The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-07-02
TRIAL OF POLLY BODINE
CLOSING OF THE TESTIMONY.
RECEIVED BY SPECIAL EXPRESS.
Trial Of Polly BOdinc, for the Murder o
her sister-in-layv, EmeIine House man.

MISUNDERSTANDING Day
Before the Court of Oyer and Terminer, at Rich
mond Court House, Staten Island, consisting OF
the Hon. Amasa J. Parker, Circuit Judge; Hon.
Albert Ward, First Judge OF Richmond County,
and Associate Judges Cortelyou, Litlel, Crocheron
and Clawson.
For prosecution, District-Attorney CLARK, JAMES
h. WHITING, ESQ.,, and Commissioner PHELrs
For defence, DAVID GRAHAM, RopERlcK N. Nor
RIsoN and CLINTON DE WITT, Esqs.
The court room was crowded with spectators
aud the bar densely filled with the beauty OF the
island, enclosing in their midst the gentlemen OF
the press, counsel and jurors. The testimony
given below will be found very interesting.
TESTIMONY FOR DEFENCE.
AT the opening of the Court, the defence called
ABRAHAM P. HousEMAS, the father of accused, was
sworn-On Sunday preceding christmas, the accused
was home all day, and slept at home that night in the
same room with me; noticed nothing peculiar in her
manner that day; she was reading good deal that day
do not remember her looking out OF the kitchen win
dOws much that day she sat at the back the partly
against the fire place, with her back towards the win
dow she could not the house Of deceased while sit
ting position; preparations on the Satur
day before 90 to New York, usual, but told
her that stormed too much and she did net go think
the disposition OF accused as good as it could be-
was always cheerful and lively and that day
heard no noise about the house Sunday night;
to the fire as could get there's my wife there
threw pail Of water l did. not assist taking
any things cut am II years Of age; had much az
could do 10 get the pals and ladder while
barn getting the ladder the door the house broken
open somebody did not see the accused that night
did not take notice OF the bundle" Of clothes my wife
generally tokes cafe Of my money Twas at the barn
when George brought the 81 900 money saw it once
III the chest IN the ped before the lire he always
LETT money with my wife when he went away this was
secret In the family it was generally known the
deceased and accused were always rendy all child
have lett money with whenever deceased wished
aH h.:,.
child to house and keep her there; knew OF
any dispute or difficulty between deceased and accused
by CouRr-Q Did you know all the persons at the
Ere?
Al could not tell in the night all of them did not
notice all
BY DErEvcE-The steve that was in our sitting room
last winter and the pipe put up Saturday pre-
sente OF several gentlemen VINO were there.
times ut house it could run about, and called me
daddy" do not know what 1t called the accused or
others Of the family i was just beginning to talk did
not feel very we'll or that Sunday.
Q-Was your mind out OF order, or your bodyl
Al had pain IN my side She sitting against the
the stoop the Of deceased the
dow OF the sittingroom nearest the road was awake
on Sunday morning when my wife Let the accused into
the house there was no light in the room; went down
stairs Immediately alter there was light there then
1t was light enough without It my wife did not to
bed again that morning my wife has much to say
about the money and paying it out Us have went up
one DAY to get some money and my wife SAID, there Is
Georges money it was more than month before the
night after had been moved from the blue chest in the
bed ths chest up stairs this after had to
tell before the investigation where was kept George
wanted to use the money and he didn't wish us to tell
where IL was he DIDN'T want TO put out had be.
tween $1,000 and $1,000 in the chest mine not noved
told Der was not AFRAID to leave in the chest where
had been told her she might move Georges money ii
h pss a mo, b see On Mndsy after she
said at any time that did not KNOWN here the money
was on that night.
Q-Is your memory very good, orvery badl
Il an rom auhp i,tnua very ell hpra |
can't; did know that the money In my house be
tore the ire never said at the fire that unless George
had put out 81 900 it in the house told DR..
