The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-06-28
Trial of Polly Bodine.

Trial Of Polly Bodine.
The trial Of this woman before the Court Of
| Oyer and Terminer at Richmond Court House,
Staten Island, on an Indictment for the murder of
Mrs Emeline Houseman, her sister-in-aw, is pro-
crossing rapidly.
| The Court consists of the Hon. Amasa J. Par
ker. Circuit Judge; Hon. Albert Ward, First Judge
of Richmond County and Associate Judges Littell,
! Corteyou, Crocheron and Clawson.
The prosecution is conducted by District Attor-
| ney CLARK, JAMES r. WHITING, Esq, and Com
missioner PHELPS. The defence by DAVID Ora
HAM, RoDERIcK N MORRISON, and CLINTON De
WITT, Esqrs.
| TESTIMONY FOR PROSECUTION.
Amos r. TnoM"oN called by prosecution and sworn
am watch maker and jeweer at 33l Broadway-f,he
rings breast pin and locke here shown to wit
ness the first saw of them the first week after
Christmas we sold all the old jewellery in the store
took these things in exchange for bracelet with
dark purple color do know whether these things
were left by male or female there we're great many
persons in our store on Christmas day took these
things myself believe but have personal recoIIec
ton Of the transaction account of the sale OF
| the bracelet afterwards in our daily sale book.
MosEs VAN NAME sworn.-I q relative of the
and married her sister, returned from Virginia to the
Island Wednesday, the day Of the funeral OF deceased
after over stopped at the house Of the old man.
Abraham r. Houseman, my father-inlaw; the accused
was there; left there Thursday morning and came
back Friday evening abort sunset the accused
still at the house of her father when came back that
night the accused was in the kitchen that night and
aherinaw and my wife; the accused went out in about
fifteen minutes, through the back door; went in search
after her when she went outs went to Abraham House
mans first, then to Henry Deckers then to John Van
Vel she was not at either PLACE then returned home
Defence objected to the question, and the court over
| ruled the objection.
WlrNE.-I saw Joseph simonson and others search
ing stad at Abraham Housemans that night; went
bed before day light and left my mothern law sitting
up; searched the wood house, wsgon.house, WE'LL and
cstern did not see the accused afterwards until
before the Grand Jury; on the Friday night while she
at the house of her father in the kitchen made the
remark that thought the accu ed guilty;
said word She did not say anything, but went out in
about ten minutes afterwards she had shawl on
say any thing about the offering any reward
The court then took recess from o'clock until I
| O'Clock for tea.
At the opening OF the court DAVID GRAHAM, Esq, fol
Defence rose and stated that his physical condition
in connexion with the magnitude OF the before ths
Court impeed him and his associates to that ai,e
to- day there be no evening session of the Court.
Judge PARKLk replied that he anxious to finish tho
possible, aud he should, therefore,
| inue the evening session for the present
Mr.. De Witt seconded the motion of his associate
c)unsel and moved On immediate adjournment Of the
| Court for the day.
Judge LIrrxLI concurred with the views Of the coun
| sci for defence.
The CouRr then consulted with the Jury and agreed
| remain in session until O'Clock in the evening
1
THE letter. or piece Of paper written in pencil that AL
bert Bodne, the son OF accused testified was given &c
him by his mother Friday after the discovery of tn,
murder to give to Waite was then presented to the wit
| ness.
GRAHAM, Tor Defence objected to the reading of the
paper, portion of the writing had been oberated
This view concurred in by Mr.. Morrison but the
court erruled the objection noted the exception
the witness was sworn and allowed to proceed as fol
! lows:-
| THIS paper placed in my hands during the prior
examination at Port Richmond; it not quite much
The witness then proceeded to read the paper follows
Mr.. Waite you cant imagn my trubels as slept with
tmene last want you TO get SCOT OF close ana come
mined concerning my cunning to New York on Monday.
You and Albert must say that Albert TO the ferry
for and rename with you all day with the exception
going in spring street for about 10 Is mins to
basket mended went out the next monin bout the
Tenth of time going stay days but her broth
er.in.awscam to let her know bout the accidend
and my retur returned to the island imgiatey you
will be treated WE'LL We all worn out with examna
places Hide the things LEFT and have them put where
they cannot be iound If he writing is obliteraed here
for half lne) should ask (another half line obleraed
| here) your house say no."
Gross examined by MoRRIsos for defenceI have been
nearly all my life time in Bank, examining signatures
n think a mat ut ,s PsssT mar
torney The paper was given to me by the District Az
torney have added some letters to words that sup
| word have left blank.
| WILLIAM HrsRv. coored man, called and sworn
L
ing out OF the cabin Of the steamboat Staten Island
this was on the morning after Christmas saw strange
about 20 minutes past six o'clock she came on board and
went into the alter cabin The boat did not leave until
eight o'clock at that time The girl Catharine Jane who
ia now my wife, was also in the cabin the
woman before that is her sitting there Tho Saturday
following saw her again, coming board the boat abou,
the time she went into the cabin the as be
fore. do not know whether she up In the boat
not that morning. saw her few days after again, but
cannot remember when it was. The steamboat goes TO
apta in fhanh tn ~
dooe ''A "''' TIC morning anu '"sA '''A 10 A' per
Cro.s eraninedby GRAHAM for d.fenceI only one
side of her face she went board the boat she walked
very quick can't say whether she had veil not
at the time she went on board never saw but half her
face at any one time When came here to the prison.
saw her in the CELL They asked me If she was not the
| same woman, and said she When saw her in the
cell, they had put hood and cloak her knew her
by her dress and face. II not fall light when she
came on board.
CATHERINE JANE HENRY a colored woman, called and
sworn--l am the wife OF William Henry; was chamber
maid hoard the Staten island steamboat in December
last have seen the accused before the first time was
on Tuesday morning before Christmas about sunrise
standing with my back to the stairs the
she came in and sat down by the stove and recoeci
right she said good morning. and also that il was
cold morning." asked her II she going town. she
said, Eyes !" said, you've taken early !" she
replied 10 me- "she had walked great ways" she asked
II We had anything to eat board; told her had
and asked her what she would have she asked what we
anything to drink board and said Eyes !" asked
her IL she would take brandy, and she said no. she
told her going to my breakfast and she ed il
was coming soon back told her, yes when return
ed she had removed her seat to place near the after
bin door was gone about quarter Of an hour she sat
there until the boat came to her leave the
boat after she got to New York; she had cloak hood
and veil the seat where she sat going up in dark
part of the cabin the next time saw her the
Saturday following made the same remark to her as
before, you've made early start !" she said eyes
and nothing she did not ask for anything TO eat
drink she had veil and thrown partly on one
side she took the same seat that she had before and
NAMED there until she got to the city the gin hal sugar
in II and the tumbler was about halt FULL the Friday
after New Year Ilsaw her here in the jail my husband
came with mat