The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1827-08-08
MRS. WIIIPPLE'S TRIAL.

The trial of Elsie D, Whipple, charged with
being an accessory to the murder of her hus-
band, commenced in Albany on the Both ult
We commence the testimony in the case and
shall give the conclusion next week.
Abraham L. Van Rensselaer,, (the young
man who was the first witness on the trial
OF Strang,) was called upon the stand, and
sworn. lie resides in the house occupied
by the family of his late father, Philip P.
Van Rensselaer,, where the late Mr.. Whip
pies family resided also, and was present
on the night of the murder. Witness was
no relation to the deceased, except by mar
riage-Mrs. Whipple icing the daughter
of his mothers brother.
Strang was hired by his late father as a
iadorer upon the farm, on tho 2sth. nf
August last. Mr.. Wkippie and his wife
resided with the family as boarders.
Strang represented himself as a single
man. During the forepart of May, Whip
pie was absent from home, down the river,
and had been absent more than fortnigh,.
Whpple and his wife ocCupied bedroom
IN the south west part of the house. Miss
Patrick slept in the room with Mrs. Whip
pie generally during his absence. Whip
pie returned home on Sunday night, and
was shot on Monday night Witness was
IN the room when he was shot. He had
been in the room for some time. Prisoner
had also been in the room before deceased
was shot, but witness cannot say whether
1t was fifteen, or twenty, or thirty minutes,
or an hour before. Does not know what
she did when in the room. Miss Patrick
and his WITNESS sister Maria, had also
been IN the room the evening. Does not
KNOW whether any one besides deceased
ana himself were in the room when prison.
er lett. There had been some alarms in
the house, for fortnight before, in conse-
quence OF the declarations of Strang as to
people being lurking about the house.
otrang told witness that he thought those
people had designs upon Whipple. Did
not recollect exactly what prisoner said
when Strang told her of these things.
Witness thinks he heard prisoner say
something about writing letter to Whip
pie: She was i'll the cellar kitchen, and
sad she would write to John, and leave the
letter at Fobes' Columbian Hotel, request,
ing him not to come hene in the night. on
account OF these people who were lurking
ABOUT the house. Did not afterwards hear
ner say she had written the letter. On the
day OF the evening of the murder, prisoner
applied to witness to lend her pencil. and
piece OF paper. This was about the mid
die OF the afternoon. He only lent her a
pencil, and she went to bench and seem
ed to be writing, where she had book of
her own. Strang, and most of the family.
were In the kitchen at the time does not
recollect any communication between pris-
oner and Strang on that occasion, or whetb-
er she passed close by him, the family were
often passing each other. After witness
saw her writing, Strang left the kitchen
In D, 10 or Is minutes afterwards. witness
went out or 10 minutes after Stranp: he
round Strang little southeast of the dooy.
there were two wagons and pear tree no.
tween witness and Strang; Stranr stood
against the tree he had paper in his
hand, which he was tearing up could NOT
tell whether it was white or brown paper. or
a letter. Witness was at home on Wednes-
day night, the 9th of May; was in differ
ent rooms does not recoilect being in the
room with the prisoner that night. when
she was examined; does not positively
recollect, but believes conversation has
taken place between himself and prisoner
lfter the murder, in which Mrs. Whipple
asked him question relative to the fact of
Ills having been examined; it was but
ew days after the murder; she asked wit
ness, what was the meaning of cross-ex-
I? At the same time she asked
whether Orion, (Strang) had been examin-
"a. Believes she asked whether her fam
~ had been examined. Her family con-
sted OF Orion, Dinah jackson, and Will
lam Wilson. Could not positively tell
whether Srang had been arrested at that