The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-01-05


papers that he read and put in his pocket, can
net tell. He said" 1t cannot be me, Tor knowing
my own propensities, have invariably taken par
tieular pains to avoid meeting the female oil my
congregation alone, even for religious eonverSa'
ton"
Mr.. SIBLEY, for the defence, submitted a
written paper to the witness, and asked MN
to look over it, and see il he could tell II
that was the document read by Mr. Van Aandt at
the vestry. The witness, having read 1t In the
stand, said he thought that that was the paper ana
the court decided that it should be given IN evi-
dence. 1t was then read by Mr. Sibley It's con-
tents are briefly as follows: On the FRIDAY pre-
viOus, one Of his Pensioners, had hinted to him
that statements were abroad to hi and the elder
Miss Murdoch. He called on her mother, who re-
fused to accept his hand offered her IN friendship
Mrs. Murdoch accused him OF the rum OF ner
daughter; he took his God TO witness that he was
innocent; he could not then see her daughter;
nephew Of his, Thaddeus Van Zandt, who was
at his house, had gene 10 New York, gone 10
house at ill fame, and returned TO my iami-
ly on particular occasion he MIR Van Zandt)
heard noise in his study, and Mary MURDOCH,
sister to Sophia, came out; Thaddeas Van Zandt
ackuo wledged that he had had connexion Win
Mary; he Mr.. Van ZandD turned Ihaddeas on!
of doors and sent him to Rev. Mr.. Wheelers at
-; Thaddeus had boasted that he had had con-
nexion with Sophia, whenever he pleased, in the
woodshed and that this charge was conspiracy,
originated by Thaddeus from motives OF revenge
He (Mr. Van Zandt) had made il point not to
meet the females Of his congregation alone fcr
religious conversation. The witness thought II
was substantially the same statement as Mr van
Zandt had read to the vestry;at least part OF II
was; but il this is the paper then and there read
witness positively believes Mr. Van Zandt had
used the precise W. rds he (wtness) had hero stat
ed. He (Mr. Van Zandt) said TO his vestry that
he had known the two girls Murdoch to be httie
strumpets, for some time, or words OF that mean
ing. One of the vestry checked him for using such
Ian guago respecting members of the congregation
WILLIAM w. BsyAN sworn-Was present IN
court, and had heard the testimony OF Mr. Roberts,
and present at the vestry meeting with Mr..
Roberts; Mr.. Van Zandt used the language men
toned by Mr. Roberts, viz Z" il cannot be me, for,
knowing my own propensities, &c mr.. van
Zandt read frem paper before him, but ne sub
mitted nothing to us in the vcstry; with reference
to the character OF the girls he said, is too bad
that my hitherto fair character should be ruined
by those strumPets." think that those were his
words; he also said, che thought clergymen
ought to be castrated and then such charges could
not be brought against them"
Cross. r rCnined by Mr. SIBLEY.-The meeting
of the vestry was informal-Mr V. H. did most OF
the talking-therc was no record made OF anything
never saw the paper Mr.. V. T. read, except In
his hands. l paid particular attention to the pas
sages in this conversation which | have repeated,
because it was what i had not expected to hear
from minister, but improper and unbecoming
and it made deep impression on me l think that
John Cole, Daniel Graves, Ansel Roberts, Dr.Toby,
VIM G. Sterrs, and, l think, the whole vestry
were present but one: The meeting was on Mon
day evening, between the 9Th and 10Th OF July.
Re era,nined.-Witness has been friend to Mr..
V. z. up to the time of that vestry meeting.
WILLIAM c. SroRRs-is one Of the vestry of
Grace Church, and was present at the meeting;
think Mr. Van Zandt said that knowing hn proper
sites and desires, and his fondness Tor tAe LADIES'
no had been careful not to be alone with females
think this was in the paper he read; he called
the two Miss Murdocks strumpets; and to re-
mark of Mr.. Cole, said il was pity ministers were
not castrated, and then such charges could not De
he Sut
rode with him to Brockport and returned; he said
he was sick in body and mind; that on the
day rrerisus some one had told him that
he bad visited Mrs. Murdoch, she refused
have ruined my daughter, and rained my iani-
W." think he said that he had asked TO see the
girl, (Soph'a) but that her mother refused and
finding he could do nothing with the family he
came away He said that at one time there had
been a great intimacy between the two families;
but that il had been broken off, and that he sus
pected Sophia was in the family way, iiom her sP
pearance and mode OF dressing; that there had
been improper intercourse between his nephew
Thaddeus and Mary Murdoch; on one occasion he
(Mr Van Zandt) missed Thaddeus from the room,
went up stairs: found Thaddens' room locked;
went up ten minutes alter; Mary came out, and he
improper Intimacy had subssted between his ne
phew and Sophia, whom he described a modest,
unsssuming girl. [Some part Of witness's descrip-
ton Of Mr. Van Zandts language, is too indelicatc
gar at (I think witness said) three or four different
p aces; it did not in the least affect his CONVEX
sation The vestry took some Steps at the meeting
was at, to lay the matter before the Bishop.
Nothing important appeared 70 De eiicNea 1y
Mr. Sibley's very able cross examination. The
above three members of the vestry OF Grace Church
gave the testimony with much clearness, precision,
and decorum; and apparently made deep impress
sion ON the large and respectable audience, whose
orderly and sedate behavior was never surpassed
at any court Of justice at which this reporter has
been present, either in Europe or America
MANY MURDOCH, sworn. Examined by Judge
Shelden. l-Witness is the sister Of Sophia MUIR
dock-Rev Mr.. V. T. had taken liberties with the
made by the counsel for the defence TO induce the
court to prevent Miss M from stating any i'm
proper conduct Of Mr.. Van. Zandt toward
her, though they did not specially object to
by .his assertion, as to his uniform careful con-
duct towards females OF his coner egation, by his
admitted intimacy with the Murdoch family, By
his attack on the character OF witness before
Mister had gwen ample occasion for the question
objected to.1 Miss Ms examination continued.
The first time Mr.. V. Il. took Liberties with wit
ness was in the vestry room OF ST PauPs church,
when he put his hands in her bosom When was
alone with hin, (shc added) in his home, in his
study, he pat his hands under my clohes-he did
this once or twice-he said 4" Molly, you must not
do so any more" replied, "l would not have
done so had " not been tor you " Recoilcets oeing
in Mr. Van Zandt's study when her sister was there
with her slate, algebra and pencil her sister asked
him tn show her how to do a sum in algebra; he
said he could not, and (said wi,nsss) told him
thought he was just as smart in that A. he was in
any thing else. There was bed in his study, and
an arm chair; witness sat in thar arm chair one af.
ternocn, and read the N. Y. Mirror does not re-
member whether her sister was or was not pre-
sent
Ccoss Questioned BY Mr.. siJiey Witness did not
tell either her mother her sister that Mr.. Van
Zandt had put his hand under her clothes no one
else had ever done so TO her before; il was in the
vestry room, next to the Sunday School, that he
put his hands into her bosom; they we're trimming
the church; il was about two years ago; she told
Miss Emily Beers, but not her mother Miss Merry
is intelligent--wore a dark printed cotton dress,
white merno shawl, with straw bonnet, beauti-
fully trimmed with green silk velvet, and veiI-her
answers were prompt, TO the purpose, and were ia
be heard. Mr.. Van ZAndt sat beside his counsel,
grave and sedate, gave few If any hints TO the law.