600 Slide – American State Trials 1918 Volume X Leo Frank Document

568 &X. AMERICAN STATE TRIALS.

. August 19,

A complaint had been made on June 9th to the Commis-
aioners of the Alms House and Overseers of the Poor of New
York City, that they were charged with the support of a
certain bastard child of one Lucy Williams, and that one
Alezander Whistelo, a negro, was the reputed father of the
said child. The negro on June 10th appeared before the
Magistrates and pleaded not guilty to the charge, and after
hearing witnesses the Magistrates disagreed and the case was
brought to this Court for decision.

Mr. Vanhook* for the prosecution; Wiliam Sampson,>
Jacob Morton* and Mr. Nitchie for the prisoner.

Mr, Vanhook said the points upon which it had been
drawn inte doubt, and which oceasioned the reference to the
decision of this Court, were two: First, whether the witness
was to be believed; Secondly, whether the fact she swore to
was possible. He observed that although many witnesses of
learning and experience in such subjects had been called to
give their opinions for the satisfaction of the Court, yet he
conceived it to be a matter on which technical knowledge
could not throw much light; and that each of the members
who composed the Court were as well able to form a correct
opinion as any professional man whatever. The woman had
already sworn positively; and evidence of opinion that went

York City directory for 1808: P. C. Van Wyck, counsellor and
recorder, 1 Wall Street; and Samuel Van Wyck, attorney and coun-
sellor, 53 Partion Street. The Van Wyck Geneology (1912) has
Pierre Van Cortlandt Van Wyek (son of Abraham Van Wyck and
Catharine Van Cortlandt), born about 1780, and married Alice
Young. He was Recorder and Distriet Attorney of New York.
See 1 Am. St. Tr. 675, 685. 2 Id. 787.

See 2 Am. St. Tr. 203. In the New York City Directory for
1808 there are two of this name: “Wm. Vanhook, Attorney,” and
“fsaae A. Vanhook, Counsellor.” The latter was Colonel of the
Fifth Regiment, New York City Volunteers.

5 See 1 Am. St. Tr. 63,

*Mortow, Jacon, Born New York City, 1760; member New
York Assembly, 1795; Justice of the Peace, 1797; Colonel of the
New York State troops and a Brigadier General in the War of 1812;
died in New York City.