Perth Amboy evening news., 1911-05-24
MURDER TRIAL
STARTS TODAY
BrekaW Who Gave Himself
Up Pleads He Shot in
SeIf-Defenss.
IN FIGHT AT LINCOLN
Made His Escape and Had
Bssn Working as erake-
man in Pennsylvania.
Special to the EVENING NEWS.

New Brunswick, May 24:-Swift
Jersey justice was exemplified this
morning at the court house here
when the jury in the case of the
State VS.. Clinton Brokaw, on trial for
alleged murder, was drawn in the re-
markable short time of eighteen min
utes. The case is proceeding so
rapidly that it is thought 1t will be
given to the jury today.
The jury drawn is: Peter G. Con-
over, of Sayreville; Soren Oleson, of
Perth Amboy; Warren Roberts, of
South Amboy; Sylvester A. Schuck,
of New Brunswick; Charles Holsteen,
of South Brunswick; Alvin Van Deur-
sen, of South Amboy; George Ever
EFT, of South Amboy; Fred M. Miller,
of New Brunswick; Calvin ]. Divine,
of Perth Amboy; James Runyon, of
New Brunswick; Furman Scone, of
South Amboy; and William Stults, of
New Brunswick.
The challenges by the defense, who
is represented by Senator George S.
Silzer. were: Frank E. DeGraw, of
South Amboy; Andrew McCabe, Jr.,
of Perth Amboy; Frank Gordon and
John Finley, of South Amboy.
The challenges by the state, which
is represented by Prosecutor Boor-
aem, were: William Murtagh, Jr.,
Robert A. VanPelt, Adolf Nielsen,
Charles e. WILDER, and John Seaman,
Of Perth Amboy; and Edward Dolan,
of South Amboy. Edward Britton,
Of New Brunswick, was excused be-
3 cause he was over the age limit of
sixty-five years.
James Mannion, who keeps hotel
at Green Brook, near Brokaw's home,
was the first witness called and testi-
fed the principals had taken several
drinks in his establishment at
o'clock In the afternoon of the al
legged crime, leaving the place on
seemingly good terms.
Peter Nybo, of this city, was called
to identify several photographs he
had taken of the Brokaw residence.
Mrs Harriet G. Brokaw, mother of
the prisoner, was next called and
testified her son had come home the
night of May /, 1909, very much ex-
cited and had declared Joseph Raffer-
Cy was following him.
Later she heard a shot but did not
Zee who did the shooting or who was
shot. She could not identify the
shotgun produced by Prosecutor
Booraem as the one kept in the
Brokaw home.
Gave Himself Up.
Brokaw walked into the office of
Prosecutor Theodore B. Booraem
several days ago and gave himself up.
He had been travelling under an as
sumed name and part of the time was
a brakeman on railroad in Penn
sylvania. He had made several
secret trips to his home at Lincoln
since the day Of the crime.
He is charged with the murder Of
Rafferty, on the night of May / 1909.
He and Rafferty, met in saloon at
Lincoln and got into dispute over
the disappearance of a neighbor's
fence. They had several drinks and
the discussion continued after they
left the place. Words led to a fight
and Rafferty, followed Brokaw home
On entering the house Brokaw pick
ed up a shotgun and fired at him.
One of Rafferty's legs was shattered
by the shot and had to be amputated
at Muhlenberg hospital at Plainfleld
Blood poisoning developed and Raj
ferty died. Brokaw is represented
by Senator George S. Silzer and
claims he shot in self defense.