August 4, 2025 • 57 mins
Struck By An Axe And Killed
Jump To AD-FREE SAFE HOUSE EDITION
Episode 367 is a holiday tale more bone-chilling than heart-warming. It takes place the weekend after Thanksgiving, when family and friends get together for games and good times. The cautionary part of the tale here is, be aware of what topics are best to be avoided. This tJumpime, the touchy subject is not politics, but eyewear.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/true-crime-historian--2909311/support.
Jump To AD-FREE SAFE HOUSE EDITION
Episode 367 is a holiday tale more bone-chilling than heart-warming. It takes place the weekend after Thanksgiving, when family and friends get together for games and good times. The cautionary part of the tale here is, be aware of what topics are best to be avoided. This tJumpime, the touchy subject is not politics, but eyewear.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/true-crime-historian--2909311/support.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Calbuler got Calm Trenton, New Jersey, November twenty ninth, eighteen
ninety seven.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Clarence Doyle, who yesterday near East Windsor killed Amos Haveland
with an axe, was arrested today at Allentown, where he
was employed as a farm hand. He did not know
that Haviland was dead, and claimed that he had struck
him in self defense. Doyle is a brother of Jimmy Doyle,
a clever young pugilist residing in this city. Yesterday, Doyle
(00:40):
went to the Spence Farm, where Haveland is employed, and
spent the day with him and his wife. The men
drank freely of hard cider, and at five o'clock in
the afternoon they quarreled, the host, accusing Doyle of undue
familiarity with Missus Haviland. Both men were very drunk, and
they were evenly matched in strength. They struggled a long
(01:03):
time on even terms, until Doyle seized an axe and
struck Haveln to blow on the forehead, from which he
died three hours later. After Havelnd had fallen, Doyle staggered
to Allentown, which is not far from the Spence Farm,
and went to bed. This morning. He was at work
(01:23):
at the usual hour and doubtless did not realize that
he was a murderer until told so by the officers.
Doyle this afternoon was brought to the county jail. His
victim body is.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
In the morgue.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
This evening, County physician Rogers held an inquest, and the
jury decided that the blow administered by Doyle caused Havelen's death.
(02:15):
True Crime Historian presents yesterday's news tales of classic scandals, scoundrels,
and scourges told from historic newspapers in the golden age
of yellow journalism. Episode three hundred and sixty seven is
a holiday tale more bone chilling than heartwarming. It takes
(02:36):
place the weekend after Thanksgiving, when family and friends get
together for games and good times. The cautionary part of
this tale is be aware of what topics are best
to be avoided at such gatherings. This time, the touchy
subject is not politics, but I wear I'm true crime
(02:57):
historian Richard O. Jones, and for your horror and indignation,
I give you hard cider and insults. Struck by an
axe and killed. Halund was a quiet, peaceable man, and
(03:19):
wherever employed was highly spoken of. He was pitied by
the community for all knew the notorious character of his wife.
When a young man, Halyn met Anna Patterson and while
under the influence of drink, was induced to marrier. She
at that time was of a shady character. The union
(03:39):
was felt as a keen disgrace by Havelyn's family, who
are respectable people and parents, brothers and sisters disowned Amos
because he would not leave his wife. While the domestic
life of Haveland and his wife never ran very smooth,
they kept together and cared for a large family of
children and until Andrew Decker came to disturb the harmony
(04:03):
there was. Missus Haveland's devotion to Decker enraged Haveverln for years.
They lived one month together in the next apart. Some
months ago, Missus Haveland and Decker were arrested for stealing
and were confined in the Freehold jail for some time.
Since Missus Haveland's return from Freehold, she has been employed
(04:25):
on the farm of Harriet Brown. It is claimed that
Decker and Missus Haveland have been on the outs since
the stealing affair. Haveland and his wife have not been
living together for some time. It was arranged that they
should meet Sunday at the home of Fred Haveland, their
eldest son, and planned to go to housekeeping again. Haveland
(04:46):
has been working for Ellsworth Haynes, a farmer living between
Yardville and Hamilton Square. Sunday morning, Haveland visited his son
Fred and family, who had moved Wednesday, November twenty fourth,
on the Spence Farm at Page's Corner. Between nine and
ten o'clock of that day, Clarence Doyle, who has of
(05:07):
late been attentive to Missus Haveland or her daughter Lizzie,
stopped at the home of Ellis Jones at New Canton
and acquired if Missus Haveland had been there yet. On
being told no, he sat down and waited until Missus Haviland,
her daughter Lizzie, and the baby and a coach came along.
He joined the party and pushed the baby coach while
(05:30):
they were passing New Canton. Charles Nixon inquired where they
were going, and Missus Haviland informed him that they were
going over to Fred's and remarked that she would raise
a little hell when she arrived there. The party reached
Fred's home and found Amos already there. The meeting by
all parties, was agreeable, and the time was spent as
(05:51):
is the custom of Page's corner in games, et cetera.
Missus Haveland has been boarding Hattie, a five year old
cross eyed daughter, with mister Missus Samuel Mitchell, who lived nearby.
About two o'clock, she, Lizzie and Howard, another son, went
over to Mitchell's. After the girl, Fred and Doyle left
(06:12):
the house and went over to an adjacent farm. They
were treated to sid her. A short time afterward, Amos followed.
