The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-03-31
BY THE SOUTHERN MAIL.
BY SPECIAL EXPRESS.
From Woodbury., New Jersey.
RIAL OF SINGLETON NERO .clk

From OOdbOry, new Jersey
| TRIAL OF SINGLETON MERCER.
| BY our Special Express, which arrived at late
hoar last night we received from our Reporter the
proceedings OF yesterday on the trial OF Mercer
down to o'clock in the afternoon. They are deep
| ly interesting We annex them.
The following is also deeply interesting passage,
from the opening speech of Mr.. Browne, the counsel
for the defence, giving new account Of Sarah Mer-
Ger, and her intercourse with Heberton:-
| Mr. BROWNE OF Sarah Mercer II becomes me
now to speak moro at large. She is mere child and
think can safely say that every juryman in the box,
what mere child She is. am struck with he difficulty
cali in evidence the Rev Mr. Loughrdge, the pastor of
the church OF which her father Is a member, and be-
e'e elder, the Rev Mr. Prior, Episcopal minister,
to whom she went to school, and Mr. Adam Johnson su
y employed. She mild, modest, unassuming child,
but with great strength of understanding Having no
others She had been brought up with the tender.
and until this event happened had never devated
from the path Of recttude and virtue she had never IN
public place of amusement Her associates modest
children like herself her intimate acquainances were
confined to two or three respectable families wish
could end here's speak of the deceased for the
sake Of the friends and relations he has lett behind him
but cannot refran-justce and truth ore imperous
nothing is beautiful to the eye is truth to the
mind" Hutchinson Heberton was an abandoned liber
tine by profession and by practice. He not only
practsed but accomplished one too. He followed
business or occupation for liveiihood his counting
house was the brohel-hs companions libertines and
harlots-his merchandise, lustthe only commerce he
followed seduction. These, gentlemen were the
prominent features of the character of hutchinson
About the beginning of the year. Sarah Mercer
paid visit to the house OF Mr. Jeremiah Osborne. in
side. Mr.. Osborne whom have known for perhaps
30 by trade house carpenter but in consequence
Of the failure Of business his vile entered into
the place in Seventh street already mentioned Mr. Os
borne has two daughters one about the same age as
Sarah Mercer, the other about Ia years of age Sarah
Mercer visit to the house Of Mr.. and Mrs Os.
borne visit the youngest daughter and to see the
in company with her friend. to purchase
grapes for the sick girl while on this errand she saw He
street Heberton as handsome-well made-possessed
fine appearance-wore whiskers-a meustache-snd an
mpera his clothes Of the finest fabric and made in
the most fashionable mannerjust such person would
take first sight with thoughtless and unwary school
girls. 1t pains to say, gentlemen that Sarah Ner-
like that of certain homo able gentleman Of Phsdel
phia-a Spaniard-whose name Basido and with whom
Sarah Mercer became acquainted her brother inlaws
house, Mr. Quin. Sarah thought that Mr.. Bastido
who had followed them through the streets. will not
tell you what ought to have been the conduct Of moral
been made will not enquire what should have been the
conduct of himself having sister, instead Of fol-
lowing the girls from street to street. forcing himsei up
them, seeking without introduction to become &C.
quainted with them. The girls returned to Mr. Osborn"s
house, from which Sarah escorted home by young
gentleman, acquaintance of the family. No mention
Of meetingno designation, or any thing Of the kno
Ger was sent of member Of the family
Mr.. Mercer lives in Queen street below Front
this errand she again met Heberton in the neighor
hood Of Third and Pine streets This second interview
was entirely accidentally SO far as Sarah Mercer was con-
cerned although not with Heberton-wth him it was
generalization. He up to her. spoke to Sarah, and
walked with her to Third Queen streets, when he left
There important things be remembered here
FIRST that Sarah addressed Heberon Mr. Bastido, and
up this very moment believed that it was him and no
else and he did undeceve her. Second that up
to this moment nothing had taken place in Heberton
Out sy reaoSed b
Of Third and Queen streets and he eyacted to
%se. him again child like a with her vanity excited
tried still farther to insinuate himself upon the unsus
pecng aressness Of his victim He pretended to impose
confidence in her-hs toll her his real nameold her that
he loved her-that he never female in whom he
had taken such Interest," he asked her she did not like
him. aud made number Of similar arts to
plsh his purpose in this way they met three times
they waked-talkea-he made love--he listened and was
Heberton when he first met sarah in the street he after
wards knew that she the daughter of an honest
that she was yiiuoas girl and Therefore there can be
far to ask to be introduced into the family OF
Sarah Mercer and desired her to through
whom he might gain such introduction. she named over
severe who occasionally visited her fathers house but he
knew Of them At length che mentioned the Of
Mr. Dinker Heherton said he knew him well and would
gain Introduction by him. Blu. at the subsequent in.
tervew he said he had seen Mr. Dinkler who declined
complying request. 10 TINS time Hutc hlnSOn
Heberton had uttered word calculated to shock in
the least the modesy of Sarah Mercer Upon this occa
SION after walking with her considerable time he com.
planned of cold it bitter cold night; they walke1
along Sixth street and he led her into Elizabeth street,
street into which she had before been there heled
her into house kept by one Mrs Mettore and which
have disco vered be- unhappily bad repue
Heberton again complained OF the cold and proposed
Miss Mercer that they should 60 themselves
for short time; he desired only to stay few moments,
he said, but she nsnctvely declined; he persisted and
nssted-wen up the door and pulled the bell lifted
m
Of, came to the door-called him by name-they shook
hands Heberon went in, taking Sarah with him-were
shown into a room, and am informed the custom Of
such houses is, the mistress Immediately vanished. Sa
rah suspectng nothing, did not know that there
datey upon discovering tho bed she insisted leaving
the Heberton locked the door and put the key in
cloak-took her in his arms and threw her on the bed
He then stepped back to take off his coat Sarah eaped
She screamed but he with the GOODNESS which charac
terstc Of the highest depraviy told her it for
her that she then was where screaming would
be Of to her, one would come to her
that he told the truth. Thus you will perceive
aly kidnapped the Unfortunate gri in addition
to the seduction: Having secured THE door-taken
off the bonnet and cloak OF Mss Mercer and his
coat he caught her up with violence end threw her
the bed there he exhibited pistol to Sarah got up to
ply with his desire. Be il said to her honor however
resisted and screamed the lest being
with fright and fatigue and almost fantng she
powered by the monster He thus, in a most vile and
brutal manner committed rape upon her person. These
facts shall prove by Sarah Mercer herself, with the
corroborave testimony Of two females, who in the
house at the time, and heard the screams By the test
mony Of Miss Osborne, ALSO and by other whom
Sarah told the story within such time aiier its occur
renee would make II good legal testimony. have
been told and gravey foo, since into this town,
that do not understand my cese because am going to
prove the character OF Sarah Mercer Let tell those
who have been busy in circulating esperson the cha
racte young girl to beware what they do for let
them be assured that every attempt to do will rect
with double force upon themselves. For myself believe
that Sarah Mercer, when she went into the hands of
Hutchinson Hebei ION, pure and spoess when
she first from her mothers womb. Hebei ton and
Sarah Mercer alter the base violation Of her person.
NAMED for hour in the together Part of this
time Heberton would soothe and par lily threaten He
told her that he would put her in place to board
| that he would marry her and take her TO New
| Orleans. When she threatened to inform her