The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-09-06
Vol. XII, No. 235-WhoIs No. 4I07
The Celebrated Cold spring Murder Case.
SurFoLK Co. Own AND TERMINER,

lin New York on account Of the despatch with which he
disposed Of heavy calendar in the Oyer and Termner
Tor New York few years since
: The case Of Jeremiah b. Tille for the murder of
John Colbert the 27th day of April last at whitehall
near Cold Spring, Long Island was called on for trial.
From the opening &c Mr. STRONG, District Attorney,
understand that the circumstances under which the
der was committed, were as follows:-
On the day above mentioned Colbert and his wife had
been to meeting and returned home between 10 and IL
pressed to his wife desire to to rest as soon as
sbe, as it was his intention to get up early in the
ing 1t was a very dark night, and going towards the
window with his wife, she heard noise resembling
! the discharge OF gun; he immediately fell, ex.
claiming "oh, Libby, am killed. am muir
discovered balls entered him. one Of which
went through him and the other remained in the body
At this time Colbert married four years his wife
before the marriage Tllett had been of Mrs
BERT and when she was married felt disappointed After
six weeks before the murder Tett called at the house
of Colbert and asked Mrs. Colbert if she did regret
marrying Colbert and told her he intended to go Tex
as and asked Colbert was put out of the way whether
she would not accompany him she declined. Tillett
then proposed to her poison her husband he then
pocket about the ze of beam gave half of to her and
said "gpe that TO your husband-he takes that will Kill
(Onexamning the pockets prisoner when arrest
ed the sheriff found six pills Of Nux Vomica) Cobers
left said Colbert must die" She saw nothing fur
Their OF him until after the murder Tracks were found
near the window where he murder was committed of
peculiar shape which correspond exactly the shape OF
prisoners boots.
Mr. Strong appeared as counsel for the people, and
@. Lamberson, Esq, District Attorney Of Queens Co;
Abraham T. Rose, ESQ., of Bridghampton. and Mr.. Gard
ner OF Sag Harhor appeared as counsel for the prisoner
After the organization of the Court he prisoner hav
ing been previously arraigned the following jurors
were called
Abraham Ketchum, challenged for the favor Trers
approximations OF the trers asked the Court if he be-
ing butcher, was competent as juror! Court-Cer-
tainly srl Challenge for favor withdrawn, and cha
lerged peremp.Orly. Set aside.
Nathaniel Robinson sworn.
Seth squres challenged for the favor Trers appoint
edChallenge for favor withdrawn and challenged per-
emptorily. Set aside.
- Baldwin, challenged for the favor. Triers ap
poined-declared to be competent-sworn
Here there was an interruption occasoned by the
ragnipg of small girl, IL years of age, for arson in
want being brought and discharged for want of prosecu
ton On mis- being discharged he cleared out in such
manner as to raise general laugh in which Tieft the
prisoner now under trial for murder joined These per
arragned, in order that the grand jury might
be discharged that business dstaining them.l
Daniel R Booth, challenged for the favor. Triers ap
pointed-declared compete nt-sworn
Josiah Beebe challengedsame taken and found
to be competent
Asa Cloch-same course taken, and found to be CON-
petent-sworn.
Albert A. Overton-excused on account of indispo.
sition.
Noah Barnes-Challenged- course taken Set
aside, for the present on account Of partial deafness
Ben amin Mills-Challenged-s course taken, and
found 10 be disqualified
Rensselaer, Topping -Challenged-same course TAKEN
and found to be competent-sworn.
Schuyler B. Halsey-Same course taken, and found in
Edward D. Topping taken, and found
disqualified.
Lemuel soper-same course taken, and fond compe-
tent sworn.
prisoner eagerly each juror he takes his sea9
Philip A. Newton-Dis Disqualified an opinion.
John Lewis-Found competent and sworn.
John Hutchinson-Sworn.