He was treated and drank three glasses. The men all
returned to the house together. Missus Haveland had returned with
the girl. On entering, Amos embraced the child and sat
(06:33):
her down on his knee. Then Missus Haviland said, sam
Mitchell says, any man that can't get a pair of
eyeglasses for a cross eyed child ought to go to
the devil. Haviland replied, you better get the glasses of Decker.
She answered the devil with Decker. A few more words followed,
(06:54):
during which Doyle joined in haland became white with anger
and started across the room as though to go past Doyle,
who threw up his hands as if to fight. Haveland
and Doyle then engaged in a short fight, resulting in
Havelyn's favor. Havelyn left Doyle and pushed Joseph George, a
(07:14):
young man present, over a settee. At this stage of
the row, both Fred and his wife ordered Doyle to
leave the house, but he would not. Then Missus Haveland,
Hattie Howard, Fred's wife Lizzie, and two babies hurried into
a room across the hall and fastened the door. Fred
and the young man George, held the door against Tavland.
(07:37):
He then procured a hatchet and struck the door a
tremendous blow. Fred let go his hold on the door
and ran upstairs with George. Haviland then discovered that the
others were in the back room. It is thought that
he imagined the women were hiding Doyle. Finding the door fastened,
Havelyn then secured an axe and broke the latch off
(08:00):
the door, gaining admittance. Doyle stood in a back door
and witnessed all this. It has claimed that the daughter
Lizzie was the only one that witnessed how the deadly
blow was struck. She recited the following to your correspondent
quote after father gained admittance. He threw the axe on
the floor and slid it over under the mantle. Father
(08:21):
stood looking around and I think did not say anything
to anyone. Doyle walked into the room behind Father, picked
up the axe and threw it across his shoulder, took
it down and turned it so that the sharp edge
would strike, and with a quick, powerful blow, struck Father
on the head with the heel of the axe behind
the left ear unquote. The blow felled Haviland like an ox,
(08:45):
crushing the skull of the unfortunate man. Doyle then stepped
up to Missus Haviland, tapped her on the shoulder and
said it's all right now. He then left the room,
still carrying the axe, picked up his coat and threw
the axe to the ground as he ran out the door.
Seeing Fred in an upper window, he remarked, the old
(09:07):
man hit me between the eyes, and then ran away.
By this time the house was in an uproar. Missus
Havelan screamed, oh, you've killed my husband. You've killed my husband.
Doctor Silvers of Windsor was summoned and worked hard to
revive the injured man, but Doyle's murderous blow had inflicted
(09:27):
a fatal injury. It was about four point thirty when
the blow was delivered, and Haln died about six point fifty.
As soon as the victim died, doctor Silver's telephoned to
Trenton for county physician Rogers. A Monday morning, coroner Disbrow
of Trenton arrived and took charge of the body, who
was taken to Murphy's Morgue at Trenton. A post mortem
(09:49):
examination was held. Halynd was perfectly healthy, and it was
found that he had not taken enough sider to make
him drunk. The family claimed that no one was a intoxicated.
Doyle returned to the home of his employer sometimes Sunday
night and was at work Monday morning as usual. While
the officers were searching for him, it was thought he
(10:10):
went toward Trenton. Constable John Tyndall of Windsor notified Constable
Bergen of Allentown to look out for Doyle and capture
him if possible. Constable Bergen learned that Doyle was at
home working, found him there and arrested him. Doyle took
the matter cooling, smoked, laughed, and treated the matter lightly.
(10:31):
It is said he was surprised when informed that Haviland
was dead and claimed it was in self defense and
later said it was through drunkenness that the deed was done.
Doyle and Missus Haviland were both taken to Trenton and jailed. Tuesday,
the remains of Haveland were taken back to the scene
of the tragedy and there rested over the spot where
(10:52):
he had been murdered. His life's bloodstains beneath the coffin
were plainly distinct. Funeral services over the remains were held
at the Allentown Presbyterian Church on Sunday afternoon last Reverend
George Swain delivered the sermon and gave good counsel to
the family of the man whose life has been so unhappy.
(11:15):
The interment was in the church cemetery. Was the murder
a plot of Doyle's and Missus Havilan's. Public opinion generally
thinks so. January thirty first, eighteen ninety eight. Clarence Doyle
(11:36):
is now but seventeen years of age, and has passed
the greater portion of his life in that part of
the city known as Chambersburg. A short time prior to
the tragedy, he secured employment on the farm of Allentown
Presbyterian Church, better known as the Parsonage Farm. Doyle was
a good workman and well thought of by his employers.
