Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1895-05-30
HAYES TRIAL
For the Killing of John Booth at
Bivalve Last April.
JURY SELECTED; TRIAL ON.
Gruesome Details of the Murder Exhibi-
tel by DIR. Thompson; The State
has a Large Array of Witness; the
Physicians Evidence Interest
ing the DoctorS
Tuesday MohninS.

The Court House was packed this
morning by an interested and curious
thfong, anxious to see and hear the trial
OF Alexander Hayes, charged with the
murder Of John Booth at Bivalve last
April
Two constables were stationed at the
gate to keep the rush out; as it was there
was hardly room for Court officers. Jurors
and witnesses inside the Court House
when the Court bell rang.
Hayes, neatly dressed in black suit,
was brought in by the Sheriff, and the
bracelets were taken off his wrists.
He was seated by the side of his coun-
sci, Jas. S. Ware, ESQ.,; his other counsel,
j. L.. VanSyckel, sitting at the end of the
long table. Judge Reed occupied the
| bench, and associated with him were Law
Judge Hoagland and Lay Judges Hendee
and Ludlam.
The Court stenographer was present to
take down the testimony
The case ofthe State against HAYES. and
jury was called.
Lot Stevens, of Millville, was the first
juror seated. He was later CHALLENGED
and excused after the third juror had been
seated.
| The Jury was selected after some chal-
lenges and the Judge told them that they
would have to be sequestered during this
| trial and would be kept in the charge of
the Sheriff
| All the rest of the Jurors were excused
| for the term
The following composed the jury:
Nelson Howell, William Harvey, James
Mccoy, Thomas F. Burch, John j.
Thompson, Rudolph Mohr, Edward
Spencer, VIM. f. Andeas, Belford Ogden
James b. Ware, Ephraim Moore and
Frank Alexander.
| The state did not yet make any opening,
but Prosecutor Logue put C. NJ. Dubois
on the stand to prove map of Hayes
house and the location of the murder at
Bivalve.
Mr.. Dubois had made the map, show
ing the house, the railroad track and the
spot where Booths body was found.
After this had been proven Prosecutor
Logue then made the opening, detailing
Prosecutor Logue told the story which
he expected to prove by witnesses, as
follows: After some preliminary details,
that number of colored men had assem-
bled at Hayes house; they were staying
there all night During the time they
were there Thomas Shorts, one of the
colored men, spit in a wash basin belong
ing to Hayes.
This was objected to by Hayes, and he
took the basin in his hand. Shorts made
an attempt as though to spit in the
basin again. Hayes struck him, hitting
two or three blows, when John Booth
lntretered saying to Hayes ''Man, don't
do that, don't have any fuss" Hayes
Immediately strnck Booth, knocking
him down. Booth seized coal box as
he arose, and threw it at Hayes. Hayes
then struck Booth with knife, which he
held in his hand cutting him in the tenn
pie, the knife penetrated the skull.
Hayes then made another blow at Booth
with the knife, striking him over the
heart, the knife pentrating through the
cartilage ofthe rib and entering the heart
causing almost instant death.
Booth however, said to Hayes when cut
to the heart. you've cut me to DEATH"
Dr. John X. G. Thompson was put on
the stand and explained, beth from a
mani<in and from the heart of Booth.
which the doctor had preserved in
alcohol, the nature of the wound which
had caused the mans death.
DR.. Thompson was sharply cross-ex-
amined by Mr.. VanSyckel.
Dr. Day and DR.. Harker, of Port Nor
rlS, followed DR.. Thompson, in giving
minute details of the wounds found on
the dead man.
DR.. Harker gave the most minute de-
tails of the knifewound in the right ven
tricle of the heart, as learned at the post
mortem.
Nine colored fellows We're brought in
from jail and seated in the Constables'
row, as witnesses on the part of the State.
One of them was Frank X. Ward. con-
victed and waiting sentence for a robbery
at Bivalve.
Several doctors We're in Court and lis
tened to the testimony.
Tuesday Morning.
Samuel Bruce, short, black boy, who
said he had lived in Port Norris for five
years, said he knew John Booth and also
Sandy Hayes. Bruce lived with Henry
Robbins On the night of April 9th he
was at home early in the evening, but he
went with Thos. Shorts, down to the river,
to Sandy Hayes.
He found already there Robert Steven
son, Isaac Lewis and others. He went
into Andrew Williams part first. Will
hams occupied part of Sandy's house.