried to eject him. On the following night Hill claims that Dodson chased him down the street with a revolver and threatened to kill him.
THE PRISONER’S STORY.
Hill’s story of the murder as told by himself on the witness stand in his own defense is as follows:
“On Saturday ‘Sweeney’ (Marwood) Derrickson came to me and said, ‘Hilly, if you’ll do something for me and let no one know it, I’ll give you $2.50. I want you to kill Dodson. No one can hurt you, as we stand in with the Democrats.’ I didn’t want to do it, and told them so.
“That night I took a drink Derrickson gave me, and it made me feel funny; it went to my head. He poured something out of a bottle with a seal on it into my blackberry brandy and made me drink it. He gave me the revolver and told me to go out. When I got out someone said ‘shoot,’ and I shot and hit somebody. Then I went into the saloon and got $1.50 from Reed. That’s all I remember until the next morning, when I was arrested.”
THE STATE’S EVIDENCE.
Supreme Court Justice Garrison and Lay Judge Gaunts sat on the bench when the case was opened by Prosecutor Jenkins. Hill, who was defended by Lawyers F. A. Rex and Harry S. Scovel, pleaded not guilty. After twenty-two challenges a jury was secured.
Dr. Edward S. Schellinger, former resident physician at the Cooper Hospital, testified that Dodson died in half an hour after his admission to the hospital. County Physician Iszard exhibited the murdered man’s skull, showing the hole made by the bullet, just above the left eye.
George Hinson, who was with Dodson when he was shot, said he saw a flash about 30 feet away and Dodson fell. They had just stepped out of Reed & Derrickson’s place and were on their way home.
Alexander Matthews testified that a few minutes before the shooting, while he was sitting on Reed & Derrickson’s step, Hill said to him that Dodson and another fellow were after him, and if they did anything to him he would shoot Dodson.
THREATENED TO KILL DODSON.
Moses Hanson and Charles Monroe told of threats Hill made on Saturday, that he was going to buy a “gun” and shoot Dodson. Monroe said that after the shooting Hill ran into the saloon and cried, “I shot Joe Dodson, but he shot at me first.” Hill asked Reed and Derrickson what he should do, and they said he would have to fix that for himself.
Prosecutor Jenkins tried to have the stenographic report of the evidence at the Coroner’s inquest introduced, but it was ruled out. Then he called Constable Beckett to testify that Hill had admitted at the inquest that he had killed Dodson.
DRUNK AND DRUGGED.
This closed the State’s case, and in opening for the defense Lawyer Scovel said they would show that Reed and Derrickson urged Hill on to do the shooting and plied him with liquor, and drugged him until he didn’t know what he was doing.
The youthful murderer was put on the stand and told his story as given above.
County Detective Gallagher testified to finding the revolver in a drawer in Reed and Derrickson’s saloon. It belonged to the latter. It is a self-cocking weapon of the “English bull-dog” pattern. Five chambers were loaded and two empty.
Several witnesses, all colored, testified that Hill was under the influence of liquor the night of the shooting.
DRUGGING DENIED.
Albert Reed and Marwood Derrickson were called in rebuttal by the State and both denied that they had drugged Hill’s liquor. Their criminal record was brought up against them by the defense on cross-examination.
All the evidence was in when court adjourned, and the case will be argued this morning. Hill’s lawyers’ hope, to secure a verdict of murder in the second degree.
“Blackstrap” Acquitted.
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Got Off Despite Theodore Lambert’s Testimony Against Him.
William, alias “Blackstrap,” Davis and Theodore Lambert were arraigned in the Camden County Criminal Court yesterday on a charge of robbing the house of John G. Savage, of Hyde Park, in October last. Pawnbroker Lindsay, of Philadelphia, indentified [sic] Lambert as the man who pawned the stolen articles.
Lambert then turned State’s evidence and swore that he, “Blackstrap” Davis and Josiah Stevens went to Savage’s house and he stayed outside. The articles were thrown out of the house to him and he pawned them.
The jury did not believe Lambert and acquitted Davis, who was held to see if the Philadelphia authorities have any charge against him. If they do not appear against him to-day his counsel, Lawyer John L. Semple will apply for his discharge.
Stevens and Lambert will be tried for the murder of Baker William G. Kairer at the next term of court. Lawyer H. S. Scovel was yesterday appointed by the court to defend Stevens. Lawyer Semple will defend Lambert.
A Year Each for Policy People
Camden Daily Telegram —
Mrs. Harriet Smith Fainted When Sentenced.
DETERMINED TO STOP THE GAME
Judge Vroom Says the Court is Decided About This Matter and in Two Cases Imposes the Full Penalty.
This was the last assize day for the present term of the Quarter Sessions Court. Judges Vroom, McDowell and Burdsall held a consultation in the law library until twenty minutes after ten o’clock when they came into the large court room.
Lulu Robinson was sworn and said that David Fry had cut her with a razor during a quarrel one evening at Eighth and Ann streets. Fry was quarreling with the others and the witness interfered when Fry cut her across the cheek with a razor. Fry has pleaded guilty to the assault.
Mrs. William Still, of Snow Hill, was sworn, and stated that on a Saturday night her husband came home and seemed to be in a bad humor. He quarreled with her all night Saturday and all day Sunday. He asked her if she was going to stop running around and as she did not answer him Still pulled out a revolver and shot her. He fired three more shots at her as she laid on the floor and when she was going out the door he shot her in the head.
“Did this not occur over your running with other men?” asked Lawyer John L. Semple, who is counsel for William Still.
No, sir. I did not go with other men.”
Witness said she knew a man by the name of Grey, but denied that she had ever been intimate with him.
In answer to Judge Vroom Mrs. Still said that she had been shot three times and was in the Cooper Hospital some time. She said her husband had threatened to cut her throat on other occasions. Still was not present and the court ordered that he appear on Monday or his bail would be forfeited and a bench warrant issued.
William Jacobs, who was convicted yesterday of involuntary manslaughter in killing George Whittington, was sentenced to one year in State Prison.
When the convicted policy dealers were arraigned Lawyer H. S. Scovel said he desired to make a few remarks in their behalf. He said that in the case of William Parker the jury failed to agree and he advised Parker afterwards to enter a plea of guilty. Parker had never been accused before of a crime and Lawyer Scovel asked that the Court be lenient. He also said there was no record of Walter Garwood having been convicted before. Lawyer Scovel also asked that mercy be shown in the case of Mrs. Harriet Smith, who pleaded guilty. He said there was no question but what she had been convicted before of policy writing but her husband was dead and she had a large family to support. “I do not think the State Prison was ever erected for the imprisonment of a woman unless she had committed some great crime,” said Lawyer Scovel.
The Court said that some of the convicted policy writers had been convicted before of violating the policy laws and the Court had been lenient and imposed fines instead of imprisonment.
“The Court is determined to break up policy playing in this city,” said Judge Vroom. “The sentence of Walter Garwood and Washington Ketline is that they serve one year in the State Prison and pay a fine of $100 each. This is the full penalty of the law. Harriet Smith and William Parker will serve one year in State Prison without a fine.”
As the defendants were being taken out of the court room to the county jail Mrs. Smith swooned away just outside of the entrance to the court room. A cot was secured from the county jail and Constable Jacob Leon and Jailor David Logue placed her on it and carried her over to the county jail.
Lawyer J. J. Crandall asked that Washington Ketline be released on bail as he had secured a writ of error to carry the case to the Supreme Court. Bail was fixed at $1,000 and John Cockran and Joseph Swing appeared to enter the necessary security. They were closely questioned by the Court.
Talked About in Camden
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Talked About in Camden
Among the bright minds of the junior bar of West Jersey is Henry Sydney Scovel, one of the Republican Assembly nominees. He is 36 years of age, and is the son of the well-known litterateur, lawyer and evangelist, Colonel James Matlack Scovel. His mother was a niece of John W. Mickle, a famous man in his day, and the leading director of the Camden and Amboy Railroad in West Jersey, while his grandfather was Dr. Isaac S. Mulford, a prominent physician of Camden. Lawyer Scovel was admitted to the bar fifteen years ago, and early displayed fondness for the law as his chosen profession. In appearance he is of medium size, slender in figure and up to date in all athletic sports. He married Gertrude Alma Graham, the charming daughter of Edward Graham, cashier of the Commercial Bank, of Philadelphia. Two beautiful children grace his well-appointed home in Haddonfield.
As a lawyer he is well read, and in trying important cases has a captivating address, ready and alert in cross-examining his witnesses.
Another man of prominence and influence in Camden is George W. Jessup. He is a native Jerseyman, having been born at Jessup's Mills, in Gloucester county. In 1868, when 18 years of age, he moved to Camden, and in 1890 engaged in the real estate business. He is an active member of the Board of Trade and was secretary of that organization for three years.
Mr. Jessups organized the Real Estate Owners' and Agents' Protective Association for the mutual protection of landlords and tenants and is its secretary.
O. Glen Stackhouse has been visiting relatives in Reading, Pa.
W. Scott Albertson spent last Sunday in Newark visiting his sister.
Mrs. David Baird and her daughter were presented to John W. Griggs, the Republican gubernatorial candidate at the Camden Republican Club on Wednesday.
HENRY SIDNEY SCOVEL was a prominent lawyer who served as Camden County prosecutor from 1905 to 1912. He was a member of the New Jersey State Assembly in 1897. He was also a good friend of the poet Walt Whitman as early as September of 1885.
Henry S. Scovel was born in 1858, and resided in the North Ward as late as 1870. His father, Colonel James Matlock Scovel, was locally famous as an orator, evangelist, and lawyer. His mother was the niece of John W. Mickle, and his maternal grandfather was Dr. Isaac S. Mulford, both of whom had schools named after them in Camden in the 1870s, which is a fairly good gauge of the two men's local importance and reputation.
On January 28, 1897 Henry S. Scovel was one of several dignitaries who were in attendance at the opening of the Catholic Lyceum on Broadway at Federal Street, adjacent to the church. Other attendees included Governor John W. Griggs, Mayor John L. Westcott, Attorney-General Samuel H. Grey, Camden city solicitor J. Willard Morgan, Senator H. W. Johnson, Assemblyman Louis DeRousse, J.J. Burleigh, Sheriff David Baird Sr., then Postmaster Harry B. Paul, ex-Judge Armstrong, Architect Henry S. Dagit, George A. Frey, and H. L. Bonsall. The Lyceum would evolve into Camden Catholic High School.
In 1898 he had a run-in with Stockton (later East Camden) politician Jake Schiller. It was during the second trial of Eli Shaw for the murder of his mother and grandmother, Mrs. Anna Shaw and Mrs. Emma Zane. They were found shot to death in September, 1897, in their bedroom of their home on Line Street near Third. Detective John Painter had found a revolver hidden in the chimney, one of several points in the circumstantial evidence that resulted in the indictment of Shaw. He was then a widely known young man about town and his arrest caused a big sensation. As time drew near for the trial feeling was intense, for there were adherents for and against the son and grandson, those arguments often grew bitter.
Henry Sidney Scovel, then one of the prominent criminal lawyers of Camden county, was retained to defend Shaw. Scovel was son of James Matlack Scovel, himself one of the leading barristers of this section. When the trial of Shaw was under way the city was astounded when it was charged Scovel had tampered with the jury. It was Schiller who made the charge.
The trial stopped abruptly. Scovel emphatically denied the story of Schiller and demanded vindication. An indictment for embracery was returned and at a trial, which had Camden on the tip toe of expectancy for days, it developed there was absolutely nothing to verify the charge, and Scovel was acquitted. He acted in two subsequent trials of Shaw, the second being a disagreement and the third acquittal for the son and grandson of the slain women.
Schiller, strangely enough, in later years became friendly with Scovel and when the latter was prosecutor from 1905 to 1912, “Jake,” as he was familiarly known, was usually to be found in the office at the courthouse. Scovel was then a white haired man of flowery speech and impressive personality who let bygones be bygones.
Henry Scovel married Gertrude Alma Graham in 1889. There were three children, daughters Ethel and Beatrice, and a son, Henry Graham Scovel, who followed his father into the practice of law.
In the fall of 1902 Henry S. Scovel was reported have been engaged to conduct the defense of Paul Woodward, who was on trial for murder. This was not the case however, and Mr. Scovel took no part in the proceedings. Woodward was found guilty and was executed at the Camden County jail on January 7, 1903.
Henry S. Scovel served for a time around 1905 in the New Jersey State Assembly. While there he sponsored a bill in the legislature compelling traction companies to construct front and rear enclosed platforms on trolley cars.
