The New York herald., 1878-11-03
BOYCE MURDER TRIAL.
THE ALLEGED MURDERER OF FREDERICK HAMM
ACQUITTED.

ACQUITTED.
ROCHESTER,, Nov. 2 1878.
Tho trial OF George Boyce, in this city Tor the
der OF Frederick Hamm, in the town OF Ciarkson,
Monroe county, N r., The 23d OF March last. has
been occupying the attention OF the people in
this vicinity Tor nearly two weeks. An account OF
the murder was published in the columns OF the
HeRALp the time, and will be remembered as one oil
atrocious and colo biooded ever recorded in
the annals OF crime the United states. very bret
history OF the now, however may not be amiss.
Freuer ok Hamm a farmer living IN ClarKs0n on
the road which divides the counties OF Monroe and
Orleans on Saturday naht the 23d oil March last, he
left alone In his house, hts wife being absent
IN Rochester, and his stepson, John Helmuth. and
his daughter, Louisa Hamm, leaving the house 10
VISIT a nsighbor mile or Two distant, between SIX
ana seven o'clock on the fatal evening. About
hour alter ard the reports of doublcbarreed gun
were heard within an instant OF ono another. and a
flash was seen in the direction OF the rear OF
Mr. Hamm's house. When Miss Hamm and
nsr siepb brother returned home between eleven
and twelve O'Clock that night tney found
killed by an assassin, who had nred through the
kitchen window from the outside. Aanm's skull had
been literally torn TO pieces by the two cnarses from
the doubie-Darreed gun IN the HANDS OF The mur-
dercr. Inc arrest OF George Boyce ana his brother
in-aw, Nicholas Englsr, both young men and neigh
Dors OF hamm, speedily followed, and u the trial
OF former IN the Court OF oyer anu Terminer
which has been creating sensation in this and
Orleans county since the 22d OF October
James l.. Angle was the presiding judge The pr1s-
oncr was defended by Mr.. George Raihcs and MI
Dean OF Brockport and the case for the people was
conducted by District Attorney FenncE Only evi-
dence OF a very circumstantiai nature was adduced
against the prisoner Boyce, who Was tried alone.
lhe principal evidence may be summed up TO have
beeu about iollows:-First, a line OF foot
prints crossing a field between Hamm's house
and Boyce's houss, which was the next south, gong
drectlon OF the latter second, the TACT that
gun was found IN The possession Of
Engler, lived With Boyce; third, inc discovery
tnat the paper waddine blown into the head OF tho
muraered man had on 1t German ~ords, which were
found TO nave been printed Buffalo German pa
house; iourth the fact that Boyce showed somewhat
gong near the Hamm place until the Monday morn
ing follow ing though tue whole neighbornood was IN
upI oil excitement over II the whole OF The Ia
tervenng sunday; hfih tDat The shot found In
Hamms mead WAS OF mixed sizes, while the shot
loanu Engers poucn also suown to nave been oi
al ieast sizes he very clever dissection oil TINS
evidence by the counsel Tor the defence has placed
the matter Ia such light tnat the my sery surround
ing the murder remains almost as impenctrabe MS IL
Ia March IasI The prosecution have signally
failea to show that Boyce had any motive Tor CON-
inittng tue deed anu tue defence nave csntrved 10
throw doubt upon almost every item OF crcum-
stantiai evidence that the prosecution adducsd.
me jury rendered verdict OF acquttal alter being
out only one hour TINS afternoon.