The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-14
WARREN COUNTY OFFICIALS

THE CASE OF FOUR OF THE ALLEGED OFFEND.
ERs cLosED-ATrEMPT OF THE DEFENCE TO
PROVE AN ALIBI-AN AMUSING WITNESS
SUMMING UP OF COUNSEL.
BELvIDERE, N j.. Jan. ID. 1872
When the Warren County Court convened here this
morning for the purpose of resuming the trial Of
Simon A. Cummins. Edwin G. Bulgin. John N. Givens
and Charles s. Strader, who have been indicted for
conspiracy the town presented scene unparalleled
in its history For blocks around the Court House the
streets hronged with sleghs of every description
and were almost impossible. Hundreds OF sleighs
containing people from far and pushing and
struggling for spot the sidewalk to make per-
manent stand. The hotels filled to OVERLOOKING
and the stables of the town. public and private are
utterly unable to accommodate one-tenth of the
horses. Some Of the farmers have driven thirty
miles the country, while scores of them have
come from Pennsylvania. Special trains on the Bel.
yidere branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad began
running mt an early hour. bringing passengers from
Easton, Pa, Phillipsburg Washington and other
large towns.
to the effect that the jury in the present case have
been tempered with This. however, is thought to
be extremely doubtful, the members OF the jury
are men of repute. However, II such be the casa.
there is little doubt that the guilty parties be de-
teced as the prosecutions system OF surveillance 10
There is great demand for the New York papers
here and particularly the HERALD. When the morn
ing train arrived to-day the rush made for the HERALD
was wonderful, and the newsdealer was entirely
unable to supply the greater portion of the demand.
COURT PROCEEDINGS.
The regular court proceedings were resumed at
halfpast eleven Chief Justice Beasey presiding Tho
%~ the lUo deenee FIRST called Mr. Caleb swayne
Freeholder of Warren county, who was mainly in-
strumental in breaking up the ring. He was shown
a book by Judge Shipran, and said 1t was not tho
first book shown to him by the county collectors he
did recognize it, however az the book shown him by
the collector at the second meeting of the Board;
another book shown him at the first meeting
with which the second did not compare Sensation
On the cross-examination by Prosecutor Harris
Mr. Swayze testified that the balances OF freehoders
accounts were not the same in both books; he asked
Mr. Cummins, collector, whit had become Of tha
first book, and Culnmins told him it was not in
istence.
BY the Prosecutor-Was that the book just shown
you?
witness-Yes, sir. it was. (Sensatonl.
Judge Shipman-Your Honor. submit that we
only wished to identify the book and think that the
prosecutors questions 80 beyond that.
The Court-The questions are relevant. We may
Judge Shipnan-we desire to offer the first book in
evidence to show that the Daniel Mitchell note for
S5,21S, was never charged against the county by
Collector Cummins.
Samuel sherred, an ACCOUNTANT. was then examined
to report he had made up from the book by order
DR.. Phillip r. Blakely of Belvidere, family
physician to John N. Givens testified that about tha
be out ut night. his health would not permit it.
TACTICS OF THU DEFENCE.
The defence were evidently trying to establish an
alibi and called William L. Hoagland, who haa lived
next to the Warren House. He had seen Mr.. and MIS-.
Bngn MS house put In ay Or on1h ne ro%,d
taken tea Bugin had not he went away about tea
time; tea time was about six o'clock.
BY Mr.. Harris-Was it quite dark?
The witness (smiling)-I think it was II the moon
not shining. uaughtcr9
The defence next called witness who afforded con-
Joseph Van Dyke, of Vienna and pronounced it
"vyesna' TO the question whether no knew Mr..
and Mrs. Bulgin he very promptly replied II are
We're you IN his house i'll November OF last year p
eyes, sir, WERE
eyes, sir; were; were there all afternoon; went
there to get set Of harness; was sure it was the
run FOR THE AUDIENCE.
Cross-exan,ined by Mr.. Byington:-"How did YOU
Witness-By the examination Of papers,
'The ehildrens papers,
What children and what papers?
"rhe children were alone, their parents had beeni
murdered" Great laughterj
"Well, but how did you know 1t was the 16thY
u looked at the dates" Naughter)
81 looked at the almanac" (prolonged lauehtcr.x
II was there on the 10th, because know 1t tho
10TH"
what did you want With the harness at Bull
Il had horse lighter behind than he was BEFORE
WAS it dark?''
~ don't know"
when did the sun go down on the 10th of Novem-
ber?'
u guess it went Down time in the evening".
After some other unimportant testimony both
sides rested their cases.
SUMMING
MT. Byington then began to sum up for the pross
ecution. He spoke for nearly hour and went
over the testimony point by point.
He followed by Colonel Robeson, of counsel for
the defence, who spoke great length principally in
favor of ex-Collcctor Cummns who sat close behind
his counsel and hardly took his eyes off him during
the whole of his argument.
The closing arguments will be delivered tomorrow
by Attorney General Stockton aud exJudge Shipman.