United States vs. Polly Purcell

Purcell, Polly adv. United Staes

Description:	The file contains eleven documents related to the indictment of Polly Purcell for the murder of her infant daughter. Included in the file is a commitment, recognizance of the witnesses, Indictment, five summons for Polly Purcell and two subpoenas. On the 12th of September 1814, James Black, Justice of the Peace, wrote, to Busseron Township he sent to have Polly Pursel (Purcell) taken and brought before him for the murder by confession of having choked her infant to death. The jailer was to receive Purcell into the jail and custody and safely keep her until she was to be discharged by the cause of Law. On the 20th day of May 1815, Benoni Middleton, Isabella Middle, Margot Anderson, and Sarah (Sally) Browning came before J. Black, Justice of the Peace and acknowledged to owe the Territory forty dollars each on condition of recognizance to appear before the judges of the Circuit Court on the first Monday in June in Vincennes. They were to give testimony concerning the offense where in Polly Purcel stood charged on behalf of the United States. The document was signed: Bon Middleton, Isabella Middleton and Sally Browning. During the June Term 1815, the Grand Jury Presented an indictment for murder. W. prince, Prosecuting Attorney, Knox County presented that Polly Purcell of Busseron Township, spinster, not having the fear of God before her eyes but moved and seduced the instigation of the Devil on the eight day of September 1814 made and assault on a female infant being alive and born of the body of Polly Purcell, feloniously, willfully and of her malice and with her hands suffocated and strangled the infant and the female infant died. On the verso of the indictment, A true bill. Benjamin Beckes, foreman. Witnesses Benoni Midleton (Middleton), Isabella Midleton (Middleton), Mrs. Liston, Mrs. Hadden, Sally Browning, John Edmondson, and James Black. Summons were issued for the sheriff of Knox County to take Polly Purcell and keep her so that she would appear before the judges of the Circuit Court of Vincennes to answer to a bill of indictment for murder. She was to appear during October Term, 1815, June 21, 1815, first Monday of March 1816, 25th day of March 1816, last Monday of September 1816. According to the sheriff, Benjamin Beckes, she was not found in his bailiwick when he tried to serve these summons. Subpoenas were issued for Sally Browning, John Edmondson, James Black, and Margarette Anderson to appear in the Circuit Court in Vincennes the first Monday of October to give evidence on behalf of the United States against Polly Purcell on an Indictment for murder. This writ was issued by Robert Buntin, Clerk on the 18th of September 1815. Two subpoenas were issued for Benoni Midleton (Middleton), Isabella Midleton, Mrs. Liston , and Mrs. Haddon to appear before the Circuit Court in Vincennes to give evidence on behalf of the United States against Polly Purcell in an Indictment for murder. They were to appear the first Monday of October 1815 and the first Monday of March 1816. These writs were issued by Robert Buntin, Clerk. According to the Minute Book of the Knox County Court of Common Pleas/Circuit Court 1811-1817, page 156: June Term 1815 it was ordered that a capias do issued to bring the body of the Defendant Instanter. Page 178, October Term 1815: The Defendant being called and not appearing the sheriff reported the Defendant not found. It was ordered that an alias capias do issued Returnable to the next term. Page 221 October Term 1816: The sheriff having returned on capias not found ordered an alias do issued Returnable to next term. Page 257 June Term 1816:on motion of Prosecuting Attorney, ordered that a Phinas capias do issue, Returnable to the next term of court. Page 317 October Term 1816. The Prosecuting Attorney will no longer prosecute, the case dismissed.
Origin:	2019-03-27
Created By:	Indiana Territory. Circuit Court (Knox County);
Contributor(s):	Raymond, David;
Source:	http://indianamemory.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/ving/id/28757
Collection:	Early Vincennes, 1732-1835
Rights:	http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/
Copyright:	No Copyright - United States
Subjects:	Indiana Territory Bonds -- Indiana Territory Circuit courts -- Indiana Territory Court records -- Indiana Territory -- Knox County Imprisonment--Indiana Territory Judges -- Indiana Territory Indictments -- Indiana Territory Murder -- Indiana Territory Summons -- Indiana Territory Subpoena -- Indiana Territory Infanticide Court Records

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