New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-03-07
TRIAL FOR MURDER.
Trial Of John Roland, John McPage nHd VIII
liam Royal, indietedfor the Murder OF Peter
IL
COURT OF OYER AND TERMINER
Before Judge EdmORds And Aid. Fsanhhn AMI Mile

COURT OF OYER AND TERMINER
Before Judge Edm0Rds and Aid. Fsankhn AMI Miller.
John Roland. John McPsge and William
ROYAL placed on Trial, charged wiki ihe murder OF
Peer Johnson 18Th Oct last by throwing hin into ms
river and be was drowned. Messrs Radcliffe and Whe-
as appeared In their behalf sad the District Auoraey Tor
The prosecution
new snd apparently very lldicious mode was taken
in empsnueinga Jury. Twelve Jurors took their seats
10 order as hey called The Court then aformsi
hem hat II any bias existed their alton TO
the case or nhey 'e there any objection their sit
CURED a. hat The case and iniormed by tbs
Court Another Of the Jurors slated hat be did not wish
SIN ar remark being rallied Al Tho last trial, aud the
Judge replied that be 100 would be glad IN OF life
ard DEAN serve, but Judges and Jurors shrink
rom heir duIy. What will be he Consequence The Jul
or excused and smother Gales In his place, and
the trial proceeded The feelings OF no good Jurymen were
hur as is too onen The 10 being rejected from the
whn . or nfounded theories Of counsel ~
TIE Dstrc, Attorney opened the case and said Tue men
knocked the deceased down then took him up add threw
him overheard and let him 10 bis late us MURDER III they
Knocked him overheard In Struggle without Intending 10
DO 60 Il VIII be menslAu quessioa u seey IS
The whether or not they were the pefsOqs VINO
conmiued the sc) viii also arise De proceeded to call
CBSrr,s MDoueaL sworn-speciA Deputy Sheriff; on
The 5h October lss N wscnns DOCKS ana snP' IA me
First Ward, 10 roooeries &c, was on board OF sap
DANIEL lying outside vessel al the end 81 Pier o ~ X
about il O'Clock al night ship from Liverpool hauled
outside Of us with passengers the three prisoners,
A1cutg clock, 60 shOre and return about they
crossed the Daniel after abort Tune Rowland who had
char ged his sailor dress and put on gray emigrauI coai
weTt on shore again little before IL 10 came board
again I'M Two others, and exclaimed he getting
oS er the pBnr e That's the way do Il " could den.
fy he OF Ter Two men shore for cigar, aud
heard nan Wned Paterson, who was there de-
,crbd he zen " hem be Jaw shove the overheard,
and krevy by he description, II the man saw 20
shore TWO or officers went on board with ma ot the
our ,bio 10 whch The men belonged went 10 oTecsses
both sic e. but could not find the men waaied went 10
between decks and elsewhere but those board muster
ed md ana got too strong Tor u.s. and eHested
b. fprk vveu nj rf, 10
f recase ain without effect and Nc PataroG and my.
al " IN, to eyeen decks ane Mr. p pointed out Royal
a. ore ofhe three and supposed SO too he was sitng
af be women hen saw man lying on chest
The ttern rolling him over knife was found near
him he Captain said not 70 disturb him. he Is asleep took
Royal on shore three four says Gierwad, before the
bo6y OF deceased ounc saw these three at the
house snd recognized ROlsnd - the man had seen
come on board and eXclaim That's the way" &c.
CrosserQmincd-The ship came IN that evening, The
men belonged 10 The Charles CfocAer TlefsWere sssS
number OF passengers men, women and children on board
besde seamen the Daniel had also got In that evening
and bad pssseDRtr German and Ffencni spoke 70 NO,
land That night when he board told him they had
very hue girls on board there he said they had
Joslua McCGbe sworn-Of First Ward Police went on
board that nIght only knew Royal he was the one ar
rested board the way to me sauonson he said
board The vessel named Roland had had light with
on The docA ne SAID ne Knew nothlng about the
man icing knocked overheard said they had been to a
place drink and their return The difficulty took place
think have said II was passenger Royal on the way TO
the 81 aon house said be American think heard
the discharged examination Mr.. Blunt said
Sgiia BrGadt MT srsllnechi, nlerpreter) was sworn
Native Of Sweden; came TO this country Ihip Thames
three or four weeks before the mar was drowned was
board brig that night and came on shore abOnt 10 ac-
cOmpiuied by my husband and two girls hey are witness,
esl three OF Them by the arm and
got aIgTy; Ii was Roland sailor named Johnson tde-
from The brig and asked The three men what
they dong with these girls be struck one Of The men,
do not know which, and they all aacsed bin, and John
son Immediately fe into the water; got frightened and
reuetied board the brig again the three men ran to-
ward IL of The wharf; when they ret attacked John
hs fell The dock close by the edge do not know
how lie into the water; heard MIN fall ino the water
Iofn tt.F ba1h e.p Df "a |
saw LIN that night he large mao about feet
high peculiarly IOrpulent but strong built, prisoners
very young men, about mddng size aud hight recog
nized Roleld IeXt day Al the Station House.
The other Two females testified they thought that the
olbsr two prisoners with Ronald L stated by
br Peterson and Others, as 10 the difficulty Johneon
STRUCK one, struck back, fell, rose, and was about
suking again, VIII he knocked overheard; the men
did NOT bur walked down The wharf Afterwards II
said { ey were dressed as sailors.
The District Attorney, a. The close OF The testimony SAID
he old not consider capital case (o murdor) but OF
msrslsus liter in The second or third degree.
The counsel for prisoners said the men had been dis
charged from the PLANT but reaeseo and their ship
mates permitted TO 20 away. The blow received by de.
ceased allowing n have been given IN SELF
defense II admied ihst the captain OF The G. G.
The accused good character for the i've mOlhs pre-
yiOus The time they had ssiled with him.
Ire Counsel for defense opened the end ca ed two
or three Witnesses, but noihiny material eced.
The then submitted without being summed up.
The District Attorney nmaed his opinion that sufficient
had not been shown 10 impncae McPeRe
II Court Ms charge cOnsid sred nansaughier In the
I'd 4b degree The question OF identity 70 be subject Of
fect for the Jury
The Jury returned verdict that Roland was guilty Of
mSnssu ghttT In The "a degree Royal m tbs sth degree,
oschsre edhe others 10 be brought up for sentence On
Sslurdhy.