Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1819-03-23
From the Goshen Patriot, March 2.
special Court Of Oyer and Terminer.

From the Goshen Patriot, March Q.
specidl Court Of Oyer and Terminer-
The great anxiety evinced by the pub
liz In hear the deliberations OF this extra
court, has induced us 10 publish briei
sketch of the whole proceedings, as far as
thew have transpired and come TO our
knowledge. The session commenced on
Tuesday last, the hon. VIM. w. Van Ness
presiding. Twenty-Five grand jurors ap-
pearsd and we're sworn. The judge de-
iiyered an appropriate charge 10 them, al
luding principally to the cases OF the per-
sons accused OF the murder Of Richard
Jennings; and they retired to deliberate.
No other business was done in court un-
til Wednesday morning, when the grand
Jury presented two indictments for grand
larceny, William Liscom and Frank
Jones, a black boy. Frank plead guilty
and Liscom was convicted of petit Iarce-
nv only. No other business being pre-
pared, the court adjourned until three
o'clock P. M. when the several persons
confined on suspicion of murder were
brought before the court and the indict-
ments read to them.
David Conkling was indicted as an &C.
cessary to the murder of Richard Jen-
nings, both before and after the murder,
two indictments.
/ James iced was Indicted as an acces-
sary before aud after the murder, two in
dictmeDts.
David Dunning was indicted for muir
der, and as an accessory before and after
the murder, three indictments.
+ John otherwise called Jack Hodges, the
black man was indicted for murder, one
indictment.
Hannah Teed was indicted as an acces.
sary before and after the murder.
Messrs. Price and Fisk, of counsel for
Conkling. Teed, and Mrs. iced, who all
three plead not guilty.
Mr.. Storey, Of counsel for Dunning,
who also plead not guilty, reserving the
privilege of Withdrawing that plea and
entering another, if he should think pro-
per at any time previous 10 his trial.
The court assigned Mr.. Wisner as
counsel for Jack, who declined to plead,
the court directed plea of not guilty to
be entered for him.
Messrs. Van. Buren,, Belts, and Duer,
counsel in behalf of the people.
The parties not being ready for trial.
the court adjourned until Thursday NOR
ming. The prisoners confined for murder
we're arraigaed before the court, but the
parties not being yet ready for trial, they
were again remanded back to prison, and
the Judge assured the crowd Of spectators
that none Of them would be tried on that
day. Abraham Lewis and John M'Nally,
were tried for grand larceny and both
convicted. George A. Seaman was tried
for forgery, convicted and sentenced TO the
state prison for seven years.
On Friday morning, at the opening oil
the court, Jack Hodges was brought in
and put on his trial for muder. Mr.. Belts
opened the cause in behalf of the people.
The substance of the testimony was, that
Richard Jennings was found dead 10 a
piece Of woods, that he came to his death
by violence, that the principal wound was
on his forehead, and iollicted by violent
blow, that Jack, by his own confession,
went from David Conkling's TO james
leeds, there saw David DunniDg, arran-
ged with him about the murder, we're to
kill him the first opportunity, Jennings
passed the house, Dunning followed and
joined him, Jack took the gun, and came
near them in the edge of the woods, by al
different route, fired the gun at Jennings
head, and he fell down to sitting posture,
Jack turned to walk off, Dunning seized
the gun and broke it over the old mans
head, he then gave the broken pieces TO
Jack, who took them TO Teed's and from
thence to Conkling's and gave them TO him,
from thence he went to Newburgh and to
New York, where he was apprehended.
Mr.. Wisner addressed the Jury 10 behalf
o. the prisoner, and Mr.. Van Buren, in
behalf Of the people. The jury retired
under the charge of the court; and after
remaining one hour returned verdict OF
GUILTY.
The trial occupied the court between
iOur and five hours.