The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-09-23

together making stormy anniversary OF the wed-
ding day OF Mrs. Pierce more than half century
ago.-ffOrtdeitce Journal, Sept. 22
MURDER TRIAL Ar WHITE PLAINS.
->~-~>~~~>~>~-~~--~~o~~~~
william Carpenter, u Negro, Arraigned for
the Murder of Peter Banta-An Interesting
Cnse-Women as Wifnesses-verdict s'Not
Gailty.0
WHITE PLAINS. Sept. 81, 1850.
Notice having been given that the trial Of the
c0ored man tWilliam Carpenter) who stands charged
with the murder Of william Banca, Jr., In this vii
lage. on the sth OF July last, would be commenced
to-day the Court House was crowded from an early
hour, ana q large cOncOurse OF citizens gathered
about the several hotels and, as Is usual In country
places, engaged in an animated discussion OF the
chances OF the accused and the merits Of the
court met at nine O'Clock, Judge Gilbert preeding
large panel had been struck for this case but
nevertheless great dificulty was experienced
in getting jury. Nineteen ont OF every twenty per-
sons called either had conceived opinion Of the
guilt OF the prisoner or was opposed to capital
punishment. twas halfpast twelve O'Clock before
the required number Of jurors were obtained and
sworn. The following named gentlemen constituted
the jury:-wilam II. Park, foreman; Edward Gus
taveson James S. See. Jesse Ferris James Carroll,
d. A. Amble, Levi Hunt, En0ch Mack, William
Barker. @. H. Brown, Samuel o. Mead and Charles
VanscOy.
The case for the prosecution was very briefly
stated by the District Attorney. ]. o. Dykman The
prisoner William Carpenter, caused the death OF
Peter Banta Jr on the sth day of July last, under
the following ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS was walk
ing with woman along Broadway, near the Episco-
pal church, when Banta followed them and engaged
In conversation with the woman. Hot words passed
between the prisoner and Banta, scuffe ensucd,
and then the latter fell to the ground. Carpenter
| was seen to have In his hand some
| sharp instrument, with which 1t would be proved
ne struck deceased several times. When Banta
was raised from the ground blood was lowing from
wound under his left and also from his throat.
| 1t was found that his throat was cut Assistance
having arrived the wounded man was taken to q
drug Store and then ce to his home, where he died
! some days subsequently from the effects OF his
wounds. With this plain statement Of the facts Of
| the fracas which resulted in the death Of Peter
Banta Mr.. Dykman contented himself and then
| called the first witness.
was in White Plains on the day when he was killed;
! he was walking behind Bante ON Broadway; the
prisoner and woman were with them; the hrst
thing that attracted MS attention TO the group was the
action OF the woman, who squared or as II to strike
| Bante; witness was walking faster than the other
Bante strike the woman with stick about four feet
long and the width OF hts thumb over the back and
| head the woman called carpeptera "son Of o -"
| scufle then followed ana Bante and the prisoner
clinched; the latter caught Bante by the legs and
and tooA stone to throw il al the prisoner, but
dropped " again; witness heard Carpenter say,
| way did you strike me ~ as Carpenter spoke he
vanced toward deceased in STOPPING position and
struck at him toward his lace; he seemed to
on their feet during this part OF the scuftie;
as they parted from one another blood was seen to
| 1ow freely from. Bante's throat and cash was
visible on his neck. On crOss-exanlnatlOn witness
stated that he was about atty yards In the rear OF
| tue parties when the Traces commenced; Carpenter
had goose In his hand; all three were walking
| slowly; there was no wranRiing between Them pre-
rs e a @ sae rom the eoua
stood back; 1t was then that witness observed the
blood.
Josiah Tompkins the next witness called, gave
evidence corroborative Of the preceding but pro-
| duced no new facts.
Elizabeth Comes, being called said she saw Bante,
| the deceased, the prisoner and the woman alluded
| to walking opposite the Episcopal church; they APP
peared to be wranging about goose that Carpen-
Ter was carrying In his haud Bante went mp to the
prisoner and said tat the goods meannx the Go0sel
as snd
| On Bantes neck. ON cfoss-examinati0n she stated
s mas se dd not see Banse strkc .hS woman
| Michael Hogan the next witness, gave evidence
substantially tne same as that OF the preceding wit
nesses.
| The most important witness and whose evidence
was the turning point IN the trial was DR.. Clarke Of
| White Palms. who dressed Bante's wound and
attended hun to this death. Dvested OF all profess
slonal explanations II amounted TO tnlsthat at the
bis brain was VIVA. is called nm alcoholic brain, and
| that he was suffering from the Effects OF defrium
trciens. In the opinion OF the witness death was
| caused by Eve distinct wounds on his head and
necR. reactiEg on debllita.ed system. The wounds
| were the indirect cause OF the mans decease, and
| were inflicted with razor. Deceased died on the
| I4th of July.
After the examination Of number Of witnesses
| whose testimony was unnportaDt. Mr.. Chauncey
Sbaner called the stand the PRISONER at the bar
| William Carpenter. There was stir III the crowded
court as he ascended and took his seat In the wit
l macs
pair OF army trousers and wore his hair tied with
string, tied around tho crown. His fea ures have
| nothing IN common with the type Of the southern
negro. He gave his evidence clearly and willingly,
but labored under great excitement. Encouraged
deep silence OF the spectators, the. witness and
| prisoner stated that on the Sth Of July
he heard somebody coming behind him; he had
bag With him. and was Just Sitting large hoe IN II
to give two geese he had In 1t more room for then
necxs; MIR. Peter Bane came up, brushed against
INN and said, "Where did you get the geese q,
answered tnat bought them for three dollars; he
said .'fou lie" and then raised stick and struck
the geese on their heads with IT. asked HIM what he
did mat for, and lie sald "ro make them keep their
heads up;'' my wife came up then and asked what
the matter was: SAID Nothing Is the matter"
she said to me- "rhat's always the way: some white
nns s anyhs
have you to do with ltr' she SAID she was seak,ng
sr ,sR walked on Mr. r, sa W,n
s% .sa ,,1s:s e. ,,as Win ,nr1s;
and pushed me back; / struggled to vet
| away, but could not, anu then caught hold Of him
by The legs and threw hlm after which he got up
and tnraw stone at me and then another; dodaed
ootn; We cIinched; said "Dou't.n and he got me
down; my KNIFE was open stl IN my hand ana
don't know whether cut HIM or not; II l did
didn't mean to: my only motive la struggling was
to get away nome.
x close crosse xamination by the Dissnc. Attorney
did not snake this testimony III the smallest parlicu-
lar. The case for the prosecution ard defence was
then declared closed.
MIR. Cnauncey shafer, who undertook the defence
10 the prisoner on short notice and without Any pre-
paraton, addressed TIE jury for the defence Review