New-York daily tribune., 1843-08-26
The warren Murder.

a lad who lived with Mr.. Castner, named Jesse
Force. was 50 horribly wounded that he was
doubtless left as dead. On Wednesday last the
prisoner, Joseph Carter, Jr., relative by mar
rage of Mr.. Parks, was put on tSial, at warren
County, n ]. Mr.. Morris opened the case, and
through a series OF connecting circumstances, re-
capituated with great pertincnce, clearness and
precision traced to the prisoner the commission OF
this barbarous murder He dwcIt particularly on
the fact that the prisoner, before the murder, was
yerv poor, and considerably involved IN deOt,
there beng several executions in the hands OF
Constables against him the nsrt day, however,
after the murder he paid Si5 to one Constable
in Easton and Bevidere money, such as Mr..
Parks was known to have had in her possession
three or four other executions, amounting to about
800, he discharged in a few days after, and,
when at the funeral of the murdered family, he
told person to whom he owed $50 that If he had
his passed notes then he could pay part OF them.
Nh Morris said, in conclusion,
We shall further show that on Tuesday morn
nr. and several hours previous to the murder be-
ing discovered, the prisoner went to the village OF
Washington, and there despatched a messenger
with letter to Justice residing at the bridge
over the Delaware at Easton. This letter stated
the fact of the murder. and excused himself from
not keeping an engagement previously made by
him with the Justice for that day on account OF
it. This letter has been DESTROYED but we shall
produce before you several respectable witnesses
who read the letter and will swear positively TO
It's contents
NJ. Morris concluded by reading the indict-
ment. Officers were then sworn to attend the
Jury and the court adjourned.
On Thursday the trial was resumed, and seve-
raj witnesses examined. Stacy Bouley, who
first discovered the body of Castner in the sink
hole where it had been thrown; James Petty,
who first recognized the body and Mrs. Anne
Franks whose testimony we subjon:
Mrs Anne Franks, sworn, and examined by
Mr.. Sherrcrd.-I am the wife Of George Franks,
of Change-water. First heard of the murder
about O'Clock in the morning of the lst of May;
heard it from James Petty; went over to the
house about l5 or 2G minutes after | heard OF 1t
with Mrs. Duckworth and Hannah Pttingcr.-
The first saw after | entered the house was
Mrs Casner and the child lying on the bed ; she
her the child lav on its side beside her; | did
not see her face until she was taken 1rom the
bed saw the child's face
Mr.. Franks took the pillow from their faces.
then went N the room to see if the little boys
were there Henry Ely went in and opened the
window. shutters, and that walked the oldest boy !;
the door Of the room was shut; it was dark IN
the room until the shutters were open; Ely and
myself were first in the room; we left Mrs Pit
finger and Mrs Duckworth in the other room ;
some person stood by the desk, asked them to
open it to see if it was locked; it was opened; do
not recollcct who opened it; the key Of the desk
was found on the chest on the right side Of the
door Hannah Pittinger found it; the desk was
shut again and left | then went up stairs to see
Jesse Force, the boy that was wounded; asked
him whether he knew how he got hurt. he SAID
he did not then went to the door OF Mr.. Parke's
room and looked In; saw person there did not
know who tried if the chest was open; saw Mr.
Parks in the bed; I then went down stairs to
Mrs Castners room saw a lantern lying on the
stand by the head of her bed; she had piece Of
candle in her left hand and pin in her right |
took them out the candle had not been lit 1t
was cut square off her hands were drawn up
against her breast, and her face was much swo-
len and her tongue hung out she was blue under
the throat her tongue was swollen considerable :;
she had two wounds behind her car; 4 piece of
her ear was cut off; she had a wound on her
temple.
The child had two wounds on its temple; do
not know who removed the bodies; assisted IN
washing them; the wounded boy was taken to
our house he remained there IL or l. days he
was then taken TO his mothers by Abner Parks.
After Mrs. Franks's cross-examnation, DR..
Robert NJ. Clcnchan was examined. He testified
to the appearance of the bodies as he saw them,
the examination and nature of the wounds, their
admeasurement &c. In describing the cond-
ton OF the boy Force, and the dressing Of his
wounds, Mr.. Wurts objected to the examination,
submitting II to the Court whether this testimony
respecting the boy should be introduced upon the
Indictment against the prisoner for the murder OF
John Castner. He farther stated that the coun-
sci for the prisoner had offered to try all the In
dictments by one jury, but that the State had
declined. Mr.. Sherrerd replied. Judge Nevins
however decided that the examination should pro-
ceed as the whole matter appeared to be 50 intl-
matcly connected that the circumstances can
scarcely be detailed separately. Dr.. McClenchan
then proceeded
DR.. McCenchan having been cross-examined,
John Collins was called, but merely testified to
his knowledge OF Castner and Parks.
Jesse Force, the boy alluded to above, was
then examined
Jesse Force--Am in my l7th year-had lived
with Casner al the time OF the murder better than
year-I had been narrowing on Monday after
noon the day before the murder. In the forenoon
Castnor went to 2. Golden after q load of coal for
Charles Myers no one went with him. In the
afternoon he was ploughing. Old Mr.. Parks
was home all day-we had supper about sun
down-hatnre cspdls-light-neither ot us won't