Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1863-12-18
The Trial Of Streeter for the Mn
der OF the Coy Family.

extracts given below. We therefore PIT,
fish the following from the Medina Gaset
of December ), as rejecting public opinio
at the place of the scene of the murdc
and also containing few incidents at th
close of the trial, which we have not BET y
published. The first is leading editor
as follows:
"This trial commenced on the oath da,
of November, and closed on the 2Sth. Th,
Jury was charged by Judge Burke on Sat
urday morning, and they returned iheii
verdict of guilty of murder in the first de-
gree, on Saturday night. After motion
had been made for new trial. and over
ruled by the Court, Judge Burke sentenced
the prisoner to be hung at Medina on the
Goth day of next February. The trial
was remarkable one, thousands OF the
people were in attendance during tbs whole
time, and the utmost good order and propri-
| ETY. prevailed.
No one seemed TO wish TO hare Streeter
convicted unless he was guilty, but all de-
sired him hung if he was the murderer.
The Court, the Jury, and the Counsel on
both sides, so conducted themselves as TO
convince all that that was a court Of justice.
No unfairness was resorted to on the part
of the counsel for the prosecution, TO con-
vict without proper testimony; and no de.
sire was manifested, or attempt made, by
the counsel on the part of the prisoner, to
screen him from public justice if he was
the murderer. The whole aim and desire
on both sides seemed to be to get at the
truth, and if that made +. +. Streeter the
guilty man, all agree that he ought to be
hung. The prosecution was ably conducted
by Messrs. Mckinney and Mcclure, and
the defense equally as well conducted by
Messrs. McSweeney and Blake. All that
counsel could do on both sides 10 develop
the truth, was done; and we venture to say
there never was fairer trial than this in
the whole history of jurisprudence.
The charge of the Court was admirable,
both for its fairness towards the prisoner,
and its sound legal deductions.
The Jury were the best citizens Of Me-
dina County, intelligent. honest and I'M
prejudiced. We venture the assertion that
there never was and never will be better
Jury formed in Medina County, than the
one that tried F. F. Streeter, and although
the prisoner still asserts his innocence we
cannot see how it is possible for all the facts
that do exist against him to be true, and he
not be the guilty man. 1t may be possible
he is innocent, BIT it is barely possible Mr.,
Streeter says he rode to Cleveland with a
man in a one horse carriage, on the first
day of July, and rode back with another
man with ore horse carriage, by the way
OF Berea, on the second day of July, as fal
as the road that passes west from Hamil
tons Corners, and then walked from there
We hope if there is any truth in this, tina
the men with whom he says he rode, vii
come forward and make themselves known
There is no man who wishes to have Street
er hung if he is not guilty, and we hop
that every effort will be made between no,
and ;he 26th day of February, 10 find III
men with whom he says he went out an
came back from Cleveland. Let the nee
pie OF each township in the county max
inquiry on this subject, and find the men
possible. The evidence and charge
Judge Burke will be published in pamphl
form hereafter"
In the local columns of the same pape
we find the following:
The trial of L. f. Streeter for II
murder of the Coy family closed last Sa
urday. During the whole time the Cou
House was crowded, and great interest W,
felt by every one. Through the entire tr
al the prisoner manifested perfect ind
ference, degree of boldness aud assurar,,
seldom, If ever, evinced in prison,
brought TO answer so grave charge.
Sireeter is man of small stature. hi
face, rather light hair, low forehead, fer
piercing, snaky eye, long and slim nee
He is man of small understanding, muc
!osteniation, man unaccustcmed to worI
and fond Of dress, fop and dandy.
The circumstances clearly before Ii
Court, the pleas commenced, Mr.. McKir
ney opening, followed by II. G. Blake, nes
Mr.. McSweeney, MIR. Mcclure closing. w
only heard the last speaker, who spoke car