(11:59):
Early last Sunday day morning, November twenty eighth, Clarence went
over to Page's Corner near Windsor to see Fred Haveland,
a son of the murdered man, who lived on a
place known as the Spence Farm. There were other visitors
there that day, Amos Haveland, his wife and daughter, and
reports say that the greater portion of the day was
(12:20):
spent in carousing and drinking hard cider. The afternoon was
nearing its close when the fatal quarrel started that terminated
so disastrously for both Clarence Doyle and Amos Haveland. What
started that quarrel is one of the things that the
present trial is expected to develop. There are two stories
(12:40):
which have been given to the public. One that Doyle
had been entirely too intimate with Amos Haveln's wife, who
was a woman in the neighborhood of forty years of
age and the mother of thirteen children. This story is
emphatically denied by Missus Haveland and her children, and as
they were the only ones present at the time. Their
(13:01):
story will go a long way toward influencing the jury
that is to decide whether Clarence Doyle is to be
allowed life in liberty, or whether his crime must be
atoned for by death on the gallows or imprisonment in
a cell. If the story of the origin of this quarrel,
as told at the coroner's inquest by Missus Havelan, her
(13:22):
son and daughter's be true, then indeed was the primary
cause of Amos Havevilyn's death a trifling matter. Amos Haveland
had a little daughter named Hattie, who was in need
of a pair of eyeglasses, which her father had refused
to buy. A certain Samuel Mitchell, who resided near the
Spence Farm, is said to have said, any man who
(13:44):
had let his girl go blind for two dollars and
fifty cents ought to go to the devil. It was
this remark that caused all the trouble. It is because
of this remark that Clarence Doyle is now standing trial
for his life in Mercer Court. Havelen mumbled and muttered
over this supposed insult until he had worked himself up
(14:05):
to the fighting mad state. Then as witnesses testified at
the inquest, without any provocation whatever, he rushed upon Doyle
and a fierce struggle ensued. This much of the fracas
occurred in the presence of the women, but Fred, fearing
that his mother and sister might get heard in the melee,
(14:26):
hurried them into another room, leaving his father in Doyle
to fight it out alone. No one knows what occurred
after that. The occupants of the next room heard the
men quarreling in loud voices, but could hear no blows
being struck. Then Haviland went out in the yard and
got the axe from the woodpile, re entered the room,
(14:49):
and smashing the door in where the women were, he
walked in and threw the axe over in one corner
of the room. Doyle had followed Haland into the room,
and going over to w where the axe lay, he
picked it up, went back to where Havelin was standing
with his back toward him, and struck the axe over
his head. Doyle struck the blow that caused the farmer's death,
(15:13):
but Doyle did not know that the blow had been fatal,
so he walked back to the parsonage farm at Allentown
that night and went to work as usual on Monday morning,
where he was captured by Constable Bergen shortly before noon
the same day. Since that time, Doyle has been confined
in the county jail, where he's been a model prisoner,
(15:33):
causing the keepers no trouble whatever and making many friends.
He apparently does not, as yet realize that he has
been guilty of any serious crime. The defense will be
conducted by Captain W. D. Holt and James Clark, and
will practically be that Doyle acted entirely in self defense.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
To avoid future commercial interruptions, visit us at www dot
patreon dot com slash true Crime Historian. For as little
as a dollar a week, you can enjoy full access
to the true crime historian Dusty vault, exclusive episodes, and
whatever personal services you require. That's www dot patreon dot
(16:28):
com slash true Crime Historian.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
Hundreds of eager, excited curiosity seekers throng the entrance to
the Mercer County Courthouse as early as nine o'clock this morning,
and from that hour up to the familiar ohya oya
of Crier Pearson, the stream of humanity continued to flow
into the courtroom until it was literally packed, but among
(17:00):
in this large assemblage there were but few ladies. A
few minutes after ten o'clock, Justice Gummer and Judge Woodroff
took their places on the bench, and almost at the
same moment, Constable Cappell appeared with the prisoner Clarence Doyle,
the boy who is now on trial for taking the
life of a fellow man. Doyle was natalie attired in
(17:23):
a black suit, white shirt, standing collar in a neat
dark tie. He looked unconcerned and smiling. Shortly after taking
his seat, his counsel, Captain W. D. Holt, came over
and after shaking hands, prisoner and counsel chatted together for
some minutes. Prosecutor Stockton and Detective Clancy occupied the other table,
(17:46):
and nearly all the seats inside the railing were filled
with the lucky ones who were fortunate enough to hold tickets,
entitling them to that privilege. When Justice Woodroff called the
court to order, County Clerk Gummer called off the panel
of the jury. All were present. Then came the drawing
of the jury, which was to decide Clarence Doyle's fate.
(18:09):
Edward McHugh called the clerk jur look upon the prisoner, prisoner,
look upon the jur do you challenge mcew was accepted.
The drawing of the jury occupied just one hour, during
which time thirty jurors were called. There were eighteen objections.
Immediately after the constables of the jury had been sworn in,
(18:31):
Judge Woodruff addressed himself to the jury as follows quote.
You will understand, gentlemen, that from now until the time
you will find a verdict in the case of the
State against Clarence Doyle, you will be sequestered from your
homes and families. So if you have any arrangements to
make in connection with your families, you will have an
opportunity to do so. At this time a majority of
(18:53):
the jurymen accepted this privilege. The brother and sister of
the accused arrived in court at this time. The sister
was crying quietly as she came and took a chair
at the prisoner's side. He smiled at her reassuringly and
clasped her hand. In opening the case for the state,
prosecutor Stockton said, quote, the grand jury found a true
(19:15):
indictment against Clarence Doyle in these words, that on the
twenty eighth day of last November, in the township of Hamilton,
Clarence Doyle did wilfully, with malice, premeditation and a forethought,
kill and murder and commit other wrongs on one Amos
havelnd This gentleman, the State claims, is a murder in
the first degree, and we shall ask for such a
(19:37):
verdict in this case between the State and the prisoner,
which you will be called upon to decide unquote. Mister
Stockton then briefly reviewed all that transpired on that twenty
eighth day of last November, from the time that Doyle
and the elder Havelyn family arrived at the house of
the sun Fred Haveland, up to the time when Fred
(19:59):
and his little sisters Hattie came back from chasing Doyle
down the lane after the fatal blow had been struck.
