New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-03
rRL1L or DEAcoN ANDREWS.
TIE MURDER OF CORNELIUS HOIMTS-DTTAILS
OF TIE Ass AssINATIoN-BE GINNING OF TIE
TRIAI-THE JURORS, ETC.
IrRnM orR spRcIAI cnPRES pONnENT1

TIE MURDER OF CORNELIUS HolMIH-p'INl ais
OF TIE SSAssINATION-BEGINNIN OF TIE
TRIAL-THE JURORS, ETC.
lFRoM OUR SPECIAL CoRRESPoNpBETl
Plymouth, Mass, Dec 1.-The trial of Sam
uel NJ Andrews for the murder Of Cornelius Holmes at
Kingston Mass, on the 10th OF May last, begun IN
Plymouth this morning, ChiefJusuce Chapman ana AS
sociate Justices Foster, Wells and Colt ON the bench
Attorney General Charles Alien and Edward l. Pierce.
esq Dlstrct-Attomey. appeared for the Government.
and the Hon Charles G. Davis and G. A. Somcrby esq
for the prisoner Your readers may remember that on
the morning " the 9th Of May last the body OF Mr.
Holmes was found shocknely mangled near tho Gene
tery in Kingston, lying carway on stony MI
The head OF the victim had been literally driven into the
hard embankmen by beating on the back ot the skull
and his brains lay the ground showing now Aiotht
must have been The assault even after death ON t9e
evening of the murder 1iOImes had Deeh seen 70 60
! Deacon Andrews's garden, which adOihs thc Iahd "I
Known m pursuance of u note from Andrews. who bad
requested him to meet Inn at about oe0ch r. ~
In Deacon Andrews garden the two were seen III CONVEX
satOn until dark The next morning messenger an.
Piled at the SIX factory, where Andrews WAS emp1yeu
inqurng for Holmes, who had not beeh
at home during the previous hiBht ALuieNo niVi ~,
him that Holmes was IN his garden untll b0cloCk the
Andrews expressed no surprise aud IN speaking
his employer he remarked do not know that n ~ any
news came Of the discovery OF the murder Of Holmes
Andrews expressed feeling OF horror that so shocking
murder had been committed within 20 rods OF his own
promises; hut instead be remarked 10 hs employer
what 10 this time had been kept seciet-thhl Iolncs
Al noon OF the same day Andrews was seen 10 20 he
river the factory, and there throw in n bundle,
which was aftcrward ascertalhed 10 contain clothing
bearing marks OF blood other discoveries made
which led to the arrest OF Andrews on suspicion The
pied respectable position In society and who had been
regarded tho particular friend Of Mr. Holmes, could
De guilty OF so helnOus crime The invesupOns were
pursued by the detectives until chain OF evidence
had fastened the crime upon Deacon Andrews:
Holmes known to De eccentric IN many respects and
man Of the strongest preudlces, which often controlled
his social and business relations with tho community In
family Of Mr.. Andrews. and WAS member OF the Baptist
Church in Kingston. lie placed implicit confidence in
nifty being deacon the Orthodox Church in that vii
lage On the death Of Mr.. Holiness father about four
given the principal part Of the estate he intended for
Cornelius IN trust and, though from that TIME he was
about his affairs rather than members Of ms own family
IN s6! his brother Paradee died interstate, leaving one
th Of his large estate 10 be given 10 Cornelius Andrews
seems to have lost no time In debating Will which
Mas bequeathed to Andrews. From the date Of this WILL
which was safe in Andrewss hands. his influence over
the prospective beDefactor noticed aud made subject
OF frequent comment. Mr.. Holmes lived house pro-
Leach Who leases the estate lis ho1.c was aont Laii
mile from the one occupied by Andrews For many
months previous TO the murder, Andrews had seemed TO
that not only Mr.. Holiness family, but that of Capt
Leach also were his enemes, and sedulousy this
influence applied that it induced Homos To transfer his
syerware and other personal property from lns own
house TO that OF Andrews who from the date Of
transfer seepls TO nave considered all such property hs
own But these small egacles seemed 10 increase hs de-
sire Tor wealth; As MS popularity III the town became
greater u required larger expenditure than was within
mis- legitimate power 20 provide for and here
celtiye to wish Mr. Holmes out OF the way.
So much for the motive As Is generally known. the
Deacon made confession the 18th dag OF June last,
and claimed that he killed Holmes unntcnioually in
sclf-delense. lie alleged that Mr. Holmes attempted to
commit nameless crime upon him, that hc hit him with
in the head, aud that ho knew nothing further
until he found himself washing his hands IN pond near
where the murder was committed.
Long before the opening hour today the spacious
Courtroom Twas thrODRed with earnest crowd Of
spectators anxious to witness the proceedings HE
prisoner was brought ID about hat an hour before NE
beginning OF the TRIAL TIC enleeh lhe courtroom III he
charge OF but officer and at once went 10 the prisoners
dock lie bore the serrchng glance of the spectators with
unusual calmness not even exhibiting the leh degree OF
nervousness The Attorney General, IA Introducing the
case said that at the last session Of the Grand jury an
indictment had been found against the prisoner Tor the
wilfgi murder OF Cornelius Holmes He then moved the
Court that jury be e1npanneed TO try the same Thirty
four Jurors We're called II Of whom challenged per-
enptoily by the prisoner four were excused, having
formed opinion and the remaining u, consisting 81 Shs
D. Alen, Horn yates zeidb enis Eeazar o. Bennett
Joseph Clapp, sylyanus Capp John Cook Solomon l..
The ClnefJustice appointed Jesse Harlow Foreman.
District Attorney Edward j. Pierce opened the on
behalf Of tic Government briefly nmTAting the facts con
necied with the murder, and relating the circumstances
which Jed 10 the arrest OF the prsoucf which were sub
stantaiy the sau6 as h0ed above The Court then lis-
tened 70 testimony for the prosecution,
Mr. Caleb Bates. the person who discovered the body
OF Holpes was me ms EiIhess ne testified iiat "a
ig ~ tie 27th u May last with team his horses be.
came frightened. His hired man remarked that some
person was lying across the cartway dead asleep lie
Then 10 the body, which he Thought TO be that Of
negro His hired man took hold OF his shoulders 10 lit
him. and he assisted. lie then discovered 10 10 bc
Holmes who had always been his friend and neiglbOr
Several largo stones covered with blood were scattered
across the cartway which had been removed from pile
made the day previous by Mr. Bates On ono OF tnehe
stones were brains OF the murdered man. john Oliern
who resides within 60 rods OF the house occupied by
Andrews, testified that he saw Andrews ana hOIhcsI III
the gaFdeI o. Tue 1rn95 81 aDo1 NJ sopiia III
Jones. and MISS Nancy H. seayCr were eXohinea