A resident of Haddonfield by 1910, Henry S. Scovel passed away there on October 5, 1918. He had been ill for some time prior to his demise.
Walt Whitman Surprised
New York Times —
Presented by Many Friends With a Handsome Horse and Phaeton.
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 15.—Toward sundown this evening, as Walt Whitman was half dozing over a pile of manuscript near a window in his little frame house in Camden, the jarring rattle of wheels startled the old man, and a smart chestnut horse drew a natty phaeton up to the door. The poet glanced over his flowers at the turnout and nodded kindly to the little chap who held the reins, for he was a favorite, the son of his old friend, Tom Donaldson. The boy carefully tied the animal and handed up with a mysterious air a portentous envelope, big and fat, and started to walk away, but was called back and induced to enter the cozy workshop.
“What’s all this about, my boy?” inquired Walt Whitman, turning over the missive, and handling it very much as if he feared it might contain dynamite.
“Them’s the documents,” piped the little fellow, in a childish treble.
“What documents? A commission from some foreign Court?” returned the old gentleman playfully, as he held the envelope up to the light and fruitlessly attempted to peer through the cover into the contents. “Is it a patent of nobility, or is it an address from a lot of my young friends?”
“Why don’t you open it?” suggested the somewhat matter-of-fact emissary, who was on pins and needles through the consciousness of the possession of a huge secret many sizes too big for so small a custodian.
It seemed a long time that the poet consumed in adjusting his glasses and scanning the chirography of the superscription, and whole eras winged their way into eternity while he deliberately and nicely cut open the end and extracted the contents. Several large sheets of paper were folded up within. On them were scrawled the names of a number of prominent men in the various walks of life, but not a line to explain their significance save “Walt Whitman, with compliments of——“ which was written at the top of the first page.
The old poet turned the sheets upside down and looked on the backs of them, while his forehead wrinkled with perplexity. He took off his glasses and polished them with his silk handkerchief, but their increased translucence did not augment their power of unraveling the mystery. In utter astonishment he turned to the boy, whom he began to suspect of joking with him, but that young man, who had been writhing under the effects of volcanic emotions, sprang to his feet, dashed out of the door, yelling wildly:
“Its [sic] yours—all yours—yours for keeps !” and disappeared.
“God bless us, Mary,” gasped the old gentleman, as his good housekeeper appeared, with consternation written all over her features. “There’s something the matter with the boy.”
At this moment Mr. Donaldson walked in and grasped his old friend by the hand.
“What does it mean ?” the poet demanded.
“The horse and phaeton are a present from your friends, whose names are on the paper,” was the laughing reply.
But Walt Whitman could not grasp the idea that he was the recipient of so valuable a present. “Don’t joke me,” he pleaded; “I never owned such a thing in my life.”
It took some time to convince him that the present was for him, and then he put on his wide-brimmed sombrero and insisted upon getting into the phaeton and dashing out into the green lanes. Mr. Donaldson accompanied him, and after a three-mile drive the poet let him out and drove to his old friend, Henry S. Scovel, and insisted that Mrs. Scovel ride out behind the wonderful animal.
It was long after dark before the poet consented to return to his home, and when a reporter called at 9 o’clock, the old gentleman was fagged. He was sitting in his great armchair beside the window, with the lights turned down. The floor and table were still littered with books and papers, and the evening mail was still unopened.
“You don’t know how many good friends I have,” said the bard, as he half rose to extend his hand. Then running his fingers through his silver locks, and rolling back his wide collar still further from his throat, he continued:
“I have before now been made to feel in many touching ways how kind and thoughtful my loving friends are, but this present is so handsome and valuable, came so opportunely, and was so thorough a surprise, that I can hardly realize it. My paralysis has made me so lame lately that I had to give up even my walks for health let alone my rambles in the country, and my constitution has suffered for exercise. It was all done so unostentatiously and delicately that I was greatly affected. Tom Donaldson knew that I was getting more feeble, and he wrote to a number of friends and admirers of mine in different parts of the country, proposing presenting me with a carriage and horse to ease my declining years. Some of them I do not know. Some are very dear friends. Here are their names: John G. Whittier, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Samuel L. Clemens, (Mark Twain,) Charles Dudley Warner, John Boyle O’Reilly, William J. Florence, Edwin Booth, and Lawrence Barrett, Mrs. S. A. Bigelow, of Boston; Horace Howard Furness, L. N. Fairchild, E. A. Buck, of the Spirit of the Times; R. W. Gilder, of the Century; Edward T. Steel, A. K. McClure, Stephen B. Elkins, Charles Emory Smith, Talcott Williams, William D. O’Connor, of Washington; J. H. Bartlett, George H. Boker, Edwin S. Stuart, William W. Justice, John Harker, of Exina, Canada, and R. M. Buck, M. D., and Dr. Beeman, of London, Canada.”
“It is an interesting list, isn’t it?” the poet continued. “It seems that this phaeton was made for me in Columbus, Ohio, and is as easy and convenient as it can be. It is very low in the bed, has gig lamps, and deep cushions. Oh, I shall have a famous time this Fall ! They tell me there are lovely drives south and east of Camden, and there are sleepy old villages that I am informed are very like old English hamlets. I shall take long drives into the country each day, and once more enjoy nature, if not as I used to, at least as deeply and thankfully.”
It is not generally known that the poet was recently in receipt of a considerable sum raised among his English admirers by subscription and without his knowledge. The gift is said to be about $500 in value, and it was very welcome, coming as it did, when Walt Whitman was in financial embarrassment.
Lawyer Scovel on Trial
New York Times —
He Is Charged With Embracery in the Shaw Murder Case
CAMDEN, N. J., April 6—H. S. Scovel, the lawyer who started to defend Eli Shaw, the young man accused of murdering his mother and grandmother, was put on trial here today charged with embracery arising out of the Shaw case. Information coming to Judge Dixon during the second day of the Shaw trial caused the case to be suspended at that point, and an investigation by the Grand Jury resulted in the indictment of Scovel.
The indictment charged the defendant with offering Jacob Schiller, a panel juror in the Shaw case, the sum of $100 in consideration of the latter giving a verdict favorable to the defendant. But one similar case is cited in the law books, and the penalty fixed by law is $600 fine and two years’ imprisonment.
Edward Enterken, the County Jailer, the State’s first witness, swore that after the Shaw panel was drawn, Scovel came to him in the county jail, and, calling his attention to the list, asked if Schiller was “all right.” Enterken said he thought he was. Scovel then told the witness to tell Schiller there was $100 in it for him if he were “all right.” When the first call of the case resulted in a mistrial, the witness testified that Scovel came to him and asked him never to say anything about the $100.
Juror Schiller was the next witness, but his evidence was indeterminate. Scovel denied the charge in every particular. Eli Shaw, who was brought from his cell to testify, said he knew nothing of attempts to bribe anyone.
The case will close tomorrow. An acquittal is looked for.
More in the Net of Bar Committee
Philadelphia Inquirer —
End of Arrests of Persons Suspected of Election Frauds in Camden Is Not in Sight
In carrying out their plan to bring to justice all persons who are alleged to have been guilty of fraud in connection with the recent election in Camden, the members of the special committee of the Camden County Bar Association, of which Lawyer F. Morse Archer is the chairman, yesterday caused several additional arrests George Murray, a policeman, was held in $500 bail by Justice Thompson on a charge of illegal registering of a voter while Charles D. Crane, an election officer in the Third precinct, Third ward, was held in $1000 bail on two charges, one of attempting to vote illegally, made by Jacob Wagner, and another of aiding and abetting illegal voting, the complainant being Daniel J. Hiland. The complainants are Democratic workers.
In addition to these, John Stockton, Martin Carrigan and Joseph Sparks were held in $500 bail on a charge of “urging” a vote declared to have been fraudulent. It was stated there are numerous other cases, so many in fact that it is impossible to state where the end will be. The prosecutions will involve persons scattered throughout the city and county, and it is asserted that both the grand jury and Prosecutor Scovel will be kept busy for weeks to come.
With respect to the Crane case, it is alleged that he was an election officer in the Third ward, and that he left his station for several hours, visiting several other districts, where he is said to have attempted to vote. In one instance he is alleged to have gone in the Fourth ward, where Stockton and the others are said to have urged that his vote be taken, although knowing that he was not the man he represented himself to be. After an absence of four or five hours, Crane, it is said, returned to his district. Murray, the policeman, is alleged to have placed the name of a man on the list whom he knew was not a resident of the precinct.
While Democratic election workers have thus far been the complainants, it is declared that much of the information was gathered by members of the Bar Association’s committee, which visited most of the precincts in Camden. They assert that the conditions were nothing short of appalling, as will be shown in good time. Not only Republican, but Democratic workers and election officers are said to be involved. It is the intention of the committee to go ahead irrespective of who the investigation strikes, and prosecutions are to be vigorously pressed.
Officials Celebrate Birthdays
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Attorney General John W. Wescott and Prosecutor William J. Kraft, in Camden, yesterday jointly celebrated their natal anniversaries. Both are Democrats and are close personal friends. The Attorney General was born in 1847 and the Prosecutor in 1870. They were the recipients of the felicitations of their host of friends and each was the guest of the other at an informal luncheon. Mr. Kraft will step out of office on March 14 to be succeeded by Speaker of the House Charles A. Wolverton, who was an assistant to Prosecutor Henry S. Scovel some years ago. Mr. Kraft will resume his private law practice with his son, Bayard, who is now in France, and Wayne, who has been associated with his father in the Prosecutor’s office.
More Gamblers Arrested
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Members of the Camden County Bar Association, pose for a photograph during their annual shad dinner, around 1894. From left (first row) Judge Charles Joline, Supreme Court Justice Charles Garrison, Judge Richard R. Miller, vice chancellor Henry C. Pitney, Supreme Court Justice Alfred Reed, Benjamin Shreeve, Caleb Shreeve, George H. Pierce; (second row) William Casselman, Edwin Bleakly, J. Willard Morgan, Peter Voorhees, Samuel Beldon, Frank Shreeve, Scuyler Woodhull, Lewis Starr, H. S. Scovel, George Vroom, Charles Wooster, and Howard Carrow; (third row) Samuel Robbins, E. A. Armstrong, Thomas Curley, unknown Philadelphia lawyer, Charles Stevenson, H. F. Nixon, Henry I. Budd, Israel Roberts.
Camden Daily Telegram, May 2, 1895. Harriet Smith, Walter Garwood, John Walters, Fred Parker, William Parker, Isaac Shreeve, Wilson Jenkins, George Roop, Henry S. Scovel, William Jones
DID NOT GO TO TRENTON.
Judge Vroom Instructs Sheriff Barrett to Hold Mrs. Smith.
No stone is being left unturned to prevent Mrs. Harriet Smith from serving a year in State Prison for selling policy. It was said last night that Mrs. Smith was in such delicate health from her short confinement in the county jail that it was feared that if she was removed to the State Prison she would be unable to live until the expiration of her sentence.
Mrs. Smith was to have been taken to Trenton to-day and her friends realized that something must be done immediately if they wished to save her. There was no use in making another appeal to the Court for mercy unless they had some good grounds for clemency. The Court had refused to reconsider the sentence as it was determined to stop policy playing in this city if possible.
Mrs. Smith’s friends considered the only alternative left would be to secure a physician’s certificate that she was in such poor health that her confinement in the State Prison would result in her death.
County Physician Jones and Dr. McAllister were called in to make an examination. Mrs. Smith’s son and daughter and her counsel, H. S. Scovel, were also present. The physicians made a thorough examination and were with Mrs. Smith for nearly an hour. They found she was suffering from nervous prostration and gave a certificate accordingly, but they refused to grant a certificate stating that they believed she would be unable to serve her sentence.
Lawyer H. S. Scovel who has worked hard to save Mrs. Smith, as she is a widow with several children, took the certificate to Judge Vroom and secured a temporary stay of proceedings.
The notice issued by Judge Vroom was served on Sheriff Barrett this morning just as he was preparing to remove Mrs. Smith to State Prison. It restrains him from removing her from the county jail for the present and until he receives further orders from the Court. What the next move in the matter will be could not be ascertained.
Camden Post, June 7, 1895. Howard Carrow, John W. Wescott, Harriet Smith, Henry S. Scovel, Dr. William S. Jones, Dr. Alexander McAllister, Frederick Rex, Garret D.W. Vroom
FIGHTING TO SAVE BENTON.