In concluding, the prosecutor said, the state will insist on
a verdict of murder in the first degree inasmuch as
the killing of Amos Haveland was wilful, deliberate, premeditated, and
with malice a forethought. E. G. Weir was the first
(20:23):
witness called. He testified to the making of a survey
of the scene of the tragedy and of afterward producing
the sketch which was now before the court. The condition
of the interior and exterior of the house was minutely described,
also the location of the blood spots in the so
called parlor where Amos Haveland received the blow that ended
(20:45):
his life. The cross examination was very minute. Captain Holt
was extremely careful not to let the slightest point escape
his vigilance. He drew from mister Weir the average size
of the blood spots were about six inches in diameter.
As mister Stockton called the name of the next witness
(21:05):
for the state, next were craned in all parts of
the room. For the witness was Fred Haveland, the son
of the murdered man. As Fred took a seat in
the witness chair, the prisoner, for the first time assumed
some interest in the proceedings. Every few minutes, as some
vital question was asked, Doyle would quickly glance up at
(21:28):
the man. Doyle's sister was no longer crying, but was
listening attentively, eagerly to every word that fell from the
young Havelyn's lips. She apparently realized that what this man
said had much to do with her brother's fate. Fred
Haveland said he had lived in the house where the
tragedy occurred about two and a half months. Question do
(21:51):
you recall the twenty eighth day of November? Answer yes, sir.
Question did your father come to your house on that day?
Answer yes, sir. Question who came with him? Answer Clarence
Doyle and Lizzie. Witness then told how he Doyle and
his father went over to a neighbor's and drank some
(22:13):
sweet cider and then returned to his house. Question who
did you find there? Answer Mother, my sister's Lizzie and Hattie,
brothers Dick and Howard, Joe Jordan, and a man named Decker.
Question what occurred after you got home? Answer? Mother told
father what Mitchell had said. Any man who would see
(22:34):
his little girl go blind for two dollars and fifty
cents ought to go to the devil. Question what happened next?
Answer Doyle said something. Then father pushed Doyle in the corner.
Question did you see any blowstruck? Answer no? Question Then
what did your father do? Answer why? Joe Jordan was
(22:57):
standing by the sofa, and father went over where he
was and pushed him down on the sofa and began
to talk to him. Question what did you do? Answer?
I went and told Doyle he had better go out.
Question did you do anything else? Answer yes, I pushed
all the family out of the kitchen into the parlor
(23:18):
and locked the door. Question what did you do that for? Answer?
I was afraid they might get hurt. Question who was
in the kitchen after you pushed the family out? Answer
father in Doyle? Question anybody else? Answer no? Question What
did you do after you got in the other room?
Answer held the doorknob? Question what happened while you were
(23:41):
holding it? Answer? It was struck and smashed? In question
what did you do? Answer? Ran upstairs? Question alone? Answer no,
Joe Jordan went with me. Question what did you hear
up there? Answer? Heard them all holler in the back room?
Question what did you do? Then? Answer? I came out
(24:04):
in the hall. Question hear anything more? Answer? Heard somebody
holler you've killed him. Then I stuck my head out
of the window and saw the axe come flying out.
Question did you hear anything? Answer? I heard my mother
say you've killed him, Clarence, you've killed him, oh amos.
(24:24):
Then I jumped out on the roof and saw Doyle
coming out with his overcoat. Question did he say anything? Answer?
He said, your father hit me between the eyes. Question
what did Doyle do then? Answer? Started to run. My
little sister Hattie ran after him, and I started after them.
Question did you catch them? Answer no? Question what did
(24:49):
you find in the house? Answer? Found father lying on
his back in the parlor. He was breathing and bleeding
from the mouth. Question what did you do? Then? Answer?
Ran and sent for doctor Silvers. Question was anybody drunk
on that day? Answer no, sir. The axe was then
(25:09):
shown the witness by Prosecutor Stockton and was identified. The
witness was turned over to the defense for cross examination.
Question do you remember your testimony at the coroner's inquest?
Answer yes. Question at that time you testified correctly as
to how your father was killed? Answer yes, sir. Question
(25:30):
have you not repeatedly talked of this trial, the killing
of what you were to swear? Answer no. Question have
you talked of this affair to your mother? Answer yes,
seven or eight times? Question have you not repeatedly said
you would like to see Doyle hung and that you
would like to be the man to do it. Prosecutor Stockton,
I object, Judge Woodruff, witness must have his attention called
(25:54):
to the time and place where he made such statement.
Captain Holt, pointing to Lawyer Clark, did you not at
your house say in the presence of this gentleman that
you would like to see Doyle hung and you would
like to be the man to do it. Answer? I
said I would like to see Doyle hung, but I
do not remember saying I would like to be the
man to do it. Question? Will you swear you did
(26:15):
not say so? Answer no. Question. On the afternoon of
the accident, while you, your father and Doyle were crossing the field,
were not your father and Doyle apparently on the best
of terms? Answer yes, Sir. February first, eighteen ninety eight.
