Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1921-12-10
Famous Trials
JACOB LEIsLEE

Jacob Leisler was arrested, convicted
and executed as one of the leaders Of
what is known in the early history of
our country as The Dutch Plot" He
had come to this country in 1869 as a
soldier, in the service of the Dutch
West indies Company. lie had acquir-
ed considerable wealth while engaged
in the Indian trade and had been in
strumental in the organization of-~fve
companies representing the military
force to he used in the protection of
N4W York city
Aeisler was captain of one of those
regiments. On a report being received
that the adherents of King James
were about to seize the fort and ma
ssacre their Dutch fellow citizens,
mob gathered on the evening Of June 2,
1899, to overthrow the existing govern
ment. They succeeded in enlisting the
services of Leisler to lead the movement.
LeisIer as captain of the fort" streng-
thened it with a battery of six guns
which was the origin of the public park
which is still known as the Battery
The mayor and council of the province
attempted to pacify the people with
without effect.
When in December q dispatch arrived
from William and Mary directing that
peace shou1d be preserved and the laws
properly administered Leisler construed
this as an appointment of himself as
the kings lieutenant governor and COM
mander-in chief. His sway was alb
solute fer a Considerable period, but in
January, 1881, MAJOR IngoIdsby arrived
at the port with the news Of Henry
Sloughter's appointment as governor and
demanded possession of the fort, which
Leisler refused.
On Slaughter own demand immedi-
ately after his arrival two months lat
er, Leisler. likewise refused to surrender
it but he was Convinced of Slough
! ter's identity the latter had sworn in
! HIS council. AS soon as this had been
/ done he wrote the governor a letter
/ resigning his new command. Slaughter
] replied by ~arresting him and nine Of
| his friends.
The latter were subsequently releas
ed after a trial, but Leiser was i'm.
| prisoned, charged with areason and
murder. and shortly afterwards was
| tried and condemned TO death. Tn,
prisoners had been arraigned before
court constituted for the purpose by az
! ordinance and having inVeterate 10y
alists for judges, Leisler and his son
nep
governor the power TO institute a tri
bunall for judging his predecessor, anc
they appealed to the king. On thei
refusal to plead they were condemnet
for high treason and sentenced L
death. joseph Dudley, of New Eng
land, then chief justice Of New York
giving the opinion that Leisler had n
legal authority whatever.
The trials of these men were mani
Hfestly unjust. The judges were the Der
sonal and political enemies Of the pris
oners and SO gross Were the acts o
some Of the parties that Slaughter hes
itated at signing the death warrants
and said that he finally did 50. whe
under the influence of wine
The day after LeisleTs execution
was determined upon, amid drenchin
: rain he parted from his wife, Alice, an
his numerous family, and with his son
in-law was led to the gallows. Bot
acknowledged their error which they ha
committed through ignorance and teal
. our fear, through rashness and pass,o,
through misunderstanding and nistr
structton;" in other respects they as
serted their fnnocense which their blame
less private life confirmed.
BY the English law Of treason the;
estates were forfeited to the crown, ar
the committee of tie privy council t
: whom the matter was referred eporte
/ that although the trial was in conform
: ity to the forms of law, they nevertne
: less recommended tbs restoration of til
= estates of the culprits to their heirs. I
} 1885, Leisler's son succeeded in secul
l ing the passage of an act OF parIiamen
: reversing his fathers attainder. Thre
years later the Earl Of Belloment, VIII
had been on of the most inffuentianl sur
perters of the efforts of I4eisler's soI
was appointed governor of New Yorl
and through his influence the assembl
: voted an indemnity to Leisler's heirs