Judge Carrow Comes to the Aid of Lawyer Crandall in the Case.
The case of Edward M. Benton and Joseph H. Hall, of the Citizen, came up before Judges Vroom, McDowell and Burdsall this morning in the Quarter Sessions Court. A number of members of the Committee of One Hundred were present as spectators. Lawyer J. J. Crandall appeared for the defendants. He made application for a new writ and attempted to throw the blame on County Clerk Barber and others for the dismissal of the other writ. He said he could not get the records from Clerk Barber nor could he secure the stenographic notes.
Later in the case Prosecutor Jenkins said he wished to make a statement for the public. He said that Mr. Crandall had cast reflections on County Clerk Barber and that the latter wanted it understood that he was not to blame in this matter as Mr. Crandall had not asked for the records until last Saturday. He had given Mr. Barber no time in which to get the records desired. Prosecutor Jenkins declared that if ever there was a manifestation of counsel’s neglect this case was one.
The Court refused to take any action in the matter, claiming that the records had been removed to the Supreme Court and no official notice had been received as to the action taken. The Court gave Crandall an opportunity for argument to-morrow, when it is expected the remitater [sic] will arrive.
Lawyer W. J. Kraft, who with Judge Carrow has been retained in the case, whispered to Mr. Crandall and the latter turned on him and shouted: “I want no advice from you.”
Lawyer Kraft said to the Court that Judge Carrow was also counsel in the case and would have something to say later.
“If Carrow is in the case I’ll withdraw” declared Lawyer Crandall.
Judge Carrow appeared later and asked the court to reconsider the sentence and make it a fine. He said that he was not regularly employed as counsel in the case, but was acting through friendship to the defendants. He said he had been in the case from the first and had placed the matter in the hands of Lawyer Crandall. Judge Carrow said the best element of the community desired to see the sentence reconsidered as the publication was made in good faith.
The court answered that nothing could be done until the records arrived.
County Physician Jones was called to the stand in the case of Mrs. Harriet Smith the convicted policy dealer, who was to have been taken to State Prison yesterday. He testified that he had examined Mrs. Smith’s condition in the county jail and found that she was suffering from nervous trouble and palpitation of the heart.
Dr. Jones stated in answer to questions by the Court, that in his opinion there was nothing to prevent her being taken to State Prison. Judge Vroom asked if it might precipitate a collapse.
“I stand by my certificate,” replied the County Physician. He said he did not believe that if Mrs. Smith had regular employment in the prison it would interfere with her condition. In reply to Lawyer Rex he said he did not think the shock of being taken to prison would produce serious results.
Dr. Alexander McAllister corroborated the testimony of County Physician Jones as he had also examined Mrs. Smith. He was asked if she could bring on these attacks at will. Dr. McAllister said to a certain extent she might as she could allow herself to become sufficiently excited.
The court laid the matter over until to-morrow in order that Judge Westcott, who has been retained by Mrs. Smith may be heard.
Mrs. Grantz, wife of Policeman Grantz, of Stockton, who was sentenced to three months in the county jail for assault and battery, appeared to ask for a reconsideration of his sentence. She could say nothing for her sobs and after asking her some questions about her husband’s business and family the matter was taken under consideration.
A short session of the Orphans’ Court was held when the Elliott case was laid over until to-morrow. A few minor motions were heard.
Philadelphia Inquirer, October 20, 1895. Henry S. Scovel, John Cherry, Frank T. Lloyd, Isaac Coles, Louis DeRousse
Camden Post, September 29, 1896. Hugh Boyle, Camden Horse Railroad Company, E. Ambler Armstrong, Henry S. Scovel
CIRCUIT COURT.
The case of Hugh Boyle against the Camden Horse Railroad Company before Judge Miller was continued this morning. Boyle sues for $5000 damages. He claims he was driving a mineral water wagon and was struck at Front and Federal streets and permanently injured in the spine by one of the defendant's cars.
Dr. McAllister stated that he was physician at the Cooper Hospital when Boyle was brought into that institution and that the injuries Boyle received were due to shock caused by the collision. He was badly injured. Harris Graffen, acting adjuster of the company, testified that Boyle called at the office and only demanded ten dollars for the loss of the bottles broken in the accident.
At the time of the accident Boyle never complained of being injured, and said he would be perfectly satisfied if he received the amount he asked.
M. W. Hall, secretary for seven years of the company, substantiated Mr. Graffen's testimony, and further said that Boyle offered to him to adjust the affair for ten dollars.
Ex-Judge John W. Wescott and Assemblyman-elect H. S. Scovel are enjoying a two weeks’ running trip at Edentown, North Carolina.
J. Carl De La Cour, George Bergen and William H. Chew took leading parts in the amateur theatricals given on Wednesday evening at the Salem Opera House.
Charles F. Currie, superintendent of the County Insane Asylum, has returned from a week’s trip to the Atlanta Exposition.
Bridgeton Evening News, October 8, 1907. Charles Gibson, Mrs. Frances Horner, Henry S. Scovel, Charles G. Garrison, Charles H. Peters
Henry S. Scovel Dies
Noted Camden Lawyer Succumbs After Long Illness
For many years one of the foremost figures in the Camden bar and widely known as the defender of the notorious Eli Shaw in his two trials for the murder of his mother and grandmother, Mrs. Eliza Zane, Henry S. Scovel died yesterday at his home in Haddonfield, after a long illness from a complication of ailments. Mr. Scovel was 60 years old. He was formerly prosecutor of Camden county, serving from 1905 to 1912. He served several terms in the Assembly at different periods of his active career.
From 1896 to 1897 he served as solicitor of the Board of Freeholders and was in the State Assembly from 1896 to 1897, 1903, 1904, and 1905, and again in 1914. He was also a member of the law firm of Scovel & Harding with his son. His unexpired term of Prosecutor Lloyd, from August of 1912 to 1915, he was named for the full term of five years, being elected in 1905. It was during this incumbency that he made his greatest efforts on behalf of destitute women whose husbands refused to contribute to their families.
He studied law with his father and was admitted to the bar at the January term of the Supreme Court, 1876. He is survived by his son Henry Graham Scovel, and daughters Ethel and Beatrice. Col. James Matlack Scovel was his father. Frank T. Lloyd, William T. Boyle, and Patrick Harding were among those noted in the obituary, as was Eli Shaw.
Philadelphia Inquirer, March 11, 1918. Charles A. Wolverton, Henry S. Scovel, Lawrence B. Reader, J. Stuart Straw, T. Harry Rowland, Frank Voigt, John Penn, Walter Keown, William J. Kraft. Click image for PDF of complete article.
Borough Officials Named
Appointments Made for New Fiscal Year at Haddonfield
HADDONFIELD, N. J., May 13.—The new fiscal year of the borough commissioners started tonight at the regular weekly meeting of the board, at which Mayor Joseph Lippincott presided. These were named borough officers for the coming year: Department of Public Affairs: Mayor Lippincott, director; borough clerk, Allen Clymer; borough solicitor, Henry S. Scovel; overseer of the poor, Charles L. Macready; recorder, Dean Pressey.
Ex-Assemblyman H. S. Scovel Dies
CAMDEN, Oct. 5.—Former Assemblyman Henry S. Scovel died at his home in Haddonfield today, after a long illness. Mr. Scovel last served in the lower house of the Legislature in 1914. His election that year was something in the nature of a “come back” in active politics.
He had previously been a member of the Assembly in 1903, 1904 and 1905, and also in 1896 and 1897.
Henry S. Scovel
Henry S. Scovel, former member of the Camden County bar, died Saturday at his home in Haddonfield. He was in his 61st year.
Mr. Scovel served as Camden County Prosecutor for seven years, from 1905 to 1912. He was born in Camden in 1858, the son of the late James Matlack Scovel, one of the most distinguished lawyers and orators of South Jersey. He was a Republican, having participated in the political activities of Camden for many years.
While in office as Prosecutor of the county, Harry Scovel became particularly and deservedly famous for vigorous prosecution of wife deserters. He also became well known through his espousal of the law now known as the “desertion act.”
He is survived by a daughter, Ethel, and a son Henry, and two daughters.
Schwab Under Bail
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Accused of Forging Mother’s Name to Promissory Note
William Schwab, the young man whose arrest was recommended by a jury in the Circuit Court before Judge Endicott in Camden, after his mother and three brothers had inferentially charged him with forging her name to a promissory note, was held in $500 bail by Justice Barr yesterday.
The complaint was made by County Detective John Cherry at the direction of Prosecutor Scovel, and Schwab is charged with forgery. He declares there will be a different story when he goes on the witness stand in his own behalf.
Not the Winslow Murderer
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Returning from Smithport, Pa., County Detective Cherry reported to Prosecutor Scovel in Camden yesterday that the man arrested at the former place under the impression of being Charles Neibel, the Winslow wife murderer, was not the man wanted.
Henry S. Scovel Relapse
Philadelphia Inquirer —
HADDONFIELD.—Former Assemblyman and Prosecutor Henry S. Scovel has suffered a relapse and is in a serious condition.
Testimonial Dinner to Dr. Fishburn
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Rev. Dr. William H. Fishburn, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, Camden, was given a testimonial dinner by the Ushers’ Union last night. Assemblyman Harry Scovel acted as toastmaster and addresses were made as follows: “Our Guest,” Prosecutor Frank T. Lloyd; “The Bench,” Supreme Court Justice Garrison; “Our City,” Mayor Charles H. Ellis; “The Relation of Other Denominations to Dr. Fishburn,” Judge Joseph H. Gaskill; “The Ushers,” Ralph Kellum; “Our Absent Guardian,” Hon. Joseph M. Engard. [cut off at the crop edge]
Scores Wife Deserters
Philadelphia Inquirer —
“Wife deserters shall receive no sympathy from this office, and if need be I will send a thousand miles to get them,” said Prosecutor Harry Scovel in Camden yesterday.
In carrying out this determination he sent Constable Charles Peters to Greensburg, Pa., over three hundred miles away, to get Howard Mensch, who had deserted his wife and three children. The man was brought back yesterday for trial.
Garrison Sets Date for Eli Shaw Murder Trial
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Justice Garrison had a consultation with Assistant Prosecutor Carson and Lawyer H. S. Scovel yesterday in reference to fixing an early date for the trial of Eli Shaw for the murder of his mother. The date will be decided upon at the opening of court on Tuesday next.
Mother Declared Note Was Forgery
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Camden Jury Rendered Verdict Against Son and Prosecutor at Once Began Criminal Action
Forging, it is alleged, the name of his mother to several promissory notes not only resulted in a jury before Circuit Court Judge Endicott, in Camden giving a verdict for $405 against William Schwab in favor of Samuel Paul, but also caused Prosecutor Scovel to take criminal action against him. When the jury gave its verdict a recommendation was made that Schwab be held responsible for his alleged act of forgery and upon information received County Detective John Cherry entered complaint before Justice Barr against the defendant.
On the witness stand Mrs. Schwab and her three sons declared that the signature appended to the promissory notes and imputed to be that of the woman was a forgery. The son William, who borrowed several hundred dollars from Paul, gave the latter the note.
Policy Writers Arrested.
Camden Post —
Washington Ketline, Mrs. Harriet Smith and Others Held in Bail.
Washington Ketline, alleged policy writer of North Front street, was held in $2,000 bail this morning by ‘Squire Schmitz on four different charges of policy-writing preferred by Mrs. M. J. Pullen. This is said to be the third complaint against Ketline for policy-writing.
Mrs. Harriet Smith, who was recently convicted of policy-writing and pardoned after being sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, was arrested again this afternoon on a similar charge, and the Squire held her in $1000 bail. Mrs. Smith fell in a fainting fit in the Squire’s office and was in that condition when her counsel, Harry S. Scovel, arrived.
Mrs. Smith’s daughter, Susie Smith Kinsey, was held in $500 bail by the ‘Squire on a charge of policy writing.
Concluding Court.
Camden Post —
Still Gets One Year for Shooting His Wife.
HIS PLEA TO THE COURT TODAY.
Refusal to Commute Harriet Smith’s Sentence. Other Matters That Were Finished Up This Morning
In the Quarter Sessions this morning the remnants of the late session were finished up.
Wm. Henry Harrison Still, who plead guilty to shooting his wife, was sentenced to one year in State Prison.
Lawyer John L. Semple made a plea for Still, and the latter told on the stand how for months he had known of his wife’s intimacy with Harry Gray. For the sake of his eight children he condoned the offense. On the day previous to the shooting he had gone to work at the Kirkwood ice pond. Gray was working there, and when Still went to work Gray left the pond. When Still went home it was some time before his wife let him in the house.