(26:38):
In continuing the cross examination of Fred Havelyn, Lawyer Holt
succeeded with consummate skill in getting the witness just the
kind of answer he desired. In answer to numerous questions,
Halyn said his father was the only angry person in
the house and that he ran upstairs to avoid him.
(27:00):
He also said that his mother had greatly incensed his
father by running with a man named Andrew Decker, and
when Decker's name was mentioned, his father always grew white
with jealous passion. Captain Holt next brought to the attention
of the jury the abject cowardice of fred Haland and
refusing to respond to the cries for help of his wife,
(27:22):
mother and little ones. Finally to cap the climax, Haveln
fell victim to a wily question of Lawyer Holt and
admitted that the reason he did not go downstairs when
his wife and mother called for assistance was that he
was afraid of his father's jealous rage. Joe Jordan, another
witness of the state, was like putty in Captain Holt's hands.
(27:46):
He said he was so frightened at Amas Haveln's display
of temper that he ran upstairs and hid in a closet.
Captain Holt also made Jordan admit that Amos Haveland, after
his anger had been around to a white heat by
his wife's actions, had made a ferocious attack on Doyle,
attempting to hit him with his fists, while Doyle, on
(28:09):
the other hand, had not retaliated, but had simply warded
off the blows of the infuriated man as bestie could.
Anna Haviland, the murdered man's wife, also became tangled and
confused under the fire of Captain Holt's questioning, and testified
exactly contrary to what she had sworn in the coroner's inquest. Finally,
(28:31):
she refused to answer the questions at all and broke
down crying, with the excuse that she did not know
what she was doing. At the coroner's inquest, Mary Haland,
wife of Fred Haland, had tried to tell what she
knew of the killing, but she proved hard work for
the prosecutor. She corroborated her husband's testimony in the main
(28:53):
and contradicted that of her mother in law, Anna Havelnd.
Clarence Doyle kept his eyes riveted on the witnesses all
the afternoon, especially when anything was said respecting the killing,
but he never lost his look of confidence. Occasionally he
would turn and address a few words to his mother
and sister. Both the latter wept whenever the fatal blow
(29:15):
was mentioned. On the whole, the defense were well satisfied
with the result of the first day's work. Another chapter
in the story of the trial of Clarence Doyle for
the murder of Amos Havelant was commenced at nine thirty
five this morning. In spite of the fact that was
pretty generally known that little Lizzie Haviland, daughter of the
(29:37):
murdered man and the state star witness, would be put
on the stand sometime this morning. The crowd in the
courtroom was not nearly as large as yesterday. Evidently, many
of the morbid minded ones whose delight it is to
look upon the misery of others, understood from the drift
of testimony taken yesterday that there is but little chance
of a fatal termination of the trial. Consequently, their interest
(30:01):
in the affairs of the Mercer court has taken a drop.
Captain Holt made his appearance at about nine thirty. He
was attired as usual, with the exception that this morning
he wore an unusually broad and complacent smile. Clarence Doyle
took his place by his counsel's side, but a few
minutes after nine thirty he looked just as confident and
(30:23):
smiling as on the opening day. His mother and sister
were with him as usual. They too seemed to be impressed,
with the general feeling that all was going well with
the boy they loved. A delay of forty minutes was
caused by the witnesses from the country failing to arrive
at the time appointed for the opening of the court.
(30:44):
During this delay, the courtroom filled up slowly until the
attendance was almost as large as that of yesterday. When
the Havevilins did arrive, it was found that Mary Haveland,
the wife of Fred, who was to be cross examined
this morning, was so overcome by the cold occasioned by
the ride from Page's Corner, that she would be unable
(31:05):
to go upon the stand for some time. So Justice
Gummer instructed the prosecutor to call the next witness for
the state. A hush fell over the courtroom for a
few moments when mister Stockton called Lizzie Haviland, But as
the daughter of the murdered man walked up the aisle,
the spectators on both sides rose to their feet to
(31:26):
obtain a better view of the witness who was expected
to convict Clarence Doyle of the crime charged in the indictment.
Lizzie is the brightest, most attractive in appearance of the family.
She was neatly attired in a dark blue dress. Lizzie
answered the questions of Prosecutor Stockton freely, but seemed reluctant
(31:47):
as soon as Captain Holt commenced the cross examination. Lizzie
said she was the daughter of Anna Havland and that
she recollected the twenty eighth day of last November. Question
who went with you to your brother's? Answer mother, her
baby and Clarence Doyle. Question in what room were you
(32:08):
when your father came back with your brother Fred and Clarence?
Answer in the kitchen? Question what happened? Then? Answer they
began to talk about the girl's glasses. Question What did
your mother say? Answer any man who would let his
little girl go blind for two dollars and fifty cents
or three dollars? Ought to go to the devil? Question
(32:31):
What did your father say? Answer let Decker get them? Question?
Then what did your mother say? Answer to the devil
with Decker? Question what happened? Next? Answer? Father flew into Doyle.
Question did you see any blow struck? Answer? No? Question
(32:52):
well what next answer? Father pushed Doyle outside. Then father
came over to the sofa where Joe Jordan was staying
and pushed him down on the sofa. Question where was Doyle? Then?
