The New York herald., 1845-10-12
Antl-Rent Trials.


"A Hughston, Esq, District .dtforneyTial Of Edcard
OConnor for the Murder Of Steele.
FOURTH DAY.-TEsrIMoNY ron DEFENCE CONCLUDED.
The Court met this morning at O'Clock. 1t will be
seen that an attempt is made on the part Of the prisoner
to prove an ali6i. The defence called
JAMES DEAN-Lives in Bovina has known O'Connor
good do not belong to an ANTI Rent did;
! never was sworn IN the association
The cross-examinaton elected nothing material
MALCOLM McNAuGHT, sworn.--Ths witness call
ed by mistake. He was asked, however, If he knew
OConnor, and said he did, his character is good.
ALEXANDER MITCHELL, sworn--Has been acquainted
with the prisoner for several years; his character has
been good; heard the conversation between Mr. Laugh
and RUSSELL the Court House yard heard Russell
say he did not think he could swear to anything against
O'Conner; sometimes he thought Powhattan was O'Con
nor and sometimes Rutherford and didn't know as it
was either: WASN'T sure who it was.
Cross Eramined-ls an Anti Renter has paid tax OF
cents an acre to support the socety said at Bloomve
Roxbury, would have run as they did, but stood
my ground and fought; rode round Bovina once with a
horn in my hand to warn the indians keep away from
the posse Is indicted for attempt to prisoner
The cross examination continued at some length,
for the purpose of showing prejudice.
JOHN TILFoRD sw0rn.-Has been acquainted with Ed
ward OConnor for the last II IA years. lived in Bowl
three years ago. knew OConnor them his character
has been good.
Cross Erami,ed- There was no Anti. .Rentism in the
County of Delaware three years ago. formed my opinion
on OConnor's character from what knew Of him while
in Bovina; have since heard he was an Indian chet;
don't think it detracts from his moral characer think il
does from his general character
ALEXANDER T.. ERKsoN.-Llved In Bovlna some 10
years ago lived here since been acquainted with
Edward O'Connor since he was child never heard any
thing against his character until recenty what have
heard is respecting Anti.Rent
VIM. MoRE swom-Lives in Andes has known Edward
OConnor than IA years; his char iacter has been
good heard any thing against him till this affair
Cross Examined is an Ant.Renter politically ;
is indicted for being disguised at the Stewards sale;
Speaking of the death of Steele said the Indians had
tripped up one Of the Delhi bulldogs; | was on the
ground at Earle after Steele shot, by tripping him
up, meant he was dead: told of my neighbors that
il was good enough for Steele if he shot frs am con-
Direct resumed-Told Edwin More that had heard
that Steele had fired first and said that our peace officers
were wrong in shooting at men, they were disguised;
that If the Indians fired frs they ought to be brought to
justice.
JOHN McCuNE sworn.-Lves in Bovina; has been
quanted with Edward O'Connor since he was child;
he has borne good character; have known him we'll.
Cross-eramined-Bl my horn once to warn witness
to keep of the way have been bail for of my
sons who was indicted for being disguised at Stewards
sale has heard that OConnor was Indian chief his
character has been good except this
VIM. TrLFoRD sworn-Has known Edward O'Cnnnor
since he was boys his character has been good, inde
pendent Of this Anti.Rent.
Cross-erami,ed- Nothing elected.
Other witnesses were examined to the same point
Has BEEN out several timss with disguised men Ths
witness wasrecalled by defence, for the purpose of i'm
peachment 1t was satisfactorily shown that he had
been Chief and connected with all the outrages and
villainies committed by disguised men) Must be q
great many times with disguised man. must know his
voice well, before could to him; my father
might be disguised and not be able to detect
him.
SAMUEL McCABr, recalled.-Ts acquainted with John
Jersey IA witness for prosecuon has been acquaint
ed with him for eight years. his general cha
racter forruth and veracity not good that OF
credit to his testimony that would to in general
Cross-erdminedJersey has the reputation OF spinning
long yarns; fish stories.
