Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-10-28
THE EVENING STAR.
Trial Of Jacob Van Arsdale for the Mur
der of Jasper Baird at Somerville. NJ
A Spiritual Murderer.

n spiritual murderer.
The little town Of Someryille N T. has Mt
last an excitement worthy of its anciant 20
nown. man is on trial for murder supposed
TO have been caused by spiritual halluc inasiou
Inc Town contains about three thousand in
habitants, and is located in Somerset county.
Andrew NJ. Baird, a we'll do farmer. with
ms Iamliy, consisting Of wife, three sons
Two aanehters, little negro hired girl, and
the accused Jacob Van Arsdale, resided at a
suburb OF Someryille, called Flaggtown. for
long time past. Attached to the farm house is
shoemaker's shop, as is the custom in this
part OF Jersey, where many Of the farmers
have blacksmiths' and carpenters, shops, in
which work is done by persons hired the year
round by the farmers.
Nefrly year ago Jacob Van Arsdale, a man
well known in SomerviIle and vicinity for his
violent and ungovernable burst OF passion,
sought employment from Mr.. baird in his avo-
Sauon as shoemaker. He was hired on
THANKSGIVING Day, and up 10 the 29th OF last
Juns did the work of the family, for which he
was credited with board and his rent OF the
shoemakers shop, besides doing work outside
IN the neighborhood. Twice during his resi-
dence in SomervilIe had Van Arsdale been
known to give way to fits of passion, attacking
his father and brother-in.law, choking the
author OF his being in a savage manner until
he YVES released by mis- neighbor. Gloomy and
dCspondent by nature, he wa subject to
spiritual delusioDs, and gave way at times to
irregular spssms or moodines7 aud ret ,ence.
On the evening OF the 18th of June. 1867, Van
Arsdaie. who was deaf, had taken tea with
the family. OF which DO was treated men,
beT, and retired TO his bedroom at al early
hour. In the same bedroom, but in different
bed slept Abrs m Baird, aged 81 years, and Jas.
per Ba I'd, his younger brother, the flvorite
child of the family, aged IL years. Nothing
nDsual happened during the night, aud
between i've aud six o'clock the next
morning MOI I,Ooa Inc family were awakened
Van Arsdale and the boy Jasper were absent
from breakfast, and the little colored girl was
sitting in Van Arsdale seat at the table, when
Jasper was sent after Van Arsdale to tell MIN
TO come 10 breakfast. The accused came in as
Mrs. Baird was pouring out coffee for him. aud
gong up to Mrs. Baird, he snapped his fingers
got IT." and went up stairs. In q few minutes
after The boy Jasper was discovered living in
the shosmaker's shop. bathed in pool of blood.
his head crushed in by a lap-stone hammer
used by the accused in his business, and two
slabs in Lis neck, severing the carotid arSery.
Van Arsdale was discovered walking rapidly
towards Inc public road, in an excited man.
ner, and was seizad at Roy cefield and arrested
and brought back to jail by Sheriff Browkav7
OF Somerset county Mr. Walter Cammanp,
teller of the Somerset Bank, on finding the
body OF the boy Jasper, opened his clothing
and foupd lite extinct, but the body was still
worm, end the pulsatiOns over. The murdered
boy was a pleasant, handsome child, and
general Iavoriie, particularly with the accu.ed,
for whom he was always ready TO go of
errands and oblige in a cheerful frank way.
ID. M CASTOR and Attorney General Rote-
son appeared for the State of New JERSEY and
Chancellor Ben. Williamson and John ID.
Barflne for the defendant. The legal talent on
poh sioes is very dble. ana 8 brilliant forensic
display NAV be expected from williamson
who is said to be the OCouor of New Jersey
Bartine opened for the defense, and did nota,.
tempt to dIsprove the charge of the killing of
the boy, but In the defense sought to prove
that the eccu.ed YVES laboring under hallu-
c'nauon or TEMPORARY alteration, which Iel.
oeIed MIN uD nj for the time being to Judge of
the enOrmity OF his crime.
John '. Hall, the brother-in- law OF the pris.
oner, aud his wIIe testified that the prisoner
mad been injured on the head when bow, and
N sin hno@
spells OF dependency. IL is ais % believed that
the accused was in communion with the rad
cal spirltualists, having as an intimate friend
the celebrated Mrs. Jackson, the weii-known
spirit medium. hold, snowy woman, who is
mere, ana VIII 'estiiy for the defe Use, hoping
10 prove mat the accused did the m urder while
aching under inspiration. The prisoners no.
hue al affiliations were o. the strongest radical
type and his symplthizeIs do not believe in
ms guilt Public opinion. however. is against
van Arsdale; and the 6slIef is that he will be
convicted. "