Answer by the shut door. Witness then related how her
brother Fred had hurried all the rest of the family,
(33:12):
accepting her father and Doyle into the parlor. Question, now
tell the jury what happened next? Answer father struck the
door down, came in and threw the axe into the corner.
Then Doyle came in and picked up the axe. Question
what did he do with the axe? Answer struck father?
(33:33):
Question you saw him strike your father? Answer? Yes, I
saw him do it. Question then what did Doyle do? Answer?
Went out? Question what did your father do? Answer? Fell
on the floor. Question what did you do? Answer? I cried?
(33:53):
Question where was your mother when your father fell? Answer?
She was going out of the room. Prosecutor Stockton then
had the witness described with a stick exactly how Doyle
struck Haveland, having Lizzie represent Doyle while he stood in
the same position amos Havelan stood when he received the
fatal blow. When the cross examination was taken up, the
(34:17):
courtroom was so quiet that a whisper could be distinctly
heard all over the room. Captain Holt questioned Lizzie as
to her knowledge of the oath she had just taken.
She seemed unable to understand and failed to make any answer. Question,
were Doyle and your father on the best of terms
previous to the quarrel. Answer yes, sir. Question what was
(34:39):
said before the remark made by missus Haviland about the glasses?
No answer? Question were they all good natured? Answer yes, sir.
Question then what happened? Answer all at once? Mother went
at father about Hattie's glasses. Question do you know Decker?
(34:59):
Answer yes, sir, for six or seven years? Question could
you see your father's face when he went to Doyle?
Answer yes, sir. Question was he angry? Answer? I do
not think so. Question what did he do? Answer jumped
into Clarence? Question was there any reason for such an
action on his part? Answer? None that I know of.
(35:24):
Question did you hear your mother say to the devil
with Decker? Answer yes, sir? Question was not that? What
made your father mad? Answer? I don't know. Question what
did you mean when you said that your father fell
into Doyle? Answer a fight? I suppose? Question did you
(35:44):
see any blowstruck? Answer no, sir. Question then how was
it a fight? Answer? I thought they were mad? Question
did Doyle do anything to make you think he was mad?
Answer no, sir? Do you call that a fight? Then?
Answer where in the parlor? I call that murder? Question
(36:06):
I mean the first affair in the kitchen. Answer I
thought that was a fight. Question but you did not
know any reason why they should fight? Answer no, sir.
Then Captain Holt smiled. Question why did you go into
the parlor and shut the door? Answer? I wanted to
(36:26):
keep father and Clarence out? Question why were you frightened?
Answer not so? Very question were you not frightened at
your father? Answer no question, nor Clarence? No answer. Now, Lizzie,
you say you were not frightened at your father or Doyle?
Will you tell me what you were frightened at? No answer.
(36:48):
Can't you answer that question? No answer. Captain Holt then
tried to shake Lizzie's story as to the manner in
which Doyle had struck the blow that killed her father,
But in this he failed, as she told it again
precisely the same as she had related it to Prosecutor Stockton.
Question do you have any feeling against Doyle? Answer? I
(37:11):
did not have, but I have now. Question did you
ever say you wanted to see him hang? Answer no, sir.
Question did you ever hear of any trouble between your
mother and father on account of this man Decker? Answer? No, sir,
Mary Haland was then called for cross examination, and she
(37:31):
again went over all the incidents of that twenty eighth
day of last November. Her testimony as to the origin
of the quarrel was the same as her husband's, that
the deceased grew white in the face at the name
of Decker and then rushed at Doyle and later at Jordan.
Question why did you go into the parlor? Answer? I
was afraid? Question afraid afraid of what? Answer mister Haveland,
(37:57):
question were you afraid of Doyle? Answer? No. Witness then
stated that she had met with the family six or
eight times to talk over what was to be said
at the trial. County physician Rogers testified as to the
finding of Amos Havelyn's body and the injuries sustained. In
cross examination, he said that the dead man must have
(38:18):
been very strong and muscular. Doctor Silver testified to being
called to attend Amos Haveland immediately after he was injured.
