The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-31
TIE JERSEY "LEAR' CASE.
Opening of the Trial at New
Brunswick.
A Crowded Court, Singular Scene and Strange
Storv-0ld Mr.. Whitehead on the Stand
Jim Baxter Pleads Guilty-It Takes
Three Men and Trumpet to
Extract the Venerable
SANS Statement.

As indicated in yesterdays HERALD the trial Of
Mr.. ana Mrs. Yates and Mr. and Mrs. Wilietts, for
alleged conspiracy to murder the venerable parent
OF the two ladies'. Mr.. Samuel Whitehead. OF WASH
ton South River. New Brunswick all tue important
bearings Of which have already been elaborated
upon in these columns, commenced yesterday in the
Mddlesex oyer and Terminer, before Judge Scudder
ana a full oencn Owing to the indispositon
of Mr.. Whitehead the hearing OF the case was post.
poned from the morning TIL two O'Clock In the
afternoon. In the meantime james Baxter, the
alleged suDorned attempted murderer, was brought
into Court 10 plead 10 the Indictment He pleaded
guilty. Baxter is q stout firmly built man. with
dark, sunken eyes, and altogether decidedly
unprepossessing. Pending the afternoon ses-
sion he was remanded. He VIII be used
as States evidence. AT two O'Clock the Court again
convened, the court room being densely crowded.
Among the assemolage were many well dressed
ladies' and the deepest interest was manifested IN
the proceedings The willetts' and the Yates were
present with their counsel, Woodbridge, Strong and
G. Parker. The defendants were also attended by
quite party OF lady friends. including the mother
ances in court the ladies weIe dressed rcaly aud
elegantly, but not showlly.
THE PROSECUTION WAS OPENED
by Prosecutor Schenck. Associated with him Is ex.
chancellor Williamson jury was Quickly Oh,
tanned Only three persons out OF the panel
then by saving that It would be proved
that Samuel Whitehead was in the brick business
partners. Willets resided on Division avenue and
Ciymer street, In Brooklyn. James Baxter was a
particular GUAR duty was to take ' charge Of
el9 Mr., Whitehead The dwelling OF Mr.
o @he hav WAS v far sq Wes o Sna w aas
and Mrs. Yates and Baxter were ut picnic, and
upon the return home Baxter was told he need not
work the next day. While Baxter was III the room
OF Mrs. Yates that day Mr. Wietts and wife came IN
wILLErTs WISHED
TINT her oil d man was out OF way. and then ne
could conduct the business to SUIT himself Mrs.
Wietts also said the same, and remarked that she
let's to travel she being then in deli
cate state Of health pHe whole party ~ iet Tor
| head at home Inc Monday following Mr.. Willetts
ard Mrs Yates returned to Washington. soon after
| a telegram was received summOnlng them again 10
| Williamsburg. Before they lett
PLAN WAS AGREED UPON
AFTER in1 the burslUg was successfully accompsaed
| Baxter was to go TO New Brunswick and Telegraph
| to the party a. Williamsburg. on the evening OF
this daV he carried tue design into effect During the
| afternoon Old Mr.. whitehead inquired for
| Mrs. Yates, and he was told That she was away.
| Mr.. Willetts, his wife and Mrs. Yates came nome
| the next day. Baxter was then
ASKED TO KILL WHITEHEAD
| by administering to him strycnntne. After death
Baxter was TO carry the body to the cellar and
throw 1t down the well, anu Wniteheads death would
be looked upon as an accident This Baxter refused
| New Brunswick. 1t was next agreed that Baxter
should go to the loft In the barn. aud when the ola
| man came out he was to entice him up to the
| same place, and when his head came
above the floor Baxter was to strike hun
upon the head with piece OF iron and knocked him
to the floor below. This they thought would be at
| tribuled 10 an accident.
| man out OF the way was to shoot hun,
or BaSer
| without accomplishing the shooting, taxing the
ark, assumed the name Of George smith ana went
| to work upon tile roads. Being unable 10 read OF
| write he procured friend who could, and through
ms amanuensis wrote to Mr.. Yates. Responses came
| III the form OF
| THREE LETTERS.
These letters the prosecutor sald strongly point to
the guilt OF the defendants. AT Bellevie Baxter
was visited by Yates, whose object was to get the
pistol rom Baxter, IN whose possession 1t still
was. The letters referred to were Tor BaX
ter to come to Division avenue and ClymeI
street; he was to come at night, when no one could
see him. and he was to enter the house by private
entrance. One letter came rom Mr.. Yates,
d Baxter maa U' disclosures to the man for
| whom he worked, and this man wrote
the tn name Of George Smith, which he had assumed
but Mr.. whitehead took no heed until the name OF
James Baxter was signed An appointment in New
York followed, and the result OF what followed Is
| known by this trial.
that he was at Bellvile. lie dyed his whiskers and
wore eyeglasses; but he has been Identified as the
one who visited Baxter at Beville.
| to keep the witnesses Tor the prosecution away.
The motive Tor the crime, Mr.. Schenck commended,
would be referred to during the trial. and the guilt
| OF tile defendants clearly established.
| me examination Of witnesses was then COM
menced. The first one calie a.. was the venerable
| was brought into requision. Besides the counsel,
| 1t took three presons-Clerk Hocomoe, Court Crier
| Convery and Mr.. Henry Gordon-tO extract Ithe
THE OLD MANS STORY.
| He testified that he was seventv-elght years OF
| age In May; resided In Washington In the mouse
he now lived and In July, 1870; he owned the house;
| Yates and vile and Willetls besides servants, re,
sided with MIN IN 1870; Jim baxter was a servant
about the house at the time: Mr.. Willetts used 10
come to his house once or twice week; he
| was engaged III the manufacture Of Drck,
| Messrs. Willetts and Yales being associated
| win him: his farm contained 100 acres and upon
this the dwelling house was situated; on the day OF
| the fire William Yates and vile were at Williams
burg, at the mouse OF Willetts; Willets was at
| the house; went to bed 'on that evening aG nine
| O'Clock; when he went TO the house Jim met him.
AT this point defendants counsel raised oDJec-
! tons to the introduction OF evidence affecting any
one not on trial. The objection was overruied, put
| exception was taken.
| The witness COMMUNICATION said every one had
| gone away, and asked if any supper was wanted (;
Jim was told no. and then Whitehead was asked If
anything was wanted TO drink: Jim gave MIN
without light; got light and went up stars jim
then brought a lot OF wnskey up, ana 1t was very
| strong: drank the whiskey and went 10 ped; awoKe
| at eleven O'clock and there was flre IN The room
saw SIN hopping over the moor on his hands and
not see jim again that night; saw the colored gri
down in the Kitchen: after trying the door OF the
! room where the nre was witness got through the
| WINDOW
| OUT ON THE PIAZZA
on the south side: the sash fell upon him at the hip
and before he could raise 1t he was burned about the
legs: soon after getting out upon the roof yelled
| Ere - and after while some one came 10 ms as
| sistance and took him 10 the Kitchen;
| Jim was carrying out Mrs. Yates chill
dren for fear that they would be
| burned TO death; he (Whteheadl expected to be
| burned to death; physicians attended him on ac-
count OF the burns received: Mrs Yates returned on
Friday night; couldn't tell when Yares reurned IL
| must have been day or two; went TO Williamsburg
| as soon as he could with Mr.. Willetts and re-
NAMED three or four days. told Willctts OF Baxter
| being in his room; WlIletts said Jim would get
| "a WRIT sCANDAI.N
and would ruin MIN; Wiletts said, cant you think