On the following morning he found footsteps around the house. After quarrelling with his wife for some time he finally shot her three times. He thought a great deal of his wife and gave her his money at the end of every month.
The mother of Gray recently showed Still a letter, he said, in which his (Still’s) wife acknowledged that her last child was Gray’s.
Lawyer Semple contended that had Still stood trial instead of pleading guilty he would never have been convicted.
After being out for a half hour the court said it was satisfied that Still had attempted to kill his wife and that had he accomplished murder he would have been convicted of murder in the first degree.
The Court then sentenced him to one year at hard labor.
Gilbert Boulton’s case then came up. Boulton had been sentenced to one year for assault and battery. Boulton was a member of the notorious “Spider gang.”
Lawyer Fred. A. Rex appeared with Boulton’s father, but the Court refused to revoke the sentence.
Judge Vroom said he saw no injustice in the sentence imposed.
Lawyer Harry S. Scovel made a strong plea in behalf of Harriet Smith, who was sentenced to one year for policy writing.
Mr. Scovel said that on Friday last he had said to the Court that Mrs. Smith had previously been convicted, but after going over the court records he found that this was not so. He had advised her to plead non vult contendre because of this impression, and now he felt that her sentence came through his error. He asked that her sentence be changed to a term in the county jail and a fine. Mr. Scovel said she was in a bad state of health and this could be shown by several physicians. He did not ask for her escape from punishment, but for leniency.
Lawyer Rex followed Mr. Scovel, but the Court was determined, and after a conference Judge Vroom said the Court had carefully considered the matter and would absolve Mr. Scovel from anything he had said. They had had a careful consideration in the first place. They had an object in sentencing these people, and while they feel sorry for the woman they must adhere to the object in view and must decline to change the sentence.
Mrs. Garwood was in court to plead for a commutation of the sentence of her landlord, Walter Garwood, who got one year for policy writing.
The Court said it was willing to hear Mrs. Garwood, but it was positive that Garwood perjured himself on the stand and it was not inclined to reduce his fine.
Mrs. Garwood did not make herself heard. Court was adjourned.
Policy and Pleasantries
Camden Daily Courier —
TRIAL OF ACCUSED DEALERS CHARACTERIZED BY WITTICISMS.
But It May Not be So Humorous When They Get Into Court—Three Held in Bail to Appear at Court—Six Were to Have Hearings.
A good-sized crowd of alleged policy slip sellers, witnesses, spectators and others gathered at the office of Justice of the Peace Cassady, this morning, where charges against several accused policy sellers were heard by the ‘Squire. W. H. Getty, who, it is said, represents one faction of the policy people, was on hand, and is the complainant against ten of the alleged law violators. Lawyer Harry Scovel appeared on behalf of the accused men, and saw that they secured bail. The first case examined was that against William Sampson, colored. Benjamin Short, a light-colored negro, was sworn, and ‘Squire Cassady said:
“Short, do you know William Sampson.”
The witness replied, “Yes, sir,” but his reply was slow and hesitating; in short he testified as though he disliked to do so.
“Do you know where he keeps?” was the next question put by the ‘Squire.
“Well, no;” was Short’s answer, “can’t say just where it is, but I know it’s down in Centreville.”
“Did you ever buy any policy slips off of him?” “Yes, sir.”
“When?” “On the 20th of June.”
“What did you pay for the slip?” “Ten cents.”
At this point the irrepressible Harry Scovel broke in with, “Did you make a ‘hit’ Short?”
“No, sir; I didn’t,” answered the witness, half smiling.
“What row did you play, the funeral row?” “No, sir.”
The witness was handed a policy slip and asked if he identified it as the one he purchased June 20th from the accused seller, William Simpson [sic], and he said that he did.
Richard Quinn, colored, tall and very black, sworn, testified that he was with the witness, Short, when the latter bought the slip from Simpson.
“That’s enough for this case,” decided ‘Squire Cassady. “Sampson, you are held in $500 bail to appear at the next term of court. Can you furnish bail?”
“Yes, we have bail for him,” interposed Lawyer Scovel. “Mr. Davis?”
Liveryman Samuel W. Davis stepped forward, qualified, and was accepted as bondsman.
Jacob Derry, colored, was next called. The two witnesses who testified in Sampson’s case, Short and Quinn, also testified in Derry’s case. Quinn swore that Derry kept a policy place on Baxter’s court and that on June 20th he purchased a policy slip of Derry and paid him five cents therefor. Short, who was with Quinn, corroborated the latter’s testimony.
Derry was held in $500 bail, ex-Policeman Isaac Shreeves going on his bond.
Herbert Drake, colored, the next accused policy seller arraigned, had no more than seated himself in a chair than Lawyer Scovel said, “you’re not related to the lawyer, are you, Drake?”
Drake smiled. “Might be related to you, Harry,” put in the ‘Squire.
“He is—as a good Republican,” retorted the attorney.
“Well, Adam was father to us all,” resignedly said the ‘Squire, and then the legal mill ground on. In Drake’s case the witness Short testified that he purchased policy slips of the accused, who keeps in the Second ward. The slip, pinned to the writ of complaint, was handed Short and he identified the slip he purchased. Quinn, who was with Short at the time of the sale, corroborated Short’s testimony.
Drake was held in $500 bail, ex-Policeman Shreeve also going his security to appear next September in court.
“Parker is here, Your Honor,” announced Lawyer Scovel. Parker, a rather tall colored man, came slowly forward. “Parker is sick today,” continued the attorney, “and he’s been sick for some time. I ——“
“Yes, and he may be sicker before he gets through with this,” put in ‘Squire Cassady.
“He may, and then again he may not,” glibly retorted the genial Harry, “but I want to say this, ‘Squire, Parker’s a sick man and the case against him is not ready. I’ll go his security to have him here whenever you want him.”
“All right, then,” said the ‘Squire. You can go on his bond.”
When the case of Susie Kinsey, alias Smith, was called, a witness with a huge, Paderewski-like shock of blood red hair arose and started toward the ‘Squire’s desk. The ‘Squire had been busy writing and when he glanced up and for the first time saw the huge globule of fiery red hirsute appendages approaching, he gasped, “O—h—h! Fire!”
“Somebody skin out and turn in an alarm,” was Lawyer Scovel’s timely “chip-in.”
After the laugh had subsided, the red-haired man said that he didn’t know Mrs. Smith or Mrs. Kinsey; had never purchased policy slips of her and didn’t know she was “in the business.”
“I’ll lay the case over, then,” said the ‘Squire, “until the other witnesses are here.”
Complaints lodged against other accused sellers were not heard this morning, but were laid over without date. The cases were those against Brake, Berry, Scanlon, Clark, Grady and Walker. Evidence against the accused was not in readiness to proceed against them.
Despite the evident feeling of pleasantry on the surface of matters this morning, there was also the plain indications of considerable hard feelings, which showed itself when many of the colored people glanced at each other or listened to the testimony which militated against them.
A rumor was in circulation this morning that a certain printing plant used to print policy slips, and which is said to be kept in a house on a main thoroughfare, was to be raided. The feeling between the two policy factions is undoubtedly running high, and, as one Justice of the Peace put it, “we (meaning the Justices) are reaping advantages from it.”
Merry War of Policy Men
Camden Daily Telegram —
Accused Dealers Given Hearings By Justice Cassady.
LIKELY TO PLAY THE COURT ROW
Three of the Prisoners Placed Under Bail and the Cases of Seven Others Continued—The Complainant Merely Smiles.
Several more arrests have been made in the policy war now going on between two factions in this city. Three alleged policy writers were held in $500 bail each this morning by Justice Cassady and seven other cases were postponed as some of the witnesses and one or two of the defendants were not present.
Archie Clark, colored, was the first arraigned before Justice Cassady. Kate Miskelly was called as a witness but swore that she had never bought policy of the defendant. Other witnesses were not present and his case was postponed.
Susan Smith, alias Kinsey, was not present and her case was put off until this afternoon at 2 o’clock.
William Sampson, colored, was the next defendant. His place is in Centreville. Benjamin Shaw, colored, identified a five cent policy slip he had bought from Sampson last June.
“Did you make a hit?” asked Lawyer H. S. Scovel who appeared to represent all the defendants.
“No, sir,” was the reply.
“What row is this?”
“I don’t know.”
“Is it the court row?”
“It seems to be in this instance,” ejaculated Justice Cassady, as he fixed bail at $500 for the defendant’s appearance at the September term of court.
Richard Quinn, colored, testified that he had never purchased any policy of Sampson, but that he had seen Shaw buy it there. Samuel Davis furnished bail for Sampson.
Jacob Derry, colored, of Baxter’s court, was the next victim. Quinn swore that he bought a five cent policy slip in the defendant’s place on June 10 last. Shaw testified that he saw Quinn buy the slip. Bail was fixed at $500, which was furnished by ex-Policeman Isaac Shreeve.
“How much bail are you responsible for now?” asked Justice Cassady.
“He has been relieved of it all,” said Lawyer Scovel. “The defendants have either been released or are serving time in Trenton.”
Edward Bassett failed to appear and his case was postponed.
Herbert Drake, colored, of the Seventh ward, was then arraigned. Shaw identified a policy slip he had purchased from the defendant on June 20 last. Quinn swore that he saw Shaw buy the slip. Isaac Shreeve furnished $500 bail for Drake’s appearance at Court.
“I seem to be in demand here,” said Shreeve as he stepped forward to furnish the surety for Drake. “Can’t I get a job at Pitman Grove?”
“We don’t want any policy people down there,” replied Justice Cassady.
The witnesses failed appear [sic] against Fred Parker and Lawyer Scovel remarked:
“Your honor, the defendant don’t appear to be very well.”
“He’ll probably be sicker before we get through with him,” retorted Justice Cassady.
His case was postponed along with those of John Scanlon, John Brady and John Walters.
W. Harry Getty is the complainant in all the policy cases now before Justice Cassady. He was an interested spectator at the hearings this morning, and smiled pleasantly at the fierce glances of some of the defendants
Charles Gilbert, who was committed to the county jail last week by Justice Schmitz in default of $1,000 bail, charged with writing and selling policy, was released from jail this morning. Mary Ellis, of Collingswood, furnished the necessary bail.
Camden Election Trials On Today
Philadelphia Inquirer —
There Is Much Speculation Regarding Outcome With Judge and Jury Unknown Quantity
The trials of those recently indicted for alleged violations of the election laws will begin this morning before Judge Joline in the Camden Criminal Court an event that those interested in politics have been looking forward to with some apprehension.
It is the idea of Prosecutor Scovel to try two cases a day if possible, those scheduled to undergo the ordeal this morning being Martin Carrigan and Charles Crane. In the event of them continuing to enter pleas of not guilty it is likely that the legal battle will be somewhat strenuous from the fact that the defendants have secured the services of former Attorney General Robert McCarter to look after their interests. A small army of witnesses has been summoned. The jury is an unknown quantity because very few of those on the present panel have ever before served in a like capacity.
Speculation is rife as to what will be done with those who may be convicted. Some say they will escape with fines, but as a matter of fact no one is aware of what Judge Joline will do, and it will be up to him alone. It is not likely that any sentences will be imposed until all of the cases have been disposed of
Policy Sentencing
Camden Post —
Walter Garwood, Harriett Smith, William Parker and Washington Ketline, were then called up for sentence for policy writing.
Harry S. Scovel plead for leniency in the cases of Garwood, Parker and Mrs. Smith.
Garwood, he said, had never before been convicted. Neither had Parker. In the latter’s case the jury disagreed and Parker then plead guilty. In the case of Harriet Smith Mr. Scovel said that though she had previously been convicted she was a widow depending entirely on her own efforts for her support. She had plead non vult contendre [sic] and as Mr. Scovel thought a woman ought to go to State Prison only on serious crimes he plead for mercy for his client.
The Court was by no means inclined to be lenient, however.
Judge Vroom sentenced Garwood and Ketline to one year each at hard labor and $100 fine, while Mrs. Smith and Parker were each sentenced to one year in State Prison.
In sentencing the defendants, Judge Vroom said, the Court had decided to break up policy dealing in this city.
Lawyer J. J. Crandall, for Washington Ketline, then came before the court with a writ of error. Pending the writ the court decided to hold Ketline in $1000 bail.
