The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-11
THE CHEsTERTOwN MYSTERY.
TRIAL OF MRS. DoDsoN AND THE TWO YOUNG
MEN, NEwcoMB AND VINCENT, FOR ATTEMPTs
ING TO KILL THE NEGRO JONES.
rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERATD1

TRIAL OF MRS. DoDsoN AND THE TWO YOUNG
MEN, NEwcoMB AND VINCENT, FOR ATTEMPT
ING TO KILL THE NEGRO JONES.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
NEWCASTLE. Del. Dec. 10. 1873.
Shortly after ten O'Clock this morning. and fully
an hour after miserable little Court House had
been crowded to its full the Court Of General Sessions
opened with the trial of Mrs. Amelia Dodson. Phillip
Vincent and william Newcomb. The Bench consisted
of Chief Justice Comcgys and Judges Houston and
wootten. As the prisoners were conducted
to the dock they calmly bore the question
ing gaze of the public. In front OF the
dock sat Mrs Dodson's daughters, Miss Dora
and Mrs. Alice Prcttynan. the latter accompanied by
her husband. Mrs. Dodson sat next to the counsel
for the defence. The young ladies were dressed in
rustic fashion gaudy coorcd ribbons being especially
conspicuous. Mrs. Dodson plain black silk
suit, with dark bonnet and brown muff The young
men were neatly attired and seemed quito confident
of the total failure of the serious charge against the
Attorney General Pennington opened the review
the time OF their He felt confident that
they would easily and clearly prove the intent to
murder against the prisoners.
TESTIMONY FoR THE PROSECUTION.
James Jones. now fully recovered from his bullet
wounds, an Intelligent negro about thirytwo years
scourgng. being tied with ropes and conducted on
horrible midnight ride TO the lonely woods Van
Dyke Station, where Mrs. Dodson with fcndish
malice. ordered Ncwcomb aud Vincent 20 shoot him.
which they accordingly did, leaving him for dead.
Jones brotherinaW corrobOrAtcd his statements ~
to his arrival wounded and weak. in the dead Of night
at his house.
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY
Mr.. George Gray, counsel for the defence, stated
that they did not contradict Jones allegations regard
ing the scourging which administered for tho
fearful lying scandals set aloat by him through
malice, but they could prove that the prisoners
all in Mr. Dodsons house at the time Of the alleged
occurrence.
SWORN TO.
Mrs Alice Prcttyman the eldest daughter of Mrs.
Amelia Dodson. lives in Philadelphia, but was on .
visit 70 her parents on tho 10th of November Sho
and her sister Miss Dora. testified that tho negro,
having admitted that his reports about them.
were false, was tied, scourged and locked up until
seven O'Clock in the evening. when they hunted
him away. he promising never to return. After
this time Vincent and Newcomb accompanied them
to their sitting ROOM, whore they remained in
company with their mother until half-past eleven.
The family retired for the night but Vincent and
Ncwcomb remained until morning in the parlor. this
being no unusual occurrence. The Court here adj
journed.
II is believed that this averment will be damaging
Is II probable story that two hard working young
men, only half mile from their own home, should
remain, one on o lounge. the other sleeping in q
chair ali night7 The ladies' testimony corroboratos
Jones story up 10 tho moment that he states they
!. took him in thacsrrtsgas