Harrison So or Dr. Clark, or Mr. Crochsron or Mr. Whit
iey person that know of sent from house
Sunday night heard the family olking and supposed
that she had gone out have no knowledge OF their SIT
ting up that night to wait for her. believe George
The defence here presented a paper to witness and
asked him 1t was his signature TO which he assened
The paper was bond receipts for interest money
which appeared that he had first signed his full
and afterwards made his mark. The object was to show
that age had impaired his faculties and also that the
cused was often present at the receipt OF moneys by her
father.
The defence here presented Hutchnsons Almanac, to
show that the Sunday Dec Oath and Monday
25,h o'clock % minutes and set at o'clock and 80
minutes. eE
The Court said that Almanac considered test
mony under the Common Law and admitted 1t.
ABRAHAM HousEMAN, brother Of accused called and
sworn- reside between and 400 yards Of the house OF
my father
y relative to keeping their money
Al was in the habit Of leaving my money at my
fathers house before got got, 4 family around S it know
fathers borrowed $500 OF him at one tme and $500 al
another, which he got from my fathers the accused
at the time he went up stairs and got the $500
he lent the deceased and accused were always very
endly the accusedwas alwaysvery fond OF chdren the
rmor relative to Mr. Van Pelts thinking the accused
guilty heard the day Of the funeral She knew Of the
AFTER came home the same day the plates in the
cupboard were backened the looking glass was much
BACKED.
Crssseramined BY prosecuiion-The next night after
the fire that the $1,000 had been left with my
mother said, while board Of the boat on the morn
ing after the fire. that If Georges money was in his house
twas gone said was fearful It was gone; thought
robbery must have been committed and supposed posi-
bly,, that the $1,000 might BIZ there first saw my brother
George to speak to him, when got home; ! saw him
FIRST coming in at the wharf in New York, on Tuesday
in his vessel, while WINS going out in my vessel
BIZ d.(ence-I was absent at Virginia when the $1,000
was lett at my fathers; did not ask on Monday night
when the fire was and therefore thought that he might
have left il in his own house, as knew he generally had
$500 $780, George was expected home before Christ
mas Witness here presented bill that he had against
his father in September is4l for $40 a0) When pre-
scented this bill to him for payment the accused went up
stairs and got the money and gave to mel she also got
money once afterwards to pay me Tor hat that mad
bought for him.
EsocH Z. CAMp called and sworn-f took an opportun
ty Saturday afternoon to visit the houses OF George
Iiouseman and his father for the first tme saw stove
put up in the sitting oil the house OF old MIR House
man. the room from whence Mrs Van Name testified that
she saw the deceased through the WINDOW on ouHnay
morning while sitting opposite the stove; could in that
position distinctly recognise any person that knew who
might have been standing walking on the back piazza
Of George Housemsns house. where Mrs. Van Name said
she saw deceased the daughter Of accused came out on
the stoop while sitting in front Of the stove and
commenced sweeping; Recognised her as oens ,he per
had here in court; the line OF vision Is clear TO
observe the whole length aud breadth OF the piazza or
stoop; person sitting the jam in the rear Of the stove
where accused is alleged to have been sitting large
portion OF the time Sunday, could not see the dwell
ling of deceased without getting up and passing to the up
per side Of the north window OF the sitting rooms also
went to house Of Mrs. Rorke about $50 yards below
the house of deceased, and Mr. De Witt pass from
the woodhouse in the Of the dwelling to the dwell
Ing could recognise him by his gait, and could tell
white from black clothing on person without din
Guilty; could distinguish features very certain, but
could tell person whose dress and walk was well &C
quainted with.
HoRAog w. BALDWIN, Exchange Croker, called and
sworn reside at l32 Canal street he gold watch be-
longing Capt George Houseman that was found at the
paw brokers' shop OF Abram Adolphuswas here shown
10 the witncss There was gentleman called at my OF
flee Christmas morning with watch smilnr to this
lA.YS