Joseph Swing, who said he owned the house No. 509 Taylor avenue, valued at $1000 and upon which there is a $[?]00 mortgage, and John Cochran, who swore he owned property at 243 Pine street, appeared as bondsmen, but the court refused to accept them.
Lawyer Crandall said he had another in reserve, but he had not appeared with the other bondsman when court adjourned.
Some Severe Sentences
Camden Daily Courier —
LOTTERY POLICY DEALERS GIVEN THE FULL EXTANT OF THE LAW.
A Business Court Which Announces its Purpose to Punish Law Breakers as the Laws Provide—Tribute Awarded Where Tribute is Due.
Policy sellers felt the strong hand of the law this morning, and Judge Vroom, speaking from the bench of the Quarter Sessions Court, stated that all offenders in the same line who came before the Court would receive the most severe penalty the law allowed. Judge Vroom’s language when speaking of the practice of policy selling was most severe and condemnatory.
“This Court,” said he, “has fully determined to break up the nefarious traffic, and all offenders hereafter convicted will receive the full penalty of the law.”
It was assize day at the Quarter Sessions Court this morning, and four persons convicted of violating the law concerning lottery, were early arraigned before the Court for sentence. Walter Garwood, who entered a plea of nom vult contendre [sic], was given a sentence of one year in the State prison and to pay a fine of $100 and costs. William Parker, colored, who was found guilty of policy selling, was given a sentence of one year, but no fine. Washington Ketline, who the Court designated as an old offender, was sentenced to one year in the penitentiary and to pay a fine of $100 and costs—the full limit of the law. When Mrs. Harriet Smith, of 750 Federal street, arose for sentence, she was visibly affected and seemed to know that her fate was to be a severe one. She was sentenced to one year in the penitentiary. She was taken from the court room crying and on her way down stairs to the Sheriff’s office fainted. She was removed to the jail on a cot, seriously ill. Mrs. Smith has a large family, and her sentence, of course, put her in a most trying position. But she has been before the Court several times before, and evidently thought she could continue policy selling indefinitely so long as she was only fined. Lawyer Harry Scovel made a strong appeal to the Court for clemency in her behalf, but it was not heeded. Lawyer Crandall, counsel for Washington Ketline, gave notice of carrying Ketline’s case to the Supreme Court on a writ of error, and Ketline was released on furnishing $1,000 bail.
Among the additional persons sentenced were the following:
William Jacobs, colored, involuntary manslaughter in causing the death of George Whittington last December, one year in the penitentiary.
David Fry, colored, who assaulted Georgiana Fry, a relative, with a razor, was given two years in the penitentiary.
“This Court is determined to put a stop to the practices of carrying deadly weapons and the indiscriminate use of them,” said Judge Vroom.
Henry Thomas, colored, was sentenced to thirty days in the county jail for having stolen a pair of shoes for his walnut-colored “Trilb[?]s”
Bail was declared forfeited in the following cases: Jeptha Hickman, assault and battery, Smith Cos[?]ell, bondsman; Wm. Wright, grand larceny, Mary Scovel, bondsman; Joseph Gallagher, petit larceny, Mary Scovel, bondsman; Frank Nelson, false pretences, John Lane, bondsman.
Today practically closes the spring term of the Court of Quarter Sessions, and in reviewing the business of the term it must be said that the Court has been a business-like one from start to finish. It has been such a term as is calculated to assure the public that the best interests of all were being carefully considered and judiciously guarded.
The Prosecutor and his assistant have strongly upheld the Court in its endeavors to administer the law, and the sentences of the Court clearly demonstrate a sincere conviction and desire to suppress lawless conditions and those public evils which threaten the peace of a community. Policy dealers have been rigidly dealt with, and they certainly begin to understand that they must stop their unlawful practices or go to the penitentiary. The fees from Justices’ courts have also received attention from the present Judges, and been cut down to what the Court considers just to the county’s taxpayers. Despite the large volume of business before the Court, all cases have received due consideration and care. Last, but by no means least, County Clerk Barber, by his prompt and methodical care of the records, has materially aided the Court, as also has Sheriff Barrett and his assistants.
Reducing Sentences
Camden Post —
The Policy People and Others Let Down Easy.
The Court of Quarter Sessions opened this morning at ten o’clock, Judges Reed, Woolston and Horner, on the bench.
The jury in the case of George Foster against John Hampton, which had been out since Saturday afternoon, returned a verdict of $50 in favor of the plaintiff.
Judge Reed stated that the majority of the court, Judge Reed dissenting, had decided to reconsider the sentences of John Fisher, George Watson and George Johnson, convicted of policy dealings. They were each sentenced to one year in State prison, which was changed to $100 fine each.
John Clark had been sentenced to the State prison for assault and battery on an officer, and this morning by unanimous decision the court commuted his sentence to a fine of $100
The case of Charles Pursglove, who was given two years in State Prison, was reconsidered by the Court this morning. His sentence was changed to a fine of $100 instead of two years in State Prison, Judge Reed objecting.
James Wright had plead guilty to a charge of selling liquor without a license, and was sentenced to pay a fine of $20 or stand committed to the county jail for 20 days.
William Smith, for policy playing, had been sentenced to State Prison for one year. This morning Judges Horner and Woolston made his sentence $100 fine and a bond of $1,000 not to write policies hereafter.
The cases of Johnson, Watson, Fisher and Smith were reconsidered on motion of H. S. Scovel, Esq.
The case of Pursglove was reconsidered on motion of J. J. Walsh, Esq.
Thomas Miles and John Ross were placed on trial; charged with receiving stolen goods—the cloth stolen from Caffrey’s carriage works. The case was not concluded at the time of going to press.
The fines of the convicted policy dealers John Fisher, George Johnson and George Watson, were paid this morning and they were released. William Smith, who is required to give $1,000 bonds, not to engage in the business again, is still in confinement. The case of “Doc” Quinn was not mentioned in court this morning.
Harry Getty, in whom the greatest interest centres, is not included with the reconsidered sentences, and his case will be taken to the Supreme Court. The bill of exceptions was presented to Judge Reed for his signature by Mr. Getty’s counsel, but His Honor refused to sign it until he has examined them. The papers, including the stenographer’s report, were then taken by the Judge. The members of the bar are anxious to have this case decided by the supreme bench, as it would settle the points now under dispute.
Wife Suspected Bigamy
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Had Husband Arrested and Lodged in Camden Jail
Successfully playing the role of an amateur sleuth, Mrs. Regina Rickart, of Sterner street, Philadelphia, broke down yesterday when her husband, Lewis Rickart, was arrested in Camden as a bigamist. She kissed him good-by and very apparently regretted her action in getting him behind the bars.
Rickart and his wife, who was Mrs. Regina Neef, were married in Camden, December 14, 1910, by Rev. Thilo Gorr, pastor of the German Lutheran Evangelical Church. They lived happily until a letter came from Germany, in which it was learned the man had another wife in the Fatherland. Mrs. Rickart visited Prosecutor Scovel and told her story, with the result that the wife agreed to get the man into the New Jersey jurisdiction. She inveigled him into visiting a vacant house with the idea of renting it, but when Rickart reached the Court House Detective Cherry was waiting and the man was placed under arrest.
Detective Smith Turns in Badge
Philadelphia Inquirer —
DETECTIVE JOHN SMITH
Announcement is made of the resignation of County Detective John S. Smith, of Camden, and one of the best-known sleuths in this part of the country. He sent his notice to quit to Prosecutor Scovel yesterday, and he will step out on May 15. It is his intention of embarking in the hotel business.
Since 1898 Detective Smith has taken an active part in running to earth all sorts and conditions of criminals.
Sues Policeman for Big Damages
Trenton Evening Times —
Trenton Man Charges that He Was Injured by Bluecoat in Camden
Clark Hill of 58 Hermitage Avenue has started suit in Mercer Circuit Court against Patrolman Thomas Guthridge of Camden to recover $5,000 damages. This litigation is the outcome of a personal encounter between Hill and Guthridge in Camden more than a year ago.
Hill and Guthridge met in Camden and engaged in words concerning a political campaign. Hill is alleged to have said something about McKinley that didn’t suit Patrolman Guthridge, who was off duty at the time.
Hill alleges that Guthridge struck him with such force that his neck was dislocated. This the defendant denies. He says all he did was place his hand over Hill’s mouth and caution him to cease the anti-McKinley talk.
Hill tried to have Guthridge indicted before the Camden County Grand Jury, but when the jury was ready to hear the complaint the complainant did not appear. He later sought to have Guthridge removed from the Camden police force.
Still later Hill went to the office of Prosecutor Harry S. Scovel at Camden and there charged that the attempt to have Guthridge indicted had been obstructed. John Lefferts Conard is counsel for the Camden policeman and Stephen C. Cook represents Hill. The case will be tried at the next term of Mercer Court.
No Hope for Policy Writers
Camden Daily Telegram —
The Court Refuses to Reconsider Sentences in Three Cases.
Lawyer Fred. A. Rex in the Court of Quarter Sessions this morning stated that a petition had been presented to the Court asking for a reconsideration of the sentence of Gilbert Boulton, the leader of the “Spider Gang” who was sentenced to State Prison for assault and battery on an officer. He asked that the Court consider the petition in a favorable light. Judge Vroom said the Court had investigated this matter thoroughly and as they believed no good would be accomplished by a reconsideration of the sentence the petition was denied.
Lawyer H. S. Scovel made an earnest appeal for a reconsideration of the sentence of Mrs. Harriet Smith, who pleaded non vult contendre [sic] to writing policy and was sentenced to one year in State Prison. Lawyer Scovel said that at the time Mrs. Smith was sentenced he had made the statement that she had previously been convicted of a similar charge. He had since investigated and found that the records failed to show that she had ever before been convicted of any crime. He spoke of her ill health and the large family of children that she had, some of whom were of tender age. He asked that if the Court considered it necessary that she should be imprisoned that they sentence her to confinement in the county jail and impose a fine, but not to subject this widow and her children to the disgrace of serving time in the State Prison.
Lawyer F. A. Rex also added a plea for mercy for Mrs. Smith. He said that this was not a heinous crime, but only made a crime by the statute.
The court held a short consultation and then Judge Vroom said: “The court has carefully considered the matter before imposing sentence. We absolve Lawyer Scovel for any feeling he may have in the matter caused by him stating that she had been convicted when she had not. We had an object in view when we imposed sentence, and as we consider that object right and just, in order to sustain that object we cannot reconsider the sentence in this case.”
Lawyer Scovel said that Mrs. Walter Garwood was present to ask for mercy for her husband, who has been sentenced to one year in State Prison and a fine of $100 for policy writing. The Court, however, refused to hear her, Judge Vroom stating that there had been a number of persons to see him at his office in relation to a reconsideration of the sentence of the convicted policy writers. “The Court believes the sentence was just and as Garwood was convicted of the crime and also committed perjury it will have no weight for Mrs. Garwood to ask for a reconsideration of the sentence,” said Judge Vroom.
Doran Made County Detective
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Prosecutor Scovel, of Camden, yesterday appointed Lawrence Doran, a former Democratic policeman, as County Detective, to succeed John S. Smith, who gave up sleuthing to enter the hotel business. Doran was third on the Civil Service eligible list, and in announcing the appointment the Prosecutor says he picked Doran because of his experience as a policeman and his well-known courage. Doran takes up his new duties next Monday.
Testing the Lloyd Law
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Camden Justice Marries a Couple Without a License and Is Held in Bail.
Camden justices of the peace having been advised that the Lloyd marriage license law is unconstitutional, have determined to carry it up to the Supreme Court on a test case. Justice Charles M. Baldwin volunteered to be the vicarious sacrifice and risk the penalty of $500 fine or six months’ imprisonment for marrying a couple without a license. He performed the ceremony yesterday. The groom was a Philadelphian and the bride a resident of Vineland. They were not deterred by the possibility of the legality of the marriage being questioned.
Immediately after the ceremony Justice Baldwin was arraigned before Justice of the Peace Schmitz and held in bail, charged with violating the Lloyd marriage license law. When the case comes before the court it will be certioraried to the Supreme Court. Lawyer and Assemblyman H. S. Scovel, who advised the justices that the law is not constitutional, will represent Justice Baldwin.
More Gamblers Arrested
Philadelphia Inquirer —
John O’Brien, who figured so conspicuously at the raids of the Gloucester gambling dens last week, surrendered himself yesterday. Ezra Conkling, who was also implicated, gave himself up. Justice Fox held each of the men in $1,000 bail on the charge of inciting a riot. Recorder Braker compelled O’Brien to furnish an additional $1,000 bail on two charges of assault and battery. Lawyer H. S. Scovel is the complainant in one case and Policeman William Harvey in the other. Charles S. Ridgway furnished security.