Richard Haveland, the son of the murdered man, was also called,
but only testified to being told by his relatives what
to say. Prosecutor Stockton then offered the acts and skullcap
(38:39):
of Amos Haveland as evidence, and the state rested immediately
after the calling of the afternoon session, the defense was
opened by James Clark, who, after quoting and explaining the law,
stated that the defense of Clarence Doyle would be based
upon self defense and the prevention of the committal of
a crime. Said mister cla quote. If I see a
(39:01):
man break down a door with an axe, rush into
a room where there are a number of defenseless women,
and threaten to kill them all, I am justified in
killing that man if need be to save the lives
of the others. This gentleman, is a point in law
well settled. At this point Clarence Doyle took the stand
(39:22):
and testified in his own behalf enjoy ad free listening
at the safehouse. Dubbadubbadubba dot Patreon dot com, slash True
(39:44):
Crime Historian, February two, eighteen ninety eight. The opening of
the defense in the case of Clarence Doyle, charge marged
with the wilful murder of Amos Haviland by lawyer James
(40:04):
Clark yesterday afternoon in Mercer Court was a well rounded,
cleverly executed piece of work, which, as was easy to note,
impressed the jury favorably when mister Clark attributed Doyle's action
in part to a human impulse to answer the cries
of those defenseless women and children. He touched a vital
(40:25):
chord in the hearts of every one of those twelve
men in whose hands Doyle's life and liberty rests. It
was a clever stroke and had about it so much
of that plain, unvarnished truth that always carries great influence
with the jury. The full power of thus dating the
case was not brought out until some time later, when
(40:45):
Doyle admitted he was afraid of Haveland, but he could
not stand idly by when defenseless women were crying for
help and danger perhaps of their lives. This admission on
the part of Doyle placed his action before the jury
and a light little less than that of heroic, For
a man who intervenes to save the life of others
(41:06):
when he fears for his own safety is generally regarded
as a hero. True, it is that while Doyle had
plenty of sympathizers from the very first, the entire attendance
in the courtroom was in sympathy with him, long before
he had finished telling his own story. And what was
his story in a voice ringing with truth. He looked
(41:27):
upon his jurors squarely in the face and told them
the whole of the tragic history of that fateful day
when the freedom and straightforwardness of a boy unburdening his
troubled mind to his mother. It was a story to
be believed, and judging by the expression on the faces
of the jury, they accepted it as such. Doyle told
(41:48):
them how he and the man he is charged with
murdering had never exchanged a harsh word in an acquaintanceship
of two years duration. How suddenly this man, Javelin, had
sprung upon him like a wife out beast, without any
provocation whatever. How after hitting him in the eye and mouth,
he had threatened to lick everybody in the house. Then,
(42:09):
after the women had become frightened at Halen's madness and
locked themselves in the parlor, Doyle told the jury how
Havelnd went out in the yard and got the axe.
Then he shouted to the women to escape, for haveland
was coming with the axe. How the enraged man smashed
in the parlor door with the axe and shouted, damn you,
(42:31):
I will kill you all. How he Doyle, hearing the cries,
for help, but fearing for himself, had hurried in to
do the best that he could, and found the women
trying to escape, whereupon he had picked up the axe
Haveland had lost, and, knowing he was no match for
Haveland man against man, how Havelnd then directed his attack
(42:53):
on him, and he, thinking only to disable him, had
met the assault with a blow with a flat part
of the acts, the blow that had subsequently been the
cause of Havelen's death. That was all, but Prosecutor Stockton
was unable to shatter a single word of the boy's story,
although he subjected him to a rigid cross examination and
(43:16):
made Clarence illustrate with the acts just how he struck
the fatal blow. This Doyle did so well that it
only tended to add to the strength of his story.
As the case now stands, on the testimony, it is
Clarence Doyle's word against Lizzie Havelen's. Then the defense rested,
(43:37):
and now but three scenes yet remain of the final act,
the summing up of the council, the charge by his
honor Justice Gomer, and the verdict, the beginning of the
end of the trying ordeal, to which Clarence Doyle has
(43:58):
been subjected for the past three days, was ushered in
at Mercer Court this morning at nine point forty. The
young prisoner, who has conducted himself so well through all
these bitter hours, was the same today as he has
been on previous days, confident of his own innocence. The
(44:18):
crowd in the courtroom was the largest of any period
since the trial commenced. The room was literally packed with
people who were evidently friends of the boy. When Doyle
appeared with Constable Capple, a murmur arose in the courtroom
that almost amounted to an outburst of applause for the prisoner.
As Prosecutor Stockton opened up the summing up for the state,
(44:41):
Doyle listened attentively to every word which was intended to
prove his guilt of a crime, the penalty of which
was death. His eye never faltered, his cheek never blanched.
He seemed willing to look the whole world in the
face because he had within his own heart the assurance
that he had only intended to do to his duty,
even if his own life was to be forfeited. Prosecutor
(45:05):
Stockton arose to address the jury, and the court room
was still in silent as a tomb. The crucial moment
was now at hand. Mister Stockton traced the course of
a killing from the time it was committed up to
the time the facts are given to the jury. In part,
the prosecution said, quote, you have been sworn to try
(45:26):
the facts of this case and determined from the evidence
put before you what is the truth and where justice
is due. You have no more to do with the
question of law in this case than any spectator in
the audience. You are to accept the words that come
from the court as the only law in this case.
With you, it is the pure question of facts. You
(45:49):
have nothing to do with mercy, prejudice, revenge, horror, or
any other feeling. You must make your minds a total
blank to everything except the actual facts put before you.
If you show mercy, you are assuming a right that
belongs only to the court, and you are thereby going
outside the lines of your duty as jurors, and are
(46:10):
betraying the confidence imposed in you by both the state
and the accused. Unquote. Prosecutor Stockton then cited and explained
the law concerning murder and then said, quote, if you
decide that the prisoner has committed a murder. You will
then have to determine whether it is murder in the
first or second degree. The law concerning a killing of
(46:32):
a fellow man in self defense has nothing to do
with this case. It is not applicable in any way.
The state thinks that the defendant, Clarence Doyle, struck the
blow that caused the death of Amos Haviland, deliberately, wilfully, premeditatively,
with a malice of forethought, and shall therefore ask you
to render a verdict of murder in the first degree. Why, gentlemen,
(46:56):
the defendant's own story is false and impossible of blo
by any reasonable person. It was plainly manufactured to suit
the necessities of the case. Premeditation does not mean that
a man must think and meditate on the killing of
another a year, a month, a week, or a day. No,
not even in an hour. A single instant is all
(47:18):
the time required by law for premeditation. The state can
show that while Clarence Doyle was outside in the yard
with his overcoat on his arm, he was then deliberating
as to whether he should go back and kill Amos Halin.
