The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-06-25
Trial Of Polly Bodinc.

Staten Island, yesterday morning, at 10 o'clock.
The case of Polly Bodne tor the murder of her
sister-in-law and niece having been placed upon
the calendar for this term, considerable excite
ment has been created throughout the county.
The attendance in court was not large, however,
as the inhabitants Of the sland are busily engaged
at this OF the year, IN their various pursuits,
and it was not supposed that much progress could
be made IN The case the first day; The court
house is situated seven miles from the Quarantine
landing, the southery side OF the island, al the
head of Il sluggish stream called Fresh Kill, which
emptes self in Amboy Sound, north OF Ambuy
II Is we'll located on rising point OF ground, over
looking the country, and IN a most airy and plea
SAINT situation. The town and courthouse is
about the centre OF the territory OF the island, but
very far from being within the centre OF It's popu-
auon.
The Court organised is composed of the following
named persons :: Hon Amasa Parker, Circuit Judge;
Dai Itte T. l. ''*s'" l. H. ''''si'0D y ''''As'A "
The Graz Jury were then called and sWo rn and John
Y Zebra, Esq. seiecte! as the foreman
Judge rAaKrR then proceeded 20 charge the Grand Iu-
ry lie briefly alluded 10 their general duties es la "A
down the laws o. the State governing the sale OF iote
ry tickets receiving rsury and preserving the purity Of
elections, sc. They thee retired to the performance OF
the duties to be presented before them.
The OF the petit Jurors were called when TWEEN
ty answered out Of thirty five that cd
10 attend On calling over the names James Decker
refused to be sworn afil.s1 for conscientious "a
sons.
The Couxr presented him the statute showing that the
Affirmation declaration, and therefore did hot
involve any question OF cnnscentiouspess that might
weigh upon his mind as presented ia certain sages Of
court stated that they should be relled to con.r
him prison to the contempt of court bu would
ALLOW him until the afternoon sess.on to consider uon y"
subject
The CouRr then inquired of the District Attorney whe
nse the cd fU Sods Iha
would be at the opening OF the afternoon Session lie
stated that the prisoner had not been aragaed IN the in
dctment and also that it his intention present the
indictment to the Grand jury in order TO add one or two
additional counts the present Indictment contained
general count This would be presented to the Grand
Jury at once and the would then be ready
proceed
DAVID GRAHAM, Esq, one of the counsel for defence
stated that they ready to proc ed forthwith.
The Court then took recess until hall past one O'Clock
CoMmr,crv,xr or TIM TpI.I Al half mast one O'Clock
the court assembled District Attorney CLARk and JAMES
YIN GpAu.m RonrrIcx N MopRuoN and CII,To, ID,
WITT for defence MIR DE- WIIr is also counsel for
Waite the apohecary who stands indicted as an acces
ments against Polly Bodne for murder one for arson and
one for eceving stolen goods them 10 he such
The Court inouired of Mir Decker the us
IN whether ho had concluded IN make the usual fir
nation Of Juror 10 which he ossented and thus ended
his case
The Grand Jury came into court and presented an in
dicmenI against Polly Bodne for murder Containing two
additional Counts of charging her with
The off,pce nv m.ana unk nown 10 me iurors
The D,s9nIcT ATTopNsy then moved that Mary Bodine
the accused be arragned to plead to the Indictment She
came into court with n MoRn,soS Eso ana took her
seat near her counsel She was very neatly dressed in
black and appeared in much better health than when last
entered lea o NOT entity 10 the new Indictment which
was recorded
The Court then ordered the urv to be empannel
The name of Henry Crocheron was frat called and the
court IL the re was anv objection to the Juror He
that he was relative of Inc accused The District
| Attorney the Juror sWOrn said
that his mother and the father of the accused were half
slater and brother and that his wife was cousin of &C
cused He was therefore set aside for consangunity
| JAMES c. Torrss was next called and sworn without
objection on either side
Gromar ELLINarn calied and challenged by defence for
expression OF opinion which he his oath
| and set aside
DANIEL sIMoNDs called and challenged by prosecution
consanguinty but not being shown by his testimony
he was sworn.-2
Henry sEcuNE called and without objections
3:
principal cause formed no opinion Whatever Chaleng
| ed peremptoriy by defence, snd set aside.
on for principal cause passed by them and objected to
| by defence for giving an opinion, and set aside
DANIEL g. Vas QUEER called, and challenged by prose-
cuon My mother was the aunt Of the father OF accus.
ed Set aside for consanguinty
objected to and the challenged but
Withdrew it, and he was afiirmed-4
CHARlEs SWIFT called and challenged ny prosecution
for cOnsnnguiDify- brother and the prisoners bro
Their married sisters me Court DECIDED that mere was
no relationship The juror then stated that his vile and
the husband OF the accused were cousins by blood and
that his wiics FIRST husband was the cousin OF the &C
| cused his name was John Bodine; ne and Andrew DO
dine were blood cousins my wife has two children by
John Dodne living. The juror was set aside for
| consang unity.
THOMAS CHRISTOPHER, of Mortified, called challenged
by prosecution.-No relation nor no conscientious .cr,
pies has formed and expressed an opinion as TO the g
or innocence OF accused Prosecution whdIe@ the chs
enge and the defence assented that the juror should be
| swon-a
JOAN LAroncr cslled-chslenged by proseo uton-Not
accused never saw her before Defence as
| senei and he was sworD-o
JoHN VAN PrLr cnlled-chalenged hy deisnce-Has
expresst no opinion as ne Tecolcs Not .eNed az ne
| knows Oh Challenged peremptorly by defence Set
| aside
ELrAs Woop called challenged by deidloe-Has
expressed an op'nion set asse.
| CoRNLLIus Palmer called challenged by defence
Has not formed ,xptsssed opinion Challenged per
| emporily. Set aside.
DANIEL Z. DEcRkk csieu-' hsiiehBeu ny P'osecuIOh
i have made up my mind; not feiaed mas cosctntious
scrupes against hnding verdict oil guty, when desth
| is the punishment Sc; aside.
HENRY DEHART called--Ne bJ'cton- swoin-I
ALFRED MERsEREAu caled-set aside by consent; Is a
| cousin Of accused.
JACo A Pal CaIleI-f haIPuRed dgenCc-I n.