Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1860-06-27
TRIAL OF MRS. SARAH BRENNEMAN,
In the Court Of Oyer and Terminer for Ciearfeld
County, March Term, 1860.

On Saturday morning, June 23d, the trial of
Mrs. Sarah Brenncman, charged with infanti-
eide, was commemorate j. Wallace, District
Attorney, and Israel Test, Esquires, for the
Commonwealth and Vim. A. Wallace, j. B.
M'Enally and Walter Barrett, Esquires, for the
Defendant. At 81 O'Clock the prisoner
arraigned in due form, and plead .snot guilty"
to the several counts in the indictment, which
charged her with Infanticide, and concealing
the death of bastard child.
The Court then directed the panel to be cal
led over by the Clerk, and eleven jurors were
selected, when the clerk announced that the
panel was exhausted. special tales being
ordered, the Court directed the doors to be
closed, and the Sheriff selected the names of
twelve persons from among the bystanders.
These names were placed in the box, and Ja-
cob Bilger chosen as the twelfth juror. The
names of the jury are as follows in tine order
in which they were selected
d. L. Gearhart, Joseph Ripley,
William STALL John Bell,
James w. Irwin, John Mulkins,
John Hepburn, Elijah Burns,
Thomas Myers, Frederick Fraily,
Caleb Copenhafer, Jacob Bilger,
The jury having been duly sworn, r. j
Wallace, Esq, District Attorney. opened the
ease on part of the Commonwealth, after which
William Morgan, jr. was called, sworn, and
testified that on the morning of the 30th OF
March, 1860, was driving some cattle down
the River. Walked up to where Robert Ar
cby was digging sod on the bank of the River.
few rods below town-walked to the Rivers
edge, and passing down piece, discovered
the child in the River. l turned to him and
said it was child. Left it then, came up
street and told it in the Shoe shop; went a.
cross the street and told John Admas; told q
couple other boys and then started down again
Whilst twelve men were being selected,
fh, fla ri / hoo
saw them take the child out of the River. II
was about four rods below the house of VIM
Powell, and nearly opposite the new house be
ing built by Mr.. Spackman. When l came
back the child was still in the River, in the
| same place where first saw it, about II feet
from shore. Saw it then taken out.
X.-Water was middling low-had beer
higher-was falling-was not long after the
ssfiood."
Dr.J. G.. Hartswick, af'd.-Found the body
in the River feet from the edge of the water
which was about IA inches in depth height
of the bank from the waters edge, 8 feet
child lay with its head up stream the after
birth and membranes, still connected with the
child, about Is inches below the cord was
little twisted; the right foot was partly beneath
a stick of about an inch in diameter the um.
bilical chord was beneath the right foot and
over the stick the child was upon its right
side the body of the child was covered with
sediment, except portions of the lift arm, hip
and knee. The child was taken from the wa
ter by DIR. Wilson, and carried to the town
Hall. There measured it and found it II in
ches in length; the umbilicus was about hall
an inch below the centre of the body found
three white marks about one inch below the
ear and right side of the neck three white
marks and one scratch. DIR. Wilson then
washed the child. Whilst he was doing this
1 noticed a discharge from the moeconium
found the after birth entire and in good state
OF preservation the vessels in it we're filled