Chas. II. Fordham-Would not find verdict of guilty
where the taking Of life would be the consequence Set
asiie
Absalom King challenged for the favor: Found to be
Richard II HuntIey challenped. afent--sworn
Jason NJ. Turbull. challenged Found competent
challenged peremptorily, set aside.
Albert Howell, challenged Found competent
The Jury being all formed and sworn, the court ad
At one O'Clock the court met, and proceeded with the
case.
SARAH ELIZABETH CopEnr widow of the deceased
quite young girl dressed in black apparently
Is years OF agewas brought upon the stand and
med on the part of the prosecution Is the widow of
John Colbert deceased Her husband was killed Sun
day evening between 10 and IL o'clock, about the 27h
April last in his house Whtehall she at his side
at the time Prisoner stands up during the examination
OF this witness Had been out with her husband and
when she and her husband returned she struck light
he remarked he wanted to 60 bed, they de-
tanned late, and the nights short that man
who had to work did not get much sleep He wanted
glass; he stood close to the window while drinking; she
stood close to him. his right sides suddenly she
flash and the glass he held was smashed: he cried ooh
Libby" here the witness weeps] and Immediately fell
down on his left knee and then his back; [prisoner
looks around the court nnconcernedly she stopped to
said Jeremiah THiet, you hare killed my husband,
kn ne st'll weeping she went up stairs opened the
woman in the next house and Peter" Ia in
housed; man across the swamp answered, "Uoman,
my husband" He said, II wiH be there in fen minutes"
Five six people they said must not touch him
WITNESS weeps we all went out locked the door, and
witness remained OF her aunts till morning At the time
of the flash, heard noise like somebody running away
Further examination postponed for the present
JOSEPH II RAY, examined-ls physicians; lives at
Huntngdon conducted the post mortem examination OF
deceased found the body on its back, with clothes
on his right arm; in taking the clothes from the arm OF
deceased bullet fell the floors the body strip
ped and wound discovered the rgnt sde above the
hip; two wounds on the lett side, about two inches
apart ball had passed through cutting one Of the IN.
testnes and otherwise injuring adjacent parts the
other bail took oblique course racturng Of the
bones OF the spine in the lumbar region and found en-
bedded in large muscle the right side of the spine
bullets produced and identified by the witness prisoner
standing up, and gazing inently on the doctorl Saw
pane OF glass perforated in two places about two inches
apart either OF the wounds would cause death. lExa
mination OF the Doctor suspended for the present
Mrs COLBERT recaod-Was seventeen years old
when she married ebert has children is
or twelve years old; never in company with
prisoner alone but evening for one hour; in
versaon with prisoner he asked her il she wanted go
to Oregon Texas she replied she and her husband had
hired out and did not want co. he then said don't
for John to co. mean YOU witness then said what do
you want me to go for without joint he then asked
if ! would grant him one request; | wanted to know
what was he gave to understand that to kill
one; asked him and he said yes: asked him
who, and he said Jonn; he said il killed John
then he and could get married; witness then directed
him to walk out of the house prisoner told me 10 mt
ratsbane in his cider when he drank; told him if did
such thing would be hung he said nobody would
know it: sad yes there is one above would know it;
told him did not want to hear him talk and 20 ont
Of the house, he then asked to grant him another
qnest John should die get Killed, il would take
bim said no. would not take the best man that ever
tod shoe leather; yes you would he then said if
could get you no other way would work roots on you
General laugh, in which prisoner joins. Witness
plains by saying that working roots,n means admins
teiing something to her that would make her love him
Prisoner then said John he had to die prisoner then
SAIL take my gun and shoot me- and III give you all my
properly; he then said mean to kiss you before go;
threatened to split his head with the axe he then at
tempted to Mss me- and pulled him by the whskers and
bit him on the wrist, and he said don't for Gods sake
and will go out ofthe house; he then into the hall
came back again. and pulled his pocketbook saying
look here, eat itno, don't you it, keep this and
give it to John-holding fiat and substance OF
size between shilling and two shilling piece: he cut il
with his knife; 1t appeared he insde ash cd him