The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-04-04
by THE SOUTHNE-. MAIL. 4
BY SPECIAL EXPRESS.
from Woodbury., New Jersey.
VIAL OF SINGLETON mERCER.

'N~N''Nu Wy our express last evening the pro-
cerainss OF Monday in the case of young Mercer,
a' woodbury.. The defence, it will be seen, have
rested the case, after the introduction of testimony
going TO show his insanity.
SECOND WEEK-MospAy Anrla
Ihe court was opened little past A. M
vonn@ Mercsr cf LION sAaroN u s. NJ sworn-l know
and on; have conversed with him between Feb n AM,
the 18Th did not think Mr. Singleton Mercer reasona
bic man; had many opportunities of seeing hin, and ror
his conversation during this time formed this oninon.
he apologised to me on my entrance his room fer his
lack OF comforts he told me in few days that he would
have the walls OF his painted green and the ceiling
bue that he intended to have errapin and
other good things to eat venson steaks &c This
Saturday 18th and 18th of February; visited him
twice a day. sometimes more; he wrote very sngu.
lar note the evening of the llh was for the loan of
shirt it hurriedly written and bespoke IRREGULAR
ty; regret its destruction; destroyed it myself; sent
him the shirt that nights when took this shirt to him he
spoke to me OF religion and in consequence OF this con
versation carried letter from him TO the Rev. Mr..
Blythe of this place that nght his manner was rest
les his very quick he called by different names
several times; his led think him out of his
reason; don't know that him before. My OBJ
iect in visiting him because am q father and my
heart sent me there to sympathse with him.
JAMES +. ARMSTRONG sworn--I reside III this place
knew Singleton Mercer; my acquaintance commenced
with him the Monday or Thursday after be arrived
here have often him since ); marked his manner;
II struck the evening of my first visit that he was
very much excited continually changed his position
hs seating the chair S my
name spoke in large way about eating and upon one
occasion broke OF from something he saying seemed
have forgot what he had been talking about; said EEK
cuse me, what sayingp His eye was very
quick never knew him before have visited him fire.
Qusntly want there TO offer him my sympathy from
all that have of him, don't think that at first he
had the perfect OF his reason his appearance to
was that ola recovering from disorder OF the
brain Of the mind subsequent visits, his
had changed.
RI should have noticed that the Court very tain
this mornngnot more than some 80 persons PRESENT.
CHARLES d. HISELINE swoIn-I reside ct Camdep
first Singleton Mercer on the evening that he was
at Mr. Clarks went to Mr. Clarks when heard there
was a shot, for the purpose Of ascertaning
the facts l the publisher of paper; and
wanted to give the facts; ] saw Mr.. Mereeri
in Philadelphia he laying on the settee when went
in black man sitting one end of the settee; asked
him to tell me his he told me he did not know his
name he knew nothing about him then looked close
ly at him again to see il knew him after some time
oucuded didn't know him. during this time his actions
seemed to to be very strange he was continually
jumping up and down his face seemed distorted some
time aera hour SOL observed him again closeyt
see il | knew him his face seemed unnatural drank
copiousy said he had had nothing TO eat for six weeks
Some one who stood near, remarked to my hearing
wrong place sham crazy" He took notice Of the
mark wbatever left the room sometime aiter from all
| thought be was actually insane, crazy or mad
not in his right mind
Cross.ersmined by Mr.. MoLLrsoN-l am the proprietor
and part editor of the American Eagle printed ut Camden
Nothing elected except that the witness came
to the conclusion on that night that he was insane
Mr.. JAMES GAHAr atfrmed-I am an officer; took
charge of Sing Teton Mercer the evening of the
der while at the Office of Mr.. Gray he said Where's
your fddle-I want to dance 2" told him we had no
6idles here's vandyke stepped up to me, and to
"rll take charge of this young man; am aware of all
the circumstances; know both the young men; am
gentleman of the bar ~ told him if he was he was out
Of his jurisdiction and should be under the necessity of
taking charge Of him; black man at the carriage
when they said the man had been shot; ! told him he
have his horses put up and not away he said he
had goods in the carriage which he wanted to take
of rsi they the gentleman trunk, gun &c.
