The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-30
JERSEYS FAMILY CONSPIRACY.
The Tragedy Of "Kny Lear Almost Realized
Children Charged With Hiring an bs
sassin to Immolats Ths;r Fa-
ther-A Strange Story.

During the latter part or the month OF July last
year IN attempt OF a most iendish character was
made 70 burn up IN his own house an elderly WELL
TODD gentleman, named Samuel Whitehead. residing
ar washington, ;. H.. place near New Brunswick,
one OF new Jerseys pretty SLEEPY Hollow towns,
about thirty miles rom New York. AT
the time the story went the rounds
that White he was sick abed a servant
threw in on his bed LOT OF old rags saturated with
some burning mud. The fire was extlngulshed
however, and the old gentleman escaped with sll ut
injury To his feet. The occurrence caused no little
excitement but 1t soon subsidized subsequently
however some facts transpred tending TO show
that Mr.. Whitehead was the OBJECT OF
CRUEL AND HEARTLEss CONSPIRACY,
The consplrators being of his own flesh and blood
and having III view his utter imnolation the motive
being greed for filthy lucrc. Mr.. Whitehead was
the iather OF SIX sons and two daughters all grown
up and married. one Of the daughters was first
married 10 u captain De Voc ana subsequently to a
Mr.. Theodore Wlletts; the other 10 Mr. william
Yates. Both ladies are OF fine personal appear
ances and manners, and moved among the
hdM ton OF Jersey ana New York. There
hai been considerable trouble between the
Oo gentleman and his children, the upsot OF which
Was mat as supposed, he made viii cutting them
on entirely IN the disposition of his property. on
ms son in.iaW, Mr.. W1letts, however, he looked
with favor. This led 10 further trouble ana IL ap
pears one OF the young Whiteheads, Samuel, Jr,
assaul'ed Mr. Wiietts was arrested Tried and sen.
term OF the MiddeseX County Court.
In the meantime. not many days ago, there ap
WICK one James Baxter, VINO had acted as cdiet de
chd,nbre to old Mr.. Whitehead. Upon oath he stated
that
HIS CONSCIENCE HAD TROUBLED HIN
for long time past, and to his mind he made
SUBSTANTIALLY, the following satement:--He resided
IL Bellevllle Essex county That about the LIST
OF july 1870, Theodore Wllletrs and his wife Sarah j.
aud Annie Maria Yates In the village OF Washington,
$. h, offered him James Baxter the sum or 81 900
ana house TO reside In so long as he lived, pre-
vided he would burn the house OF Samuel White
effected was In Tins wise flames was to get bottle
Q. rum and make Mr.. Whitehead partake OF II pretty
Freely before he retired; that this was DONE and
head awoke and discovered his room on
window out on the roof OF a shed, but not
before he was considerably burned That on another
occ aston the same parties requested Baxter to en-
tlce MI. whitehead to the barn and then kill him
by striking HIM on The head with piece OF iron or
wood That this part OF the work fell through from
some cause. That on another occasion the same
parties purchased revolver ana gave IL to Baxter
with the request that he should waylay Mr.. White
head and kin him inst before he reached his home
as he came from New York. That TINS he declined
to DO, for the reason mat II he lid Kill Mr.. White
head he was afraid that he himself would be put
out OF the way.
Upon the strength OF the foregoing warrants
Were issued for the arrest OF the three parties
tody and required by Judge Scudder TO give bail
each in the sum OF ST. 900 to answer any Indictment
that might be found by the Middesex Grand Jury
aJ the september term OF court All parties express
their entire innocence OF the charges made ny Bax
ter and declare 1t to be case OF wholesale
blacknail on his and the part OF others.
The matter naturally exciies much local interest
Mr.. Willetls Is the reputed owner OF Wiletts Opera
House, In BROOKLYN, ana he, together with OF the
Whlteheads and Mr. Yates, form an extensive brick
making firm near New Brunswick Exactly why
the former should be implicated is matter OF par.
tlcuar surprise, as on the face OF the case II Is
shown that he neeu hot have entertained doubts
about tue Old mans disposal OF his goods. The end
IL assnredly not yet.