The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-30
JERSEYS GREAT clear" CASE.
The Willetts- Yates hitehead
Conspiracy.
Children Charged with Plotting the Murder Of
Their Aged Father-Men's and Womsns
Love for Filthy Lucre and What 1t
Will Prompt Them To Do-Ths
Most Extraordinary Case in the
Country's Criminal Annals.


the history OF crime in that state, II indeed
1t could be found in any state To-
day, in the Aiddesex County Court OF
Oyer and Terminer will be called Tor trial the
OF the State vs. Theodore Willetts and Sarah j.. his
wife; William Yates and Ann Maria, his wife, and
James Baxter. The history Of the case Is as fol.
lows:-0n the night OF the 2lsr Of July, 1870,
DIABOLICAL ATTEMPT
was made by SOME unknown parties 10 set fire to
the residence Of an elderly gentleman of means and
enieebled mind and health named Samuel White
head, ST., al 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 pubiic memory until at length,
In April last. labOrer named James Baxter.
who had been In the employ OF Mr.. Whitehead as q
sort of Ualet de chGD6re, but Immediately after the
burning suspiciOusly disappeared, was rerreted out
bv the New Brunswick Chief OF Police Mr.. Oliver.
He was f0und in Bellevlle, near Newark, and taken
to New Brunswick on a 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 odg.
ing him In Jail the authorities became possessed Of
AN AFFIDAVIT BY BAXTER,
OF which the following Is literal COPY
James BAXTER of the township Beleve, the county
Of Essex ana state Of New Jersey upon his oath saith and
Yates, ali q the village q Washington. K, il tns
e Of sadle.ss gam. 70 III: aspenen '0u sSs
Sss' the m. ssRE
deponent the Of 600 and house 10 dwell long
ns
% ' ss S wsie'f s%n By s sss r' bs TO-
in such hs the said Samuel head
tins d ter % n the aoyssad month Of July
ownp Aforesaid fheodors Wies anne se bs
said wife and the said Anna Maria Yates and gave
thy
the rum Induced tie said Whitehead portion
the said Whitehead went to sleep This deponent then
qany s1a
and YIN cs, Tier. set fire OIL sand "
Ss .sr w
and the said % Yates s e this and
Of said premise. there life by strikins him
to an after
the same a p, a said Theodore re. We his
pistol commonly called revolver and gave to this de-
nss% ing s s'
NJ as,S
III. @
so sa ,me dsponsns wrote Wisas lnor%3 s
which SAID wls.s do no! do at as time ,hs e
and half months amounting to Ss; said VIII
part Of the ,nn sponens re
eeyed from the aforesaid parties three letters
Maria Yates and one from wies' wife; the sad James
purely Of h, own accord wIou. procurement Of any
person or persons whatever
TO the foregoing document Baxter affixed 'hIs
mark In presence of Chief Oliver and MI. Charles
Whitehead. Warrants were issued for the arrest
q Mr.. Wletts and Mrs. Yates were ar
rested and next day brought aSev before tine
bail In the sum OF $1,000. few days subsequently
Mrs. WIletts voluntarily appeared before Judge
Scudder, and gave pail in the same amount as tile
others to appear at the september term answer
any Indictment which might he found against them.
AT THE SEPTEMBER TERM
Baxter, Mr.. Willelts and wife and Captain william
Yates and vile were indicted by the Grand Jury,
n aae Yates Was Sroncnt into Court BY caoa
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.
tremuOus tones. the indictment, OF which the fol-
lowing Is . copy -
e.y for ss body of the county Of
William Yates ARn Xa's; TnsodSTs
OF East ara in Of Mdssa S
Of evil 1"S psas to w
inquest yet unknown wlckeay devsnr and Intending
Ell aS% %usr os. 'ss of ''ss S
aas y IL : ad o% M9 s s Of @
Court, rapdulently, ma,iciously and unIawfuly did
smoSs s'fs
a and m" % The ss SAID
being against the Of this state the government and
asa of upo Ss oath And saaS %sSsss
s" as ss iss s 'nd ssh r. xn
q the township Of East b s in saa Of
being moved sedaced BY The nsieaon Of he devil
the the lsh day q july IN the year Of our Lord ls az
and within the jurisdiction of this Court
then and there So a0 S wS Malice ssss
thought vi" to XII, ana murder the eyS exam:
@ q s II
DC sp i s ;s ss%ss
:as essas
Ct. the devil ~i is,s ,, Ivy sSs!s
a of rasi and within jurisdiction q
&c. e hi.
being elonousy wiliuy and Of their malice afore.
in like offending and against the peace Of this State
'"' g N. HERBERT Attorney for State.
The reading OF the foregoing instrument con-
Guided, the accused were seyerally asked how they
pleaded They replied lied n nr ana unnesl'a'nG
They were then held TO bail. each in s., ooo to
appear Tor trial on DcCeHlDcr 20. INC TWO
lades presented q very elegant appearance, being
atircd alike in black slid dresses, ea tram, with
lauuty hats and white feathers Tney wore very
little lewelry, Mrs. Wnletts having In her ears
! ony q pair OF diamond clusters and Mrs. Yates
| solitaire diamond pendants. Both ladies' might be
! termed good-Io0kng 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 or
the case at this period was the course pursued by
| the old gentleman whose taking OF was, as alleged
| so nelIshly attempted. lie attended his daughters
| In courG and further demonstrated his bcliei IN
their entire innocence. despite the positive aega-
uons made, by presenting each with a donation OF
| $4,000, In addition TO the portion allotted them
| in his VIII.
| Tne death OF Major Herbert occurring IN Deccm-
| Der compelled posponement or the trial till to-
| day.
IL Is understood that the interests or the state
Will NC leaked after by the present prosecutor, A.
" Schenck, assisted by Attorney General Gllcnrist,
while the defence will be taken care or by Mr.. w.
| Strong, Corllandt Parker and General Theodore
| Ruuyon OF Newark. TINS array oil legal weight