took these o. the oarliage went mt. PACK 10 he
asked Mercer to go into back room; then went into
the room where the corpse was, and there sees Van
dyke Some one said, you had better arrest that man;
they to fight duel, and all equally
guilty went to search Mr.. Vandyke; he said Ihave
no weapons except what have taken from the person
Of the deceased' he then gave knife Of peculiar
cons,ruction[it called an Arkansaw toothpck land
Mr. Mercer and found knife on him; then takes all
other weapons and locks them ups BY and by Mercer ho
looed out, " Rache Rache, bring me soms watern He
asked me il knew man by the name OF Zebedee Wills;
told him did, stad with him all night he sat down in
three chairs vandyke asked me if could not get him
something to eat; told him could not, the family had
gone bed. Says he, is your duty to give him some
thing eat the officers of Philadelphia would do so.
put Iegrons on Mr.. Mercer; by and by MIR Mercer lay
down and went to Sleep he slept four or hye hours he
appeared like man OF greet agitation Of mnd one way
another. brought him down to- Jail.
Mr. JEFrERsTrom all you saw Of him that night, did
you think him insane or not3
WTNEss.-Really / cannot answer that question;
do MT think he had his right mind
Cross Examined by Mr. MoLLEsoN.-What arms did
you find on Mr.. Mercer2 .Ha
WIrNEss-A knife, nothing else; searched Mr. Van-
dyke; mean he gave them ur to me promptly further
That Is the knife found on MIR Mercer
MIR. MoLLEsoN-You stated that soae conduct OF MIR.
Vandke led you to put the irons on Mr. Mercer What
did Mr.. Vandyke do
WurSEss-In consequence of Mr. Vandyke's manner
when he ask ed to give HIM something to eat next the
in which he tried to get possession of him When said
that Thought Mercer was not in his right mind did not
mean that thought him insane. He did not act likes
man in his right mind
K~,s II in Epow
Henry s. Burden who has been examined in this cnse;
have heard him make expressions in relation to this case
He observed that there a bunch OF hemp that had
Kentucky on sa hG9g ss'S Sdn With
him, they ought not to hang any Dody
RICHARD F. LorER sworn--I know and have known
Singleton Mercer from his youth up am his cousin by
marriage; saw hin on the Wednesday evening the sth
that evening arrived at the house towards seven o.
clock; Invent into the front parlor found Singleton
Mercer sitting by the fire; his mother requested TO
try and prevail him to stay in the house took chair
and sat down by him, and he promised me he would not
go out that evening think in two minutes alter en-
tered the ROOM he his feet and cast wild look
around the tcli him to sit down and be composed,
thathe must not go out and before that he had od me
said he wanted step into the entry he went there and
followed him he picked his hat of the table and went
towards he door put myself before him. and my hand
his shoulder he said he must SO GU. told him he
Should not when laid my hand his shoulder he was
trembling all over like leaf; his eyes very wild,
like that of deranged he had every appearance of
ii and am judge, told him his poor mother was very
unwell that she had more trouble now than she was
able to bear; that il he did not compose himself was
afraid trouble of the family would kill her; he told
that his mother his father and every friend he had on
earth lay dead his feet he would out Of that door
That he [Heberton u had ruined the family, and must
him. There several gentlemen present at this
times one OF 'em had hold of Mr. Mercer with me- they
told they had been with him in the afternoon Then
told MIR Mercer he might out Iput him under the care
of two Of his friends after being assured by them that he
positively armed and that they would let no
give him any deadly weapons and that they would see
him back his parents safe. Tn agreed TO stay ell
night with him after they returned, sir, both OF these
young gentlemen. On Thursday night, soon after the
clock struck my bell rung the door opened, and
Mr. Singleton Mercer enqured for me- at my residence
in Pine streets was in bed sent word that would see
him in the morning; heard him tell The driver to drive
on; there appeared he cab at the door sleep in the
front chamber The driver asked hun, where shall
drive \, "Drve on ~ he says. On Friday morning,
about o'clock, Mr.. Singleton Mercer at Walnut
street House.