George S. JoscELYN, sworn.-Am acquainted with
John Jersey; have known him twenty-five years; his
general reputation for truth and veracity is bad
sitting as juror should not give that credit to his test
mOny that would to men in general
Crosseramined-Has q son indicted for this murder
swo @ within few days. W have heard brother n.Iax I
OF his and abrotherin law of mine say he was not to be
believed under oath.
citation; is opposed to their proceedings.
JOHN G. VoRHIKs, sworn-Has been acquainted with
trae in Sullivan county twenty years. the general
reputation Of Jersey in common conversation bad;
TO b0s M MS
Is apt in common conversation
to tell fasehoods have heard him spoken OF several
as ndulgDg in this habit; (wtness here mentioned
several names whoIhad said soDI not Ant.Renter;
am opposed to the leasehold 81 stem.
Several Witnesses were called to the same point
The Court here took recess for one hour. When
again assembling the defence continued calling wit
to show the bad character of Jersey.
Moses EARLE called--The District Attorney objected
to his giving evidence account of religious belief
saying he was FaalIsthe also objected on the ground
thpt he was an accompice and therefore incompetent
The DISTRICT ATTORNEY read from "Barbours Crimi.
nal Law page 1884, to show he not competent, be-
Hon SAMUEL GoRpoS read from "Roscoe's Criminal
Evidence page 49, to show that an accomplce not
joined in the Indictment is competent witness for the
prisoner &c.-and from second volume Revised Sta
tutes page $780, section 81 3d. and &c. to first objection
Dr. E. STEELE, sworn-Was called to attend Osmon N.
Steele died. Observed 70 him. rp' pointing @ to the bed
"that is hard case-"Oh no., he replied lit was to be
he ws cesd for the Of doing as he has
has come to i'll said to him, you atast then ~
he replied "I assure you the Almighty makes no mis-
takes"
The CouRT said they thought the objections not
tenabe, and Mr. Earle was sworn
Was at home the 29th Of July the day my property
was to be sod saw natives there's there num-
ber Of them; knew none Of hem the 10th Of July
the LIST day of SALE Indians there alter the She
riff had gone; don't remember their asking nythng
about the postponement Of the sale; did not deliver my
property up to them think had spoken to Colon Camp
BEL to and Dd on the for
Alter some argument, Mr. Gordon said he did not wish
to pursue the evidence.
Indians at my house was they came out Of the woods
expect they came to stop the sae cont know thought
7th ofAugus THAT all that passed between us; have
said gave up that property to the Indians to do
with 1t as they pleased.
PETER DYsERr sworn-Livss in Bovina, near O'Con.
nor's--thefrife produced yesterday was now shown
him have this rifle before; on the 7th Of August it
was in my houses Edward O'Connor put there; he had
there he did FIRE queny this was LEFT week or two
previous to the Earle sale after leaving it, he went down
the road 1t remained there week or two after the sale
of 7th Aug he the habit of leaving at my houses
on the day of sale saw man whom thought to be Ed.
ward OConnor in his fathers field; it between 10
and II o'clock in the morning; went overto Earles
at II o'clock in the morning to see the sale; saw OCon
nor in his fathers field from the road about 80 rods Off
left the sale about the time Steele killed. him
fall of his horse; have known OConnor IL years; OCon
nors father is 50 OF age and in very bad state Of
health; was there this morning; he appeared to be in
great pain. (Witness now examined the gun)-know it
WELL has piece gone from the butt; do not recollect
seeing the piece Of brass that is gone missing, be.
FORE
Cross-eramned.-H small farm Of 20 acres; it is
leased land OConno did not leave the gun with but
hung up in the kitchen; he said he would leave till
he came back again. il was about week before the sale;
remember 1t was wet morning and remained in the
house; he sometimes left his gun and sometimes got
when ! was away; recollect his taking his gun away
about week after the sale from the fact that he was
moving with me on Wednesday after, and he took il
away them the gun hung nv bed, and could see II
in the mornings OConnors family is composed of his IA
ther ard mother and two little children The
in the field Of OConnors moving in a line with the
road; his size and agility while moving made me think
il was him; he had on pair Of tow pantaloons was
committed before Esquire Maynard three years ago for