The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1901-09-17
YOUNG TRIED FOR MURDER.

John Young was placed on trial Wed
u nesday morning before Judge Garriso
|, for completely in the murder of Washing
n ton Hunter, at his home near Riverside
on the night of Friday, January % last
The party consisted of three other mel
: besides this defendant: Otto Keller, VIII
y is in the county Jail Charles Brown,
convict in Sing Sing prison, and Charlie
Miller, who is at large.
The Court House was filled when tn,
prisoner was brought in by Constable
e William H. Thompson, who had him il
charge. He was given a seat by the side
q of his counsel, Eckard P. Budd anC
Charles K Chambers.
After the Prosecutor had elected to try
, the men separately the matter of drawing
2 the jury began, and this was accomplished
in little over an hour The following
persons were accepted: William H
Sherman, Francis S. Ellis, Edwin H.
Frazier, Thomas B. Andrus, Charles H.
Lowden, Harrison E. Pointsett, Henry r.
Davis, William G. Lippincott, John
Tilton, Benjamin Rogers, George j. Hark-
er, George ]. Streaker.
Mr. Atkinson, for the state, then made
an exhaustive opening, after which he
called Henry S. Haines, a surveyor of
Burlington, to the stand. Mr.. Haines had
represented the house and outbuildings,
while the other portrayed the interior
arrangements of the dwelling and the
blood that was smeared in all directions.
He fully explained these to the court and
jury and then retired.
Mrs. Hunter was present, and she salts
fled desire to speak to Young. Assisted
by DR.. Janney, of Riverton, she proceed
ed to where the prisoner was seated. She
was feeble and full of emotion and point
ing her finger at the murderer of her aged
husband, asked 'tIs this John Young 2"
The astonished prisoner nodded his head
in reply. 'Can you look me in the face,
John ?" she continued. The man was
so embarrassed by this unexpected visit
from the woman whom he had so cruelty
wronged that he turned deathly pale and
| could not answer.
Mrs. Hunter was the next witness. She
had a vivid recollection of the events of
that tragic affair, and while reciting the
same bore up bravely and she seemed to
! gain strength on her cross examination,
which was notsquite as smooth as when
being questioned by Prosecutor Atkinson.
She retired between 10 and II o'clock,
leaving her husband lying ON the couch,
where he frequently took a nap before
going to bed. During the night a noise
awoke her and missing her husband from
the bed, where she expected to find him,
/ she opened the bed room door and saw
him coming in her direction all covered
with blood.
"My Cod what have they done. They
are trying to kill my husband she ex-
claimed.
81 pulled him into the room," she con-
tinued, ''and locked the door. He was so
weak that he could not sit up. l got a
gun and placed it near the door Then Sc
cured his revolver from the mantelpiece,
supported him as he sat on the floor, put
the revolver in his hands and waited for
events. When the door was broken open
/ he shot twice. One of the burglars
had butcher knife. They did not expect
this kind of reception. AS they passed
through the sitting room one of them lost
his hat.
"My husband was rs years old; had been
married since 1861. After my husband
dropped the weapon he tainted. Joseph
Rubach, hired man, was sleeping up
stairs He heard the pistol shots and
came down stairs. All he could see was
blood and he became frightened thinking
that both of us had been murdered. He
ran to the neighbors and soon assistance
came | couldn't describe the blood in
the house, as it seemed to appear in every
direction. My husband was cut all up
and he received a wound ON his head.
A silver watch was taken from the piano.
A hat was found in the house and bullet
was also found embedded in the wood
work.
II am acquainted with John Young,
the defendant He was used as an emer-
gency man on our farm for brief period,
LII, ,1a,. lx
were well TODD farmers but never kept
much money in the house. After the trouble
was over l found sos in the store-room.
My husband enjoyed ordinary health be-
fore this crime | remained in the house
until the 10th of May"
The revolver belonging to Mr.. Hunter,
the chisel handle that was found and also
the hat were shown witness. She identi-
fed the two former articles but the hat
was in such dilapidated condition that
she could tell but little about it. In Civ
ing her testimony she was not permitted
to relate any of the conversation that pass
ed between herself and husband, and this
embarrassed her eff | can't tell this,
hardly know what to say" she remarked.
But she told her story all the same, and it |
no doubt had an effect on the jurymen.
On cross examination she insisted that
Young was at her house, although she
did not see him.
George F. Titus, captain of the Detect |
i've Bureau of New York, arrested Young
and Keller in February on a charge of
burglary. While in the Toombs on this
charge Keller remarked in the presence of
one his attendants: '"They would make it |
hot for us if they had us over in Jersey"
The men were acquitted on the burglary
charge and Immediately re- arrested for the
murder of Washington Hunter. Mr.. Titus
stated to Young the nature of the charge
against him, and said that anything he
might say concerning the crime would be
used against him and it must be voluntary, |
Young replied "Titus, my breast is
heavy and | want to unburden myself.
This was objected to by Mr. Budd but
was overruled by the Judge.
The witness continued No threats
were made nor inducements offered. I'll
tell you by and by when | am ready said
Young L want to gather myself.
About twenty minutes elapsed when the |
prisoner returned and made a confession
which was taken stenogTaphically
Cross eXamination.-'1 knew none of
the particulars concerning his first arrest
They were arrested for breaking into a
cellar but were acquitted. Later Keller
told one of my detectives about the Riv
ersde murder and | held them on the
charge of murder This was on March 7.
/ first saw Young that night l sent for
him and said, You are charged with
murder, and if you want to make any
statement it will be used against you.
Keller forced me to corroborate him by
seeking information from Young. My
stenographer and officers Coyle, Finley
and McCarty were present at this time.
This was about 8. o'clock. He said he
wanted to make a statement 1 want to
free my heart, but want time to get it to-
gether.' Keller was not present at the
time. They were not brought in together
in my presence. told Young what Kel-
Ter had said about him so that he could
have the benefit of this | wanted to
treat him fairly The confession was read
to the defendant, and signed by him in
the presence of those in my Office at that
time"
Edward Hughes, a police officer and
stenographer, under Capt. Titus, corrobor
ated his chiefs testimony He identified
the confession and Young's signature
The original stenographic notes as taken
by him were produced and partly read.
They showed that several warnings had
been given Young. After Young had
signed it, the document was placed in the
safe and finally delivered to Prosecutor
Atkinson.
The Captain was also corroborated by
Peter J. Finley James F. Coyle and An
drew J. McCarty.
At this point the confession was offered
and objected to by counsel for the the de-
PENDANT on the ground that it was secured