The New York herald., 1871-09-28
HORRIBLE, MOST N0DDIDLE {"
The Great "King Lear" Case in
New Jersey.
Children Indicted for Conspiring to Murder
Their Aged Father-A Fashionable Fluttsr
in the New Brunswick Courts-The
Most Extraordinary Case in
Jerseys Criminal Calendar
NEW BRUNSWICK, N. j., sept. 81, 1871.
How sharper than . serpent's tooth it's
To have n than ieaa chiid Kin, In.r

To have Athankless child. -Kiny Lei,.
This ancient town, one OF the oldest settlements
in the country and not without its Revolutionary
"reminiscences. owns criminal sensation the par
allel OF which, II the allegations made In the end
prove true vany to be sought for In the criminal
calendar Of this State The narrative OF the case,
as alleged, appeared the HERALD during last May
aud caused thrill Of horror to be felt throughout
the length and breadth OF the land. In view OF the
case having been brought before the Court here TO-
day resume OF the statements previously published
will prove Interesting and serve TO connect the pro-
ceedings to-day. During the month Of July 1870, a
paragraph Went the rounds OF the New Jerey papers
setting forth that
DIABOLIcAL ATTEMPT
had been made by some unknown parties TO SET
fire to the residence OF an elderly gentleman OF
means and enfeebled health and mind named
Samuel Whitehead ST., at place called Washing
ton, South River, East New Brunswick Efforts
to reacn the alleged incendlary failed. and
the matter had passed entirely from the
local public memory until at length in
April or May last, laborer named James
Baxter, formerly In the employ OF Mr.. Whitehead as
sort of valet. during severe tit OF illness became
conscience stricken and made
SOME STARTLING REVELATIONS.
He subscribed to statement setting forth, In
BRIEF that he had been hired to murder the Old gen
tleman by his two daughters ana their husbands.
For the commission OF the crime he was he de-
clared, TO receive 81 200. besides otner remuera-
ti0n. Accordingly he procured some Kerosene
OIL saturated the bcdcloihing In Mr.. Whitehead's
sleeping apartment, where he lay sick and utterly
helpless, and then, with the intention Of roasting
the old fellow alive set fire TO the clothes and then
fed, hOrrOr-strickcn at hts own fendish act. Mr..
Whitehead was speedily aroused rom his doze by
Aarn auhu and ni,yn 1earii
made a desperate effort TO call for help. Happily
he was successful, and the domestics after des.
peratc struggle succeeded in
RESCUING HIM FROM THE BURNING CHAMBER
and then extinguishing the names in the latter.
This was the terrible story, embelished with all The
appalling Details which he made oath to before
Justice OF the Peace OF this place On the strength
legged suborners. These We're Mr.. Theodore viii
let's and his wife. Mrs. Sarah J. Willets. Captain
The Wlletts' resided In Brooklyn, and moved In the
very highest social circles, both In tho CITY of
the rcputed owner Of the BrooKlyn Opera House,
besides other valuable property. The Yates. roo,
were wen OF, and occnpcd equal social positions
with the Wil.etts. In due time the Yates, were mr.
rested ana taken before magistrate here. Tney
waived an examination and gave bail in &, ,oc0 each
TO appear before the The Grand Jury OF the county
The day after the Willetts turned up OF Their own
accord ana followed tho example Of the others and
were held To bail IN The sane amount. AZ might he
Of the alleged rerpcra,ors, the giIalr
caused levcrlsh state of excitement among
the New Brunswick people and when tho parties
appeared Iii court surrounded With all the os'ena-
tious
TRArrlNGs AND TEMMiNgs OF FASHION AND
they attracted an immense cOncOufse or rural sight
the judicial call and the large degree OF ncncha
lance with which they treated the matter,
public opinion. An extraordinary feature OF the
case at this period was the course pursued by the
old gentleman whose taking or was, a. alleged, so
court and further demonstrated hts belief IN their
entire innocence. despite the positive allegatons
$4,000, IN addition 10 the portion allotted tuem In
his will.
THE MOTIVE
impelllng the alleged suborlaton was a greel TO
become POSSESSED Of the OLD mans properly Itap
w5 @ ns 4a an had esnecng as as. sSn % r0ss a
The daagnters, However. shirstel for The nc old
monetary shoes, and therefore. as alleged, con-
spired against his NE He Is ftst approaching his
,Ng sns 0on@ TGs %hs Ss facts Of me
,>s,;s-, MlnpEEsEX GRAND 1yaGEsr, -
6ills q indic!men. against ali four, as well as the
ever since. To-day, in the oyer ana Termlner, be-
fore Judge Sculaer, the accused were arraigued 10
answer the several charges contained iu
TIE INDICTMENTS.
Of ais; s'1 s.'S ;s ;as ii g; s.s & a ssSs En-
Sssss S ssS % Si e hn of % a. orn: @
aria aud d.pS.on; tsS' sossStr 'sRE sii
% th. inqns.' uaInoyn w'sEsaly devisins i,s
:sa e iii SS oS. ss % %s Issa %
sr the 2t day of july year Of our Lord 1870 al
lion yS the "w %i'
aS combine and agree between and AND
malics, a,":C,scuso, 10 ku and murder sIe said
q %. s,, The soyrrnm,ni and dignity Of .hc Ana
@ 1 fSs'a g
sswnsSs 'f F1asssiss s :. :s.,i :si
,;tFs,ion Of The devil, on tse SAID the la,G day Of
sr4assss ssrs.s the eoany q Nads.sz sfoc.sd % 1s
s sne ~ eos.s @ sse % 5 e0" ga .mas
whieassd s he aes Of God and Of 'ss s,sie s.n
'fssf SsaF r!S @
sSph .%ps Of al e & s 1ps Ike Sssa sas s a s
peace = nis Stale. le government ana dignity sane
s;sT..aid, % ta.ss DC .aia amss RaSisr
% c ssFf s %s and s s
:aa county Of Mieiesex having c fear9i God before
q, SI Il: ps sS, hS asTa IN so &
SO is sS'' q & e Sdss;' @
s Soa and @s ss s.%s'
oh. ike offending and against the peace Of this
State The government and u. sbity OF the same.
{. NJ HERBERT, Attorney for State.
The reading oftne foregoing Instrument concluded
the accused were Severay asked how they pleaded.
They replied firmly and unhesitatingly,
mot GUILTY.N
They were then held TO bail, each in 81 0oO 10 ap-
pear for trial December 26 next. The two ladies'
presented q very elegant appearance being
attired alike In black SILK dresses, en- train, with
jaunty mats and white feathers. They wore
very little ewelry, MIS- Wilic;s having in her
only pair OF diamond clusters and Mrs. Yates
solitaire diam mond pendants. Both lalies might be
termed good looking In form and feature but
scarcely handsome. Every movement they made
in presence OF the crowded Court denoted breeding
OF the highest ORDER Such scene has never before
been witnessed here. II was intensely dramatic III
effect.
II is understood that the interests Of the state IN
the will be looked aficr by tire state Attorney,
assisted by Attorney General Christ and Mr..
A. v. Scnenck, while the defence viii
he taken care OF by Mr.. W. Strong, Cortandt
Parker and General Theodore RunyOr, OF Newark.
THIS array OF legal weight alone indicates the Guar
aCter of The case, which seems destined become