Greene, NY Affair - 1845 - Part 8

The Greene Affair

In Justices' Court, Befroe E.C. Kattle, Esq.

Binghamton Courier, December 17, 1845

The People vs. John Johnson, Examination of Witnesses, Nov. 20 [1845]

Testimony of Celia B. Hammond

Celia B. Hammond, sworn, testified that she was the wife of Harvey Hammond, that Mrs. Burdick came to board at their house the week before the abduction, also as to the occurrence on Monday night that they heard her scream three times, and went into her room, found her sitting on the bed on the floor near her bedroom door, that she was crying and very much frightened, and said that someone had tried to carry her off, but that she hung to the bed, looked up on Mrs. Burdick's neck and found three marks very plainly to be seen, saw the cape, Mrs. Burdick said that it was her mother's, cape was torn where it was pinned. The next day, soon after dinner, Augusta went to her room, that they kept the door fastened all day when I was not at work in the milk room.  In the front or upright part of the house there is a square room and a hall, and in the back part there is a room we use as a milk room, the bedroom is at the back end of the hall, and the door from the bedroom opens into the milk room, near the door of the bedroom and it is the only door out of that part of the house.  There is a kitchen which is a wing to the upright part of the house, even with it in front but does not run so far back.  In going from the kitchen to the bedroom we use the hall near the front outside door from the kitchen--go through to the back end of the hall, the door opens from that into the milk room at the side, and the door out of the milk room into the bedroom. The outside milk room door was fastened with a stick put over the latch, so that the latch could not be raised, the shutter was fastened and tied with a string. Went into the room about 2 o'clock and found her asleep, was in once before and found her awake, went back to the kitchen to work as usual. About 3 o'clock heard a noise, sounded like three knocks on a board and then something like irons knocking together.  My sister and myself were fitting a dress for myself, had been trying it on, and had not got my other dress on when I heard the noise.  Soon after stepped to the back kitchen door, heard nothing and saw nothing.  In about 15 or 20 minutes from that time, went to the milk room and found the outside door open, went to the bedroom, found Mrs. Burdick gone. Went and called my brother, Mr. Burdick, and Mr. Hammond, they were at work on the turnpike, laying poles on a wall, in sight from the front side of the house, but not in sight from the backside of the house.

She then testified as to the appearance of Mrs. Burdick after she was brought back, as to her being wet and muddy, dress torn &c.  Had on her usual dress--that Mrs. Burdick wore no corsets, nor any thing that was drawn by corset strings while she boarded there.  There were several marks on her forehead above her eyes, some marks about her neck, her ankles were bruised a great deal, and the marks were there when she went to Utica, three weeks after she was found--had no shoes on or nothing on her head, her shoes were left beside the bed; nothing was gone from the house of that kind. After Mrs. Burdick was brought back, her health was poor, she was deranged most of the time and appeared to be in great distress till they took her to Utica.

That night Mrs. Baxter assisted a little in rubbing Augusta's hands, but did nothing towards taking care of her.  Mrs. Baxter showed very little or no emotion. Augusta's health had been poor ever since I knew her, 6 or 7 months, and her mother told me it had been poor two years.   From the time she came to our house, her health seemed improving.  Mr. John Johnson asked me for the cape--Mrs. Baxter was present.--He said what is it about that cape?

Cross Examination:  Testified that Mrs. Burdick was subject to fits; her mother called them epileptic fits; that she had two in the summer before she was married, one of which lasted all night and further that she had two fits during the week that she boarded at their house, that during these fits she was crumpled in her limbs, that some persons were required to hold her hands; also, that for a few moments after she waked up, on the morning after her examination, Mrs. Burdick was not in her right mind.  She also testified that Augusta was over at Mrs. Baxter's on Monday; that Charles Baxter was at their house Monday evening, about 15 minutes before the attempted abduction that Mr. Hammond went down to the village Tuesday morning; that Johnson came along by the house with Mr. Burger, and asked if Hammond had got back, also inquired about her churning.

Testimony of Harvey C. Hammond

Harvey C. Hammond, sworn, testified as to the occurrence on Monday evening, also as to being at the village in the morning and going to put poles on the wall in the afternoon, also that he was called by Mrs. Hammond, when Augusta was missing, called Mr. Juliand, and went to the village to give the alarm, found Pulaski Burdick on the ground, he had a fit, carried him into the house and he was deranged all the evening.  Saw Johnson when we went to the village to give the alarm, at the post office.  He started off with the rest of them, and noticed him last just as he passed the river bridge--Saw Johnson that morning, he asked me if I had gone to draw the poles for the well.  Thesre is no cap over the window shutter when shut.

Cross examination:  That witness went over with part of Bolt's goods.  Johnson and Mrs. Bolt passed the teams about two miles before we got to the farm in Triangle.  I drove on at my usual rate, we met Johnson about 80 rods before we got to Bolt's house in Triangle, in the fields, said he was looking for some yearlings, he went back with us to the house.  Mrs. Bolt assisted in removing the furniture, she got supper or dinner for us, had tea.  Johnson sat with us, when we got the teams up, Mrs. Bolt siad, Mr. Johnson, I guess you will have to take Louisa back with you, she is getting homesick.