Boyle Gets $900 Damages
Camden Daily Courier —
Hugh Boyle, the bottler, was awarded $900 damages by the Circuit Court jury which tried his case against the Camden Horse Railroad Company, late last night. Harry S. Scovel was Boyle’s counsel.
Attorney General Aiding Prosecutor
Bridgeton Evening News —
Members of State Mutual’s Board of Directors Summoned Before Grand Jury in Camden.
Vice Chancellor Leaming, in Camden yesterday granted the application of the receivers of the State Mutual Building and Loan Association to eliminate the names of 1100 shareholders who have disposed of their holdings to a speculating company.
All of the members of the Board of Directors of the association were summoned as witnesses before the grand jury yesterday. These included such prominent men as Rev. Dr. F. R. Brace, Israel G. Adams, Judge Harry Douglass, J. Willard Morgan, Charles B. Coles, A. C. Havens, T. W. Synott, P. Kennedy Reeves, former Judge Joseph Gaskill, H. O. Newcomb, S. Stanger Iszard and J. Frank Shull. None of them testified, however, they being told to return today.
County Detective John S. Smith, who has been making an investigation for Prosecutor Scovel in the northern section of the State, was called as a witness, as was also Frank C. Sayres, an expert accountant who worked over the books of the association.
Attorney General Edmund O. Wilson was before the grand jury with the Prosecutor. It is understood that he explained some of the phases of the crimes act.
While former Judge E. Ambler Armstrong, the association’s president, has not been subpoenaed, it is said he has made a request to appear before the grand jury.
Italian Republican League
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Dedication of New Club House Attracts Many Officials
Many officials and hundreds of persons participated in the dedication and reception given last night in the new building of the First Italian Republican League, at 813 South Fourth street, Camden, last night. Recorder’s Clerk William Knight acted as toastmaster at a banquet, at which the following toasts were responded to: “Our City,” Mayor Charles H. Ellis; “Our Judiciary,” Prosecutor Harry S. Scovel; “Citizenship,” Antonio Mecca; “Our Club,” Lawrence La Maina; “The Growth of Italians as Good Americans,” Rev. Michael Di Ielsi, pastor of the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
The new building is of brick, 32 by 46 feet, and cost $8000. The club has 260 members.
Constable Voigt Touring Europe
Philadelphia Inquirer —
County Detective Cherry yesterday received a letter from Constable Fred Voigt, who, with Lawyer Harry Scovel, is touring Europe. Constable Voigt said they arrived in Cherbourg safe and well and are enjoying the continental sights immensely. They will return about September 1.
Quo Warranto Proceedings Issued Against Their Successors
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Trenton, N. J., Oct. 4.—Counsel for Henry S. Scovel, of Camden, to-day began quo-warranto proceedings in the supreme court on behalf of eight Camden policemen recently ousted from their positions by the common council of that city to require their eight successors to show by what warrant and authority they hold their respective offices and exercise the duties thereof.
The ousted officers are Abram Jackson, John Lighthouse, Josiah Sage, John Sinclair, William Selby, Thomas Buchanan, Albert F. Meyers and Caleb Brown, and their respective successors, Thomas Moore, Fred. Triplet, Allen Hubbs, Albert Geaser, Robert Miller, William Harris, Harry Hope and Isaac Brown. The cases will come up before the November term.
Mercer Jury Frees Camden Policeman
Trenton Evening Times —
After a twenty-minute deliberation this morning a jury in Mercer Court acquitted Philip Knauff, the Camden policeman charged with perjury.
Prosecutor Crossley appeared for the state and J. Lefferts Conard and former Prosecutor Scovel of Camden County represented the defendant.
The charge was the result of Knauff giving testimony in the civil suit of Clark Hill of this city against Patrolman Thomas Guthridge of Camden for damages. The case was heard in the Mercer Circuit of the Supreme Court June 10, 1910, and Hill was given a verdict.
Republican Legislative Nominations
Philadelphia Inquirer —
The contest over the Republican Legislative nominations is exciting more interest among the politicians than the more important county nominations aroused. Assemblyman Derousse has no opposition for renomination, but for the other two nominations there are four candidates, John Cherry, Lawyer Frank A. [sic] Lloyd, County Solicitor Harry S. Scovel and Isaac Coles. Two of the four are bound to get it where the chicken got the ax, but they are all confident of their ability to dodge the knock-out blow. They are all stalwart Republicans, and it is hard to choose when there is such good material to pick from.
‘Squire Cherry.
Probably the most popular of the quartet is ‘Squire John Cherry, who dispenses Jersey Justice and Fulton Market clam chowder opposite the county jail, and who is persona grata with all the politicians of all the parties. Cherry has done a yeoman’s service in the Republican ranks. In fact, he was one of the “ten men that weighed a ton,” who acted as body guard to President Rogers, of the Senate in the famous clash of the rival Senates at Trenton. Colonel “Jim” Scovel, the lawyer-evangelist, says Cherry, like a distinguished public man with third term aspirations, carries his collar in a cheese-box, but this is hardly true. However, he is big, brawny, brave and broad-minded and would make a good law maker. ‘Squire Cherry has already made his debut in Legislative circles, for he faithfully held a door and failed not in drawing his modest stipend at the last Legislative session.
John Cherry is proud of the fact that he is a New Yorker. When the country had need of his services he went to the front, fought bravely, and after peace was declared and he had traveled extensively over the country he settled down in Camden. He has been honored with election to the Excise Commission, of which he became president, to the Board of Freeholders and, recently, as Justice of the peace. He is a past master of Camden Lodge, No. 15, F. and A. M.; a member of Siloam Chapter, and Excelsior Consistory of Camden and Mecca Temple, New York city; Camden Lodge of Elks, Lenni Lenape Tribe of Red Men, Damon Lodge, Knights of Pythias and William B. Hatch Post, 37, G. A. R.
Brained With Ax, Women Lie Dead
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Fiend Fires Barn and While Owner Fights Flames Brutally Murders Aged Wife and Domestic—Suspects Arrested
CHAS. GIBSON STEPHEN DORSEY
Suspects held in Camden for the Horner and Natoli crimes.
Brained with an ax in the hands of a thief detected in the act of robbing, two women were foully murdered shortly after 4 o’clock yesterday morning in the farm house of Edward Horner, located along the banks of the Cooper Creek, about half a mile below the Browning road and a short distance from Camden. Mrs. Frances Horner, 63 years old, wife of the farmer, was instantly killed, while Victoria Natoli, 22 years old, of 82[?] Catharine street, Philadelphia, employed as a domestic, died two hours after her admission to the Cooper Hospital in Camden.
Less than four hours after he had worked on the apparent mystery, County Detective John S. Smith had taken into custody Charles Gibson and Stephen Dorsey, negroes, both of 2029 Mulford street, Camden. The evidence against the prisoners is such that Prosecutor Harry Scovel declared there is little doubt that they are the murderers. To attract the attention of the men folks about the house, the thieves set fire to a large frame barn about three hundred feet from the house, and it was while the farmer and his help were endeavoring to check the flames that the crime was committed.
Found Barn Ablaze
It was not until about 10 o’clock Monday night that Horner, who had been to market in Philadelphia with a load of hay, returned to his home. When he and his wife retired they planned to arise early this morning. They were unable to sleep well because of the incessant barking of a small fox terrier that was chained just outside of the kitchen. When the dog had been quieted at 2 o’clock in the morning the farmer and his wife fell into a deep sleep. They were again awakened at 4 o’clock by the terrier’s barking, when the farmer arose to go down to the creature he was startled to see the reflection of a fire on the window pane of his sleeping room. In an instant he had learned that the large barn, containing three horses and farming implements, was burning fiercely.
Without waiting to put on his clothes he ran down stairs, with his aged wife at his heels. Into the summer garden and down a pathway he hurried, calling for his farm hands, three Italians and a negro, who had sleeping quarters in a small frame structure to the south of the barn. These rushed out in their night clothes, among them being the Italian domestic.
“You go and help Mrs. Horner,” said he to the woman as he hurried past her, and Mrs. Natoli ran to the house in compliance.
Work of Incendiary
With the Italians and the negro the farmer turned his attention to the fire, which he found had consumed the lower part of the structure with the exception of the stalls where the three horses were confined. These were hastily taken out, but there was no time to save any of the implements. It seemed as though the blaze came from the central part of the structure where nothing of an inflammable character had been placed, and which proved that the barn had been deliberately fired. When Horner realized that the building could not be saved he concluded to return to the house and don his clothing.
Not more than twenty minutes had elapsed when he went to the side door leading to the kitchen. On trying to open the door he was surprised to find it securely fastened. He thought it had stuck at the bottom, and on looking down he saw two pools of blood, one of which had overrun, and crimson drops were falling to the ground a foot below. With superhuman force he smashed in the door, when he nearly fainted from the terrible scene that met his gaze.
Near the end of a long kitchen table lay his wife, her head resting in an ever-widening pool of blood. He stooped and placed his hand over her heart, but it had been stilled in death. Her face was almost unrecognizable because of the great gush of blood that had flowed from two horrible wounds on her head. He was about to go out and call for help when in the dim light he saw the form of the Italian woman. He found she was still alive and then he gave the alarm.
In an inconceivably short space of time farmers from miles around had flocked to the stricken house. One of these, John Thomas, who has a place across from the Horner farm, about half a mile distant, hastily procured a horse and team and drove at a mad pace into Camden with the dying Italian domestic. He arrived at the Cooper Hospital at 7 o’clock and two hours later, almost to the minute, Mrs. Natoli breathed her last without regaining consciousness. She was about to become a mother.
In the meantime the various county officials arrived. County Physician W. S. Jones. Coroner J. W. Fithian. County Detectives Smith and Cherry. Chief of Police Gravenor and others.
An autopsy was held on the body of Mrs. Horner by Drs. Jones and Fithian.
They found that her skull had been crushed in two places. The wound on the front of the head was shaped like a spearhead and was about three and one-half inches long. An examination showed that the blow that had inflicted this injury had been of such force as to split the skull in twain. The other wound, of a similar character, was at the base of the skull, the bones being crushed like an egg-shell. A subsequent examination made of the body of Mrs. Natoli at the hospital showed that the left side of her skull had been crushed with one terrible blow.
When a search was instituted for the weapon with which the crime had been committed it could not at first be located. It was subsequently found at the rear of the house. It was an old axe that had been used to cut wire from bales of hay, and the butt end was covered with blood and hair, showing that it was in that wise the victims had been struck by the murderer.
Horner, the stricken husband, a man 65 years old, threw the first light on the mystery and he gave a clue that finally resulted in the arrest of the negro Gibson and later of Dorsey. He said he had been having considerable trouble with his help this year. One of the men, who proved to be Gibson, was discharged about three weeks ago after a violent quarrel. At that time the negro left with the remark:
The Threat
“All right. I’ll get even. I’ll burn your barn.”
No more was seen of the man until just before Horner left for his trip to Philadelphia on Monday night. Then the farmer was surprised to see the man enter the farm yard and he appeared to be in a repentant mood. He pleaded with Horner to give him work, but as the farmer had little time to spare he told him to return in the morning. Then Gibson asked for permission to sleep in the barn and this was given him. The last seen of the negro, until his subsequent arrest, was when he left the house to go to the barn. That was about 11 o’clock Monday night, after Horner had returned from Philadelphia.
Armed with this information, County Detective Smith, who had been on the scene since 6 o’clock in the morning, began a search for Gibson. His quest led him into the southern section of Camden, known as Centreville.
In company with Policeman Valentine the detective found Gibson at 1831 South Eighth street. He was immediately placed under arrest and taken to the office of Prosecutor Scovel. He wore a defiant mien and sought to throw off any suspicion connecting him with the crime by declaring his entire ignorance of it.
Stripped of his clothing, he was carefully examined, but no blood marks were found on his body. When his pockets were searched, however, a pawn ticket, on which the ink was hardly dry, was found. It was issued by a Philadelphia pawnbroker at 125 Market street, and was given in exchange for a watch. A handkerchief literally soaked with blood, was also found in one of his pockets, together with a revolver. As to the handkerchief, he said the blood came from his nose.
