Year: 1875

The finding In Lydigs woods near West Farms, on the
18th of last month, of the muated body of Abraham
Weisberg tnerant peder the arrest shortly after
ward Of three negroes, giving the names OF William
Thompson, William Ellis and Charles Weston on tho
charge of being the murderers the overwhelming
nature OF the evidence produced against them the
terror that seized them and the confession by two Of
them Of the horrible crime facts too fresh in the
memory OF the public to require repetition. Sure and
swift retribution has overtaken the murderers. The
three men were yesterday brought up for trial before
Judge Barrett holding the Court OF Oyer and
Terminer Their assigned counsel, Messrs William
r. Knitting and John o. Mott, were in readiness to
defend them District Attorney Phelps and two OF his
assistants were ready to conduct tho prosecution.
Thompson and Ellis asked to be tried together while
Weston demanded separate trial The court room
was crowded, and sngularly strange interest was
evnced in the Negroes Of more unprepossessing
physiognomes rarely placed at the bar Of justice


II took but short time to get the jury, and speedy
work was made with the trial. Mr. Knitting inter-
posed special plea in abatement on the ground that
the petit array of jurors was not properly
or legally drawn. This plea was oycrrnled
by HIS Honor, whereupon the usual excep-
tion was taken. A brief opening followed by
Assistant District Attorney Lyon and then came the
testimony detailing in extenso the facts OF the murder
given at the time in the HERALD. The confessions
of the prisoners read part of the testimony





the story of each only made conclusive the guilt
of the accused. There was defence put in; none
could have been made. palmer of guilt was
never shown at a trial. There summing up
Everything in fact, seemed to be foregone conclusion
Judge Barrett as matter of form, charged the jury
which, without leaving their seats, pronounced against
each prisoner verdict OF guilty Of murder in the first
degree Before passing sentence both Mr. Knitting and
Mr. Mott strenuousy urged motion Of arrest OF Judg
the ground OF the special plea inerposed at
the opening of the trial. and that this Court had
power TO try indictment found in the General
Sessions the same being transferred after issue had
been joined, which claimed to be the fact IN the
present case. Judge Barrett denied the motion, TO
which, of course the usual exception taken Coun-
sci had done their best for the unfortunate prisoners
and Judge Barrett so told them.


In passing sentence Judge Barrett spoke in severe
tones as folows:-Wiam Ellis and William Tnomp-
son. you have been most Justly convicted Of one Of tho
most revolving, horrible and atrocous crnost
ever been committed in this county 1t is almost in
conceivable that persons IN the guise Of human beings
should have been, for light and Insignificant cause
fcarfully guilty. You slaughtered your
unhappy victim with much callousness
heartlessness as butcher would an animal
and the only redeemng feature in terrible Is
that you have confessed freely and fully your guilt


trust in God that that confession Is but the first step
toward heartfelt repentance, for which the law
humanley allows you yet ample time, and which the
Court will grant you. The judgment Of the Court is
that you, William Ellis, and you William Thompson
each OF you bo taken TO the City Prison Of tho city OF
New York from whence you and each OF you came,
and that on Friday, the nth day OF December, you
and each Of you be hanged by the neck until you are
dead.


Ellis took the sentence meekly and as matter Of
course Thompson was on the verge of weeping


Judge Barrett covered his face with his handkerchief
and leaned his face his hands while the clerk was
reading the death warrants Tho condemned prisoners
speedily removed and the large crowd which had
fingered TO the close slowly withdrew from the
room. The trial Of Weston was announced for to-day.