The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-30
JERSEYS GREAT "LEAR" CASE.
The Willetts- Yates Whitehead
Conspiracy.
Children Charged with Plotting the Murder Of
Their Aged Father-Men's and Women's
Love for Filthy Lucre and What It
Will Prompt Them To Do-The
Most Extraordinary Case in the
Country's Criminal Annals.

the case shall prove true Is valnly to be sought in
the history OF crime in that state, II indeed
1t could be found in any state. To-
day, in the Middlesex County Court OF
Oyer and Terminer. will be called Tor trial the case
OF the State vs. Theodore Wiletts and Sarah j., his
wife; william Yates and Ann Maria, his wife, and
James baxter. The history Of the case Is as fol.
lows:-On the night OF the 2lst Of July, 1870,
DIABOLICAL ATTEMPT
was made by SOME unknown parties TO set fire to
the residence Of an elderly gentleman of means and
enieebed mind and health named Samuel White
head, ST., al q place called Washington,
South River, East New Brunswick. Ell.
forts to reach the alleged incendiary
failed, and the matter had passed entirely
from the local pubilc memory, until at length,
IN April last lab0rer named James Baxter.
who had been In the employ OF Mr.. Whitehead as
sort OF Oalet de ctGnsbre but Immediately after the
burning suspiciously disappeared, was ferreted out
bv the New Brunswick Chief OF Police. Mr.. Oliver.
He was fOund in Belleve, near Newark, and taken
to New Brunswick on warrant issued by Justice
Martin Nevins, on complaint Of Mr. Charles White.
head, the old mans son, charging Baxter with the
attempt to immediate Whitehead pere. Before lodg..
Ing him in Jail the authorities became possessed Of
AN AFFIDAVIT BY BAXTER,
Of which the following Is literal COPY
Baxter of the township of Beevie in the county
of Essex state of New Jersey his oath saith and
Sore 'wstt. sarah j. Wlss his WIFE and Anna Maria
all Of the "s OF wsssns'2 the 1 ns
q siddls.ss, came 70 hi: aspSnen', The
sss' the time. ssRS
or compass the death Of Samuel Whitehead, ST.,
s '' ss .S wsiens s% i .ss IRE e TO-
!" S
this d ter % n the aoyssad month July
lowing manner The aforesaid Theodore wiles and his
s Ss s d Anna so % Of Yates rum aas
81; &: s,s 4: s:s for thy a d
the thu 0s an ea hi m TO an e9 e
sSe n sad Whitehead Vent sleep: dsssnsas
@ :.: ss
and got through window and on to the .tSo o, but
Aforesaid bis wfs
Of said PREMISE: and his By KING
last a
pistol oo%%Saiy called revolver; gavss ms ae
s II WI
sss ss: W s
s III. saS Village h Of ms
money he owed to him. and to send deponents clothes
ss :' ana wages: s VIII
part the Seponen, afterwards
MARI. ss me @ James es
purely of his accord without the procurement of any
mark in presence Of Chief Oliver and Mr. Charles
sNf Z na r. nd Mig mo
while Mr. Wsts in ans s %qs we're 1 April
oyer and Terminer, wnen they each gave
bail in the sum OF $4,000. few days subsequently
Scudder and gave pail in the same amount as tile
others to appear az the september term TO answer
any Indictment which might be found against them
AT THE SEPTEMBER TERM
Baxter. Mr.. Willelts and wife and Capt tain William
Yates and vile were indicted by the Grand Jury,
after hearing OF considerable length. Cap
tain Yates was brought into Court Dy caplas
and on the 18th of September the defendants, with
the exception OF Baxter, were called upon to plead
to that which had been found at the Grand Inquest
Major Herbert the Prosecutor OF the Pleas, read IN
tremuous tones the indictment, OF which the fol-
lowing Is q copy -
THE INDICTMENT.
Ssr ana o The Scdy Of Is. for STATE
M,Ss Asssas
Of East Brunswct in sa,d county Of Mddeses beng
Divers other evdspOsed persons whose this
yet '" ;s. saS
Xii and murder one samuel Whtehesd ST., lsih
s aas o
Court nd a b.'MssS dS
among themselves sonousy. Slfsy ana Of Their malice
ss sSf u
sao;' this a The naas na
as1s..id upon !Ssir oath sfoIssaid ro further
Maria s' sss iaS w an w
late OF the township OF East Brunswck in said county OF
he pf
being moved and edlsed by the nsgaogp Of the devil on
The The ownss st 'se
adae.es within the jurisdiction Of Tits Court
Samuel Whitehead The 81 God q this state
se AND With there sa aoa S malice a
ss. IN NE sass ssndss the asd ss.u:, the
peace d q this ss Dignity
as ss s
said county dlesss nohsvns the fear Of God before
q IN; Is'h ,so q q, July ,Sxr,n'a
Oh E,. year Brunswick 0af Sia county
within the Of this Court Gid in
Whitehead, the peaes, Of God and this State then and
Ssnrs SsS ana he
ia offending and against tue peace of this State
the government anu O cM nERBERT Attorney for State
The reading OF the foregoing instrument con-
cluded the accused were severally asked how they
pleaded. They replied, firmly and unhesitatingly
mot GUILTY."
They were then held 10 pail eacu Ill ~, wv 10
appear for trial on December 20 inc TWO
Ladies presented q very elegant appearance, being
alfred alike in black sll6 dresses, en tram, with
lauuty hats and white feathers. Tney wore very
little Iewclry, Mrs. Wretts having in her ears
| ONLY a pair OF diamond clusters and Mrs. Yates
| solitaire diamond pendants. Both ladies' might be
termed gOod-lookmg in form and feature, but
scarcely handsome. Every movement they made In
| presence OF the crowded Court denoted breeding
OF the highest order. An extraordinary feature OF
! Inc case at this period was the course pursued by
the old gentleman whose taking on was, as alleged
so nelllshly attempted. He attended MS daughters
| in co,lrC and further demonstrated his belief IN
| their entire innocence. despite the positive aega-
| uons made, by presenting each Win donation or
$4,000 in addition to the portion allotted them
| In his VIII.
Tne death OF Major Herbert occurring IN Decem-
Der compelled posiponement OF the tria I'LL TO-
day. - 49,.
| it's understood that the interests OF the state
Will I've leaked after by the present prosecutor a..