Wilmington daily gazette., 1873-06-04
THE WEST TRIAL.
FIRST DAYS PRocEEDuNGs-THE JURY DRAWN
THE RxA1INATIoN OF STATES WITNESSES coX-
NENcRD.
Down, June Sd, 1873.

ArENcRD
Down, June Sd, 1873.
As informed YOU By telegraph, earlier in the
day, special session OF the Court Of Oyer and
TeTmineT,Was convened here this afternoon, called
for the trial OF Isaac c. West, for the murder OF
Henry Turner, a colored man, on the evening OF
Monday, Dec. 4th, 1872.
At an early hour, every available seat and VA
esut space was occupied by eager spectators Be
fore the court had met, the mother Of the prs
oner, accompanied by some friends, were brought
INTO the court, aud seated on a bench within the
railing Of the bar, noar the prisoners dock. A
grand movement of heads took place upon the
entrance Of Hon. Willard Salisbury, couosel OF
the defence The ex-senator looks feeble, and
came in leaning upon the arm of his nephew,
John Salisbury.
The court bang called, the Chief Justice or
dered the Sheriff to bring forward the prisoner,
who had heretofore been arTaigned on two counts,
murder and arson. In q few minutes the dspu-
ties appeared, leading between them and the pnT-
| oner. which was sufficient cause for a live commo-
| ton, everybody being anxious to see hun. Mr..
West looks rather thin and pale, and was dressed
| Taultlessly in a shining white shirt bosom, dark
| coat with light pants and vest. he wore mus
tache and gOtee, very dark, and appeared very
calm aud collected under the gaze Of the crowded
throng HIS entrance to the box affected hi1
mother to tea-s and sobs.
After calling the jurors and witnesses sum
moned, the defence asked that tha lurymen be
sworn UoWe dire, and Wm. p. Thompson was
called and sworn. As he had heretofore formed
and expressed an opinion about the case at issue,
thought be should be punished) this juror was
dismissed.
The counsel for the defence then addressed the
Court in reference TO the polling of juries in
of opiniens being formed aud expressed, Attor-
ney General Lore replied, addressing the Court on
the same subject, after which the polling of the
jury was continued, and, to the surprise of all, a
full jury was secured in less than two hours FIFTY
one names were called, of whom l6 were challeng-
ed by the State, and twenty-tnree dismissed for
cause. The following are the names Of the Jury
empannelled, who are to decide whether the pFis-
oner be guilty or innocent, Foreman, Henry Har-
rington; w. Q. Longfellow, Nathaniel HaFring.
ton, John w. Graham, Lewis Schafenger, Obedi-
ah Voshel, James II. Sullivan, BENJAMIN f. Gra-
ham, William n. Satterfsld, BENJAMIN #. Hur-
lick, John w. Jones and Philemma Scotteu.
The jury being sworn, the Clerk read the indct
ment, after which the Attorney General occupied
nearly half an hour, and spoke in reference, par.
ticularly, TO the statement or confession made by
West, at the time Of his incarceration.
The examination of witnesses for the State
was commenced, and stephen Cats was the
| first witness called, and testified as follows
/ was Coroner Of Kent county, and held an in
| quest over the body OF COOch Turner the
prisoner made voluntary statement recOg
niZed the document by his signature. On
/ being cross examined, said he recognized the
paper by his own handwriting; had not seer
the document before to-day, but was confident
it was the original statement made by West
/ who corrected some errors after the paper wa,
printed the StAtement made was voluntary
on the part Of West did not remember OF any
particular questions being asked him at thI
time Of writing.
Mr.. Saulbury, not having seen the paper
asked permission TO read it, which was grant
ed.
George B. Dickson, swOrn-I was the CIerl
at the COrOner's inquest took down the
statement, and recognized It by his own writ
ing. The alterations in the statement were
made by me according to Vests dictatiOn
was his voluntary statement the prisoner wa
interTOgated by the States Attorney Genera
Il after the confession was made saw West slRI
the paper after all the corrections had beer
made and handed him.
The confession was then read by deputy
George II. Bates, when, at 615, the COuf
adjourned.
The press reporters were assigned seats OF
the Judges raised platform, and are Ver1
comfortably located.
Miss Annie Dickinson, herS mother am
brother occupied seats to the lett of the judges