Meanwhile a “flyer” had been sent out to all of the pawnbrokers at 9 o’clock, and just after Gibson had been taken into custody, Reader, the Market street broker, entered the office of Prosecutor Scovel and excitedly said that a negro had been in his place just twenty minutes before he was apprised of the crime and had pawned two watches. Reader had the watches with him. One bore the name of “Edward Horner.” The other was a woman’s watch, with long pendant chain. The pawnbroker was given a view of Gibson, and he exclaimed:
“That is the man that pawned these watches this morning, just exactly at ten minutes past nine o’clock. There is not the least question but what it is he.”
Gibson never moved, but looked at the officials and the pawnbroker with a defiant glare. He was then placed in a cell in the county jail, to await trial, which Prosecutor Scovel promises will be a speedy one.
Shortly after Gibson’s arrest Detective Smith received information which resulted in him seeking Dorsey. The negro was found at his home, on Mulford street. When taken to the office of Prosecutor Scovel, he at first denied having any knowledge of the matter. In fact, he endeavored to create the impression he was not acquainted with Gibson, but seeing the absurdity of this, he finally acknowledged being out with Gibson Monday night. Then he admitted he was with Gibson when the watches were pawned.
Horner was taken to the jail, and after positively identifying Gibson as the negro who had made the threats, and who Monday night asked to be taken back as a farmhand, the farmer also identified the watches as belonging to him and his wife. The revolver found on the negro was one of two which were stolen.
With tears coursing down his cheeks the stricken husband, who is 65 years old, spoke of the tragedy in a tear-choked voice.
“It is all too terrible to talk about,” said he. “I can’t realize it all. Why, only Sunday we had a family reunion here, when I celebrated my sixty-fifth birthday. My wife then plagued me, saying I wasn’t that old by far, and with our children and grandchildren we spent one of the most pleasant of days.
“How I ever got into that room,” continued he, speaking of when he broke in the door only to find his wife and the domestic stretched on the floor and weltering in their own blood. “I cannot tell. My poor wife lay between the end of the kitchen table and the door that leads into the shed. I saw that her eyes were closed, and when I saw those terrible pools of blood I at once realized a crime had been committed. I felt of her heart to see if she was still alive, but it had stopped beating, and then I knew she was past all earthly aid. Then I found that other poor woman and knew that she was still alive. I gave the alarm, but just how I cannot tell. I cannot realize it all,” concluded he, with a choked voice.
The house in which the murder occurred is an old structure built along Colonial lines. It is part of what is known as the Michelson estate, the farm being 70 acres in extent. The Horners have been farmers all their lives, and are known throughout South Jersey. The barn that was destroyed lay about three hundred feet to the south of the dwelling, and beside it were a number of smaller frame structures. It was in one of these that the Italian woman, her husband and the other farm help lived.
The news of the tragedy spread to surrounding communities with great rapidity and a large crowd was soon gathered about the place. Had the murderers been found at the time they would undoubtedly have been given short shrift. Three daughters survive the murdered Mrs. Horner: Mrs. Anna Marter, Mrs. Edward Megargee and Mrs. Isaac Beideman.
“Persons Unknown” Held Responsible
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Coroner’s Jury Does Not Connect Eli Shaw With the Camden Murders.
DEARTH OF NEW FACTS
At the Inquest the Prosecution Fails to Bring Out Any Evidence, That Is Particularly New.
There was positively nothing in the testimony adduced at the inquest on the death of Mrs. Zane, in Camden, yesterday, to add any weight to the theory of the prosecution, backed up by circumstantial evidence, that Eli Shaw murdered his mother and grandmother.
The verdict was rendered in accordance with the evidence. In other words, the responsibility for the killing of the two women, as stated in the verdict in the case of Mrs. Zane, was not placed upon Eli Shaw, but upon “a person or persons unknown” to the jury.
If Prosecutor Jenkins has any strong evidence aside from the facts already brought out at his disposal he did not see fit to show his hand. There was a general belief that such was the case. If it is not, then, in the opinion of many a Camden wiseacre, Eli Shaw has more than a good chance of having his forehead remain clear of the brand of Cain.
That it is the intention of the prosecution to lay considerable stress upon the contradictory nature of young Shaw’s statements subsequent to the double tragedy seemed apparent from the nature of the testimony at the inquest. That Prosecutor Jenkins, who conducted the inquest and examined the witnesses, made this phase of the investigation so prominent leads to the belief that he intends to emphasize it later on.
SHAW’S STATUS UNALTERED.
In the meantime Eli Shaw remains in jail on the original commitment, based upon the charge of the Chief of Police. Lawyer Scovel, however, proposes to apply for a writ of habeas corpus, to secure, if possible, his client’s release. Scovel was quietly elated at the verdict of the Coroner’s jury, although he did not have much to say.
“We are not complaining,” he remarked, with a smile of satisfaction, when questioned concerning the verdict. “The result of the inquest certainly does not weaken Eli Shaw’s defense.”
Shaw himself offered to make a statement for use in the Coroner’s investigation, but his counsel did not desire it. He was not at all nervous, according to Mr. Scovel, over the inquest, but bore himself with a calm air, which caused Mr. Scovel to exclaim more emphatically than before: “I tell you, Shaw is an innocent man.”
And now the attorney will try to secure a ruling that there is not sufficient evidence to hold Shaw. He is confident that his client will be released from prison, or at least admitted to bail.
COURT ROOM CROWDED.
An immense crowd surged about the doors of the Camden Court House at the time set for the opening of the inquest. Men and women fought to get in when the doors were finally opened, and the scene resembled an incipient riot. One woman was carried in fainting. Others screamed as they were swept off their feet and almost thrown into the room by the struggling men, and then laughed as they found seats and breathlessly rearranged their clothing. In a few moments the room was filled and hundreds were turned away.
Coroner Lippincott read the names of the witnesses, an [sic] they retired into the ante-room—all but one. This one was Eli Shaw, whose name headed the list, but who was not brought to the inquest.
The jurymen took their places. They were Tax Receiver William A. Husted, foreman; Morgue Keeper Martin J. O’Brien, Freeholder William Anderson, Charles S. Folwell, John Irwin and Thomas Benkert.
NO STATEMENT FROM SHAW.
Before calling any witnesses, twenty-seven of whom had been subpenaed, Prosecutor Jenkins turned to Shaw’s counsel, Lawyer Henry S. Scovel, and said: “I see here the representative of the defendant. If he wishes to make a statement he can have that permission.” Mr. Scovel replied that the defendant had no desire to make any statement. The first witness called was Edward Zane, a son of the murdered Mrs. Zane. He was sworn by the Coroner. After telling how he had heard of the murder while in Philadelphia, where he resides, he was asked concerning his conversation with Eli Shaw at Foster Zane’s house a few hours after the murder. He said: “I asked him (Shaw) how it occurred. He said that he had heard a noise in the house while up stairs. His mother had also heard it, and he followed her down stairs. He stepped into the room where his grandmother slept and told her to lie still. His mother then lit a match, which was quickly followed by a pistol shot, and she fell. He then gave the alarm. That is all he had to say to me.”
The witness had last seen his mother and sister alive four weeks ago.
County Physician W. S. Jones was the next witness. He described the wounds on the bodies of the murdered women.
“In Mrs. Zane’s case the bullet entered the left side of the head, far back, and about three inches above the ear. The bullet went through the skull. There was internal hemorrhage and compression of the brain. The bullet did not enter the brain. In the case of Mrs. Shaw I held a post-mortem examination at the Cooper Hospital the morning of the tragedy. The bullet had entered on the right side, one inch above the ear. It was found back of the left eye, just back of the left orbit.”
“Was the course of the bullet level?” asked Prosecutor Jenkins.
“Slightly downward,” said the Doctor, indicating the course of the bullet.
“That wound caused death, did it?”
“Yes. It went through the brain.”
“Any questions, gentlemen of the jury?” asked the Coroner.
A SIGNIFICANT QUESTION.
Foreman Husted inquired: “Doctor, did you find any other mark of violence on Mrs. Zane’s body?”
“No, sir.”
Morgue Keeper O’Brien, one of the jurors, wanted to know how long Mrs. Zane had been dead when the witness saw her. Doctor Jones replied that he could not tell accurately.
Another juror asked: “Well, Doctor, in your opinion, how long had she been dead when you saw her?”
“About five minutes, I should say,” was the reply
Policeman Steen, who responded to Eli Shaw’s cries of murder, was next called. He described his entrance to the Line street house. Eli was standing in the sitting room with his night shirt on. The witness told of finding the bodies and searching the house. The place did not seem to have been broken into by burglars.
“Did you examine Mrs. Zane’s bed for blood?” he was asked.
“No, sir. The lieutenant did.”
“Did you see any blood in Mrs. Zane’s room?”
“Yes, on the window sill; it looked like a hand print.”
“Didn’t you see any on Mrs. Zane’s bed?”
“No, sir. I didn’t look.”
“Do you know what time it was when you got to the house?”
“No. I didn’t look. It wasn’t yet daylight.”
“When you went up to the third story did you use matches?” asked the prosecutor.
“I can’t say. We all had matches. The gas in the third story must have been lit, because we could see. Perhaps Mr. Lane lit it.”
“Did you see any blood in the third story?”
“No. All the time I was there I didn’t have a chance to look. I was looking after the people who were shot.”
NO SMOKE APPARENT.
Morgue Keeper O’Brien put the important question:
“You say you got to the house immediately after Shaw cried for help. Did you notice any smoke in the house such as would come from the discharge of firearms?”
“No, sir. There was nothing like that.”
One of the jurors wanted to know if Steen heard moans when he went up the stairs. The witness said he did, but couldn’t tell where they came from. He went into Mrs. Zane’s room first, and it was light enough to see in there. The light came from the street electric lamp.
Juror Benkert wanted to know about Mrs. Zane’s position in the chair where the policeman found her. The witness said she looked as if she had been shot while in the chair. The wound was next to the window.
“Then,” said Juror Benkert, “some one must have put his arm behind her or around in front of her to reach back and shoot her on that side?”
“It would seem so,” said the witness. “It looked to me as if Mrs. Zane had put her hand to the wound, and then rested her bloody hand on the window sill.”
An important witness came next. This was Harry Delamater, of No. 30[?] Line street, a personal friend of Eli Shaw, who was held in $1000 bail by ‘Squire Stackhouse some time ago because he refused to make any statement to Prosecutor Jenkins at the time of the preliminary examination of witnesses. His statement follows:
“Eli told me about the shooting, as nearly as I can remember, as follows, in the presence of several other people: He said that he was up, and hearing a noise, he hurriedly put on his pants. His mother was also up at the time, and they went down stairs together. Eli was first and his mother was right behind him. His mother pushed open the door of the back room, which was slightly ajar; they went in, and Mrs. Shaw pointed to some clothing on the floor, just as she struck a light. The match had no sooner been ignited before a shot was fired. He ran down stairs and gave the alarm.
GRANDMOTHER’S REPLY.
“He made practically the same statements to Lieutenants Foster and Pettit while I was there. He also said that he looked into the front room, saw his grandmother in bed, and asked his mother not to disturb her, as she was asleep. He ran up stairs, got a pistol, and rushed down and tried to fire it to attract attention, but it would not go off. He also said that when he heard the shot fired he ran into his grandmother’s room and said, ‘My God, some one is in the house and is shooting.’ He got a sort of sleepy groan, as some one awakening, for a reply.”
As Mrs. Zane was dead or dying by the time Eli said he called her and received a reply, this statement was received with particular interest.
James E. Tatem, of 619 South Fifth street; Frank B. Haines, of 561 Washington street, and Albert Fogg, of 615 South Fifth street, who were also in Foster Zane’s house on the evening after the tragedy when Eli Shaw told his story of the tragedy, were next called in rapid succession. Their testimony was for the most part a repetition of Delamater’s statement.
Albert Fogg testified that Shaw said he rushed into his grandmother’s room immediately after his mother was shot and cried:
“Get up, grandma; for God’s sake, get up; ther’s [sic] some one in the house.”
“Did he say his grandmother made any response?” asked the Prosecutor.
“No, sir.”
Albert Hollingshead was called, but had nothing to testify to.
Policeman John Painter, who found the revolver in the chimney, gave his testimony concerning his find. The revolver was brought in and, after wrestling with it for a few minutes, to the consternation of everyone else in the court room, Hall Officer Beard succeeded in unloading it. Painter identified the weapon. He also said:
“We made an examination of the chimneys. We found that there was a stove hole in Mrs. Zane’s room, but it was not opened. We found one in Eli’s room on the third floor, which was or had been recently opened. We also found a spot of blood on the door leading into Eli’s room, which looked as though it had been a large drop.”
Police Lieutenant Pettit was called to corroborate Painter’s story. He examined the pistol thoroughly when it was found. It looked as though it had been discharged recently. There was fresh oil about the hammer, some burnt powder could be seen at the muzzle, and it had an odor of burnt powder about it.
NO TRACE OF BURGLARS.
Lieutenant Pettit said he examined Mrs. Zane’s bed. There was no blood on the pillows or bolsters. The only blood he saw was one little spot on the under sheet, near the foot. In the third story he saw one spot of blood on the doorsill of Eli Shaw’s room. The Lieutenant said he found a hammer in Mrs. Shaw’s room in the third story. There were stains on it that might have been blood stains. An examination was made for traces of a burglar’s work. The witness described the position of the windows and said that in his opinion no burglar had ever gone through those windows.
Policeman Shaw identified the hammer, and Officer Beard told how he tried to get the weapon identified in Philadelphia pawnshops. It exploded while being examined in one of those establishments.
William Stein, a gunsmith, told that the bullets found in the bodies of the women were 32-calibre, the same as those used in the revolver found in the house. Guy Viskinski corroborated the story of the accidental discharge of the weapon in a pawnshop.
LANE TESTIFIES.
One of the most important witnesses was Charles Lane, who lives at 646 South Third street, and who was next called. He is the neighbor who first heard Eli Shaw’s cries for help and responded. He was in bed when he heard cries of “Help! Help! Murder!” The cries were repeated three or four times. He got up and dressed hurriedly. He ran around and found Eli Shaw in his night shirt on the front step. Shaw cried:
“Oh, Mr. Lane, mom and grandmom are shot!”
Just at this moment the witness’ son came running up, and they went in the hallway.
“My son asked for a light,” said the witness. “Shaw brought us two matches. He said: ‘Don’t go upstairs yet; they may be up there yet.’ Then Officer Stein came in. I said to Shaw: ‘Haven’t you got anything to defend yourself with?’ and Shaw handed me a revolver. I cocked it and he said: ‘There’s nothing in it.’ Then we struck some matches and went upstairs.”
“Was Eli Shaw’s night shirt outside his pantaloons when you first saw him on the steps?” asked the Prosecutor.
“Yes; it hung down almost to his feet.”
Continuing his story of the search, Mr. Lane said they went first to the second story front, and there found Mrs. Zane sitting in a chair near the window.
She was in her night clothes, her head was sunk on her chest, her eyes were closed, and blood trickled down her face. She was gasping for breath, “just like this,” said the witness, drawing in his cheeks like a person almost suffocated. He was describing Mrs. Zane’s dying agonies.
Mr. Lane said he called to Mrs. Zane. “Em! Em!” but she made no response. “I had known her for forty years,” said the witness to the jury in explanation of his familiar manner of addressing the woman. Then he said they went into the next room and found Mrs. Shaw on the floor moaning and weltering in her own gore. He spoke to her, but she could not answer. He described the position in which Mrs. Shaw lay. Then, he said, the searchers went up to the third floor. The Prosecutor asked if they found any lights. The witness said no; they had to light the gas in the third story front room. They found the gas lit in the dining room on the first floor when they first entered the house.
NIGHT SHIRT EXHIBITED.
Coroner Lippincott took the stand next and showed the jury Shaw’s night shirt, on which there were many spots of blood. Some were very small, others approached the size of a pea. When he had finished making this gruesome exhibit, he returned to the stand and detailed what he had heard of the conversation between Eli Shaw and Prosecutor Jenkins.
“He said that he did not see any one when his mother was shot, did not see her fall, and did not see the flash of the pistol. He also said that he had tucked his night shirt into his trousers before he went downstairs.”
Officer Sinclair was called but stated that he knew nothing of the case on the morning it occurred.
Mrs. Knight, who lives next door to where the tragedy occurred, said that she had made an examination of the bureau drawers, and as far as she had any knowledge, nothing was taken or removed. This closed the taking of testimony, and at ten minutes of 1 o’clock, the jury retired to deliberate.
After a few moments they returned and the foreman read the verdict, finding “That Mrs. Emma Zane came to her death from a pistol shot wound at the hands of a person or persons unknown to this jury.”
Some one attempted to applaud, but no one seconded the attempt and it was given up. Shaw was shortly after notified of the verdict and received the news with satisfaction.
Clerk Patterson on Second Term
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Popular Camden County Official Takes Oath of Office and Entertains Bondsmen and Others
County Clerk Frank F. Patterson, of Camden, at noon yesterday took the oath of office for a second term of five years. The oath was administered by Judge Joline in the presence of Mr. Patterson’s office force.
After taking the oath of office Mr. Patterson’s first official act was to reappoint Howard Truax as deputy county clerk and Frank Voigt as his assistant.
During Mr. Patterson’s previous term of office he made a host of friends through his courtesy and attention to those who called upon him for information.
Last night County Clerk Patterson gave an elaborate dinner at the Hotel Bellevue-Stratford to his bondsmen and several political friends.
Mr. Patterson under a recent law furnished a bond for $25,000 with the following bondsmen: Frank F. Patterson, Sr., David Baird, John W. Sell and William J. Bradley. These, including the following well-known Jerseymen, were Mr. Patterson’s guests at the banquet: Judge Charles G. Garrison, Judge A. B. Endicott, Judge C. V. D. Joline, Congressman H. C. Loudenslager, State Comptroller J. Willard Morgan, Assemblymen H. S. Scovel, Theodore B. Gibbs and Samuel P. Jones, Senators John G. Horner, J. Boyd Avis, Wood McKee and W. H. Jackson, State Assessor David Baird, Sheriff Frank C. Somers, Register Edward S. Delacroix, Prosecutor Frank T. Lloyd, Assistant Prosecutor F. Morse Archer, Surrogate Harry Reeves, Deputy Sheriff William D. Brown, Howard Truax, Robert Leyburne, Theodore N. Patterson, Wolcott J. Patterson, Irving Buckle, Joseph Burt, William S. Jones, John J. Leyburne, E. A. Y. Schellenger, Henry J. Cloud, Charles Middleton and Edward W. Humphreys.
—Photo by Gutekunst
FRANK F. PATTERSON, JR.
Clerk of Camden county, who was sworn into office for a second term yesterday.
Many Accused of Election Frauds
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Camden County Grand Jury Returns Fifty-five True Bills of Indictment
Most of Them Are Impounded by Order of Court, While Constables Get Busy
In a partial presentment made before Supreme Court Justice Garrison, in Camden, yesterday, the grand jury returned fifty-five true bills as a result of its probe into alleged election irregularities. Judge Garrison at once ordered County Clerk Patterson to impound most of the true bills until the defendants are apprehended and held in sufficient security to guarantee their appearance at court for trial. Bench warrants were issued and the force of constables was busy last night trying to locate those indicted.
As an evidence of how grave the accusations are in the eyes of the law, Common Pleas Court Judge Joline demanded $6000 bail when Policeman Samuel Flick, of the Twelfth ward, was arrested by County Detective Doran in the court room. Flick is under six indictments, two for perjury and four for false registration. He was at once taken before Judge Joline when security was furnished by Isaac Shreeve, a fellow policeman of the accused officer.
Other Indictments
Among those indicted was Francis J. McAdams, a Democrat and secretary of the County Board of Elections. He is specifically accused of larceny. His offense involved the removal from the county clerk’s office of the poll book of the Sixth precinct, Fifth ward, over which there was more or less trouble. Its whereabouts was not known until McAdams was summoned before the jurors.
Most of the others are indicted under the general offense of “violating the election law.” The most important of those whose names were made public is John Broome, a Republican Councilman from the Second ward. With James Smith, Thomas Noland and A. L. James, the latter a police captain. Councilman Broome is supposed to know something about a missing bail bond which was given for Noland’s appearance at court. He was charged with repeating, and Broome went his bail.
Indicted on Five Counts
Martin Carrigan, a fireman, and Albert Shaw and James Lewis, policemen, are indicted for violations. Police Sergeant John Golden has five counts against him, while William C. Parker, an election officer, has two. Other defendants include Daniel Woods and Joseph Sparks, who, with Carrigan, are charged with conspiracy. John H. Carroll, Charles B. Crane and Harris D. Stow are accused of violations also.
There are about forty additional indictments against persons whose names were not divulged. It was stated, however, that in most instances these include alleged “phantoms,” whose names appear on the registry list as living in places occupied by other persons. They are charged with false registration, but the chances are that but comparatively few arrests will be made in this phase of the matter.
Probe Still Deeper
The fact that it was announced that the presentment was but partial indicates that the probe is not ended. It is asserted that it has just begun and that the finding of indictments presented yesterday is merely the opening wedge for even more searching investigation. When the jurors will be summoned again is not known, Prosecutor Scovel desiring to clean up the calendder [sic], which is greatly overburdened at present, before conducting any further investigation.
Many men prominent in professional and political life were in the court room when the presentment was made, quite a few being on the anxious bench themselves.
Among the seventy-eight true bills found by the grand jury yesterday in connection with the ordinary Criminal Court business and aside from the election cases were indictments against the officers of the Young Republican Club of the Second ward and the Camden Aerie, No. 65, Fraternal Order of Eagles. They are specifically charged with giving indecent exhibitions, and in addition the organizations are accused of keeping disorderly houses.
These cases resulted from reports made by the Law and Order League, whose agents attended “innocent amusements” given by the organizations. The class of entertainment is declared to have had the Seeley dinner and other such events beaten a mile. Not only the officers are indicated [sic], but also Lottie Fayette, of Philadelphia, and a male companion, who assisted materially in the festivities.
Hill Convicted of Murder.
Philadelphia Inquirer —
The Jury Finds a Verdict of Guilty in the First Degree.
The Youthful Slayer of Dodson Trembles as He Hears the Words Consigning Him to the Gallows.
After deliberating less than half an hour, and with but two ballots, a jury in the Camden Criminal Court yesterday decided that John Hill’s life was forfeited to justice for the killing of Joseph Dodson. The trial was one of the shortest in a capital case ever known in Camden county. All the evidence had been presented in one day, and after brief argument, and briefer deliberation, the jury consigned the prisoner to the gallows.
The court records were produced when court opened yesterday morning to show that Albert Reed and Marwood Derrickson had been convicted of numerous crimes. These are the men who are charged by Hill with having hired him to kill Dodson, and who drugged him before he fired the fatal shot.
ARGUMENT TO THE JURY.
Prosecutor Jenkins made a brief opening address. He claimed that the State had proved that Hill lay in wait to kill Dodson and his motive was revenge for the beating given him by Dodson a few nights before. The Prosecutor ridiculed the drugging story.
Lawyer F. A. Rex made an ingenious argument. He claimed that Hill was controlled by Reed and Derrickson, that they plied him with liquor, put the pistol in his hand and sent him out to kill Dodson. He claimed an absence of motive on the part of the defendant—a mere boy.
He scored the Prosecutor because Reed and Derrickson, while indicted as accomplices in the murder, had never been arrested under that indictment, and when held as witnesses one of the Prosecutor’s detectives went their bail.
He claimed that the prisoner, when he shot Dodson, was under the influence of liquor or drugs, so that he was not fully responsible for his action. He asked for a verdict of murder in the second degree.
Lawyer Harry S. Scovel made a plea for Hill’s life on the ground that he was a friendless orphan, who had been led into bad company, and who did not realize what he was doing when he was induced to shoot at Dodson.
Justice Garrison’s charge was brief. He said the jury must determine whether Hill was so much under the influence of liquor or drugs that he was mentally irresponsible for the killing, and whether they believed he was influenced to commit the crime by Reed and Derrickson so that he was not a free moral agent.
A VERDICT QUICKLY REACHED.
The jury retired and took a ballot, which showed eleven for conviction of murder in the first degree and one for a second degree verdict. On the second ballot they were unanimous.
When the jurors filed in and were polled, and each man uttered the fateful words, “Guilty of murder in the first degree,” young Hill shook like a person with a chill. He seemed for the first time to realize that death was near at hand.
Lawyer Rex said last night that they had not yet decided whether to apply for a new trial. They took no exceptions, and a new trial would be difficult to obtain. He had hoped for a verdict of murder in the second degree.
Reed and Derrickson will be placed on trial next Monday as accomplices in the murder. Hill is the principal witness against them, and it will be extremely difficult for the State to secure a conviction without further evidence.