That was enough time to show premeditation, and it did
not matter if the whole party were laughing and joking
(47:39):
all the previous part of the day. I shall go
over the facts and evidence in fuller detail at a
later time. The plea for the life and liberty of
Clarence Doyle by Captain Holt was a touching, convincing, eloquent
effort in well rounded tones. The captain related the oft
(47:59):
time old story. He described the horror of the situation
in which young Doyle was placed alone with a madman
who was trying to take the lives of any and
all that crossed his path. The able lawyer pleaded in
a deep undertone that impressed the jury and doubly increased
the solemnity of the utterances. In part. The plea for
(48:21):
Doyle's life was as follows quote. The prosecutor is right
when he says, you must have proof beyond a doubt
that the act that deprived amos Haland of his life
was committed wilfully, deliberately, premeditatedly, and with malice a forethought?
What is malice badness? Why, gentlemen, such an action must
(48:43):
come from the mind of a man utterly destitute of
every principle of right Prepense is a word taken out
of the old common law, which means to weigh before
to calculate to a nicety the hour, minute and second
of the time when the crime is to be committed.
Who is the murderer? Look upon him, gentlemen, Does he
(49:04):
look like a murderer. It is a boyish face, destitute
of viciousness. It is an honest faced without the mark
of cain upon it. He comes to you as a
boy would go to a father, and asks of you
nothing more than God's own justice. On the twenty eighth
day of last November. The indictment says, this boy killed
(49:25):
Amos Havelen with malice. Malice, gentleman, why his mind does
not know about the words meaning unquote. Captain Holt then
retold the story of the witnesses of Anna Havelyn's remark
concerning Decker, and of how the demon was aroused in
the dead man's breast by the mention of the man's name.
(49:46):
Captain Holt continued, why, gentlemen, Clarence Doyle was a hero
at the time he rushed to the aid of those
defenseless women who were alone in the parlor at the
mercy of Havelen's jealous rage. Weak as he was, he
was willing to do his best. Do you think he
ought to hang? For that? Contrast Doyle's action to the
(50:06):
abject cowardice of Fred Halund. Then, gentlemen, the testimony of
the state's witnesses was contradictory. They said they wanted to
see the boy hang. Shall then testimony be taken against
that straightforward, honest, manly story you heard from the lips
of this unsophisticated country lad. Finally, it rests with you, gentlemen,
(50:28):
whether this boy shall go from this room with a
fond mother and loving sister to a home of love
and care, or whether he shall be condemned to end
his life ignominiously and in despair in a prison cell. Unquote.
In summing up for the state, prosecutor Stockton made a
powerful plea for the conviction of the accused of murder
(50:49):
in the first degree. The voice of the prosecutor was
earnest rather than eloquent. Mister Stockton said, quote, you and
I both loved the name of Jersey justh and we
do not want to see it dragged in the mire.
But if Clarence Doyle is not guilty of the highest
crime known, the state does not want his blood, and
if he has it, it is your duty to say
(51:11):
that he pays the penalty. As to the origin of
that quarrel in the kitchen, when Havelnd rushed at Doyle,
it is almost beyond belief that the remark made by
mister Haveland about Decker should have aroused Haveln to the
fury of a demon. Why then, did Havelnd rush at
Doyle Because Doyle was telling Missus Haveland that her husband
(51:33):
was having improper relations with a certain old hag, and
Havelyn was incensed to hear Doyle thus produce him in
the presence of his wife. The defense got all the
Havelins to say that they had feelings against Doyle. It
was right that they should have feelings against him, for
did they not see their father chop down with an
(51:53):
axe in cold blood by this defendant. Would not you
have feelings against the defendant? Were you? And the Doyle's
motive was revenge. He wanted to get square for those
two blows Haveln struck him in that fight in the
kitchen unquote. In charging the jury, Justice Gummer explained the
law so clearly that there could be no doubt that
(52:16):
the jury understood their duty. If ever a jury did,
all the evidence was reviewed commented upon in a clean,
clear manner. It was an admirable charge, one of the
best ever made in the Mercer Court. February fifth, eighteen
(52:36):
ninety eight, for the killing of Amos Haveln with an
axe on the twenty eighth day of last November, Clarence
Doyle was this morning sentenced by Justice Gummer to ten
years and three months at hard labor in the State Prison.
Doyle was brought into court at fifteen minutes of ten o'clock.
(52:56):
He smiled pleasantly at friends he recognized among the spectators,
and still appeared to be unable to appreciate the gravity
of his position. Shortly after he took his seat by
his faithful counsel, Captain Holt and James Clark. His father,
sister and brother arrived and occupied chairs around him. His
(53:17):
mother was not present. Prosecutor Crossly then moved that the
prisoner be sentenced. Captain Holt, in asking the court to
show mercy and imposing sentence, made an eloquent please, setting
forth the weaknesses of a great portion of the evidence,
the youth of the prisoner, and the recommendation of mercy
of the jury. Quote, we are here this morning to
(53:40):
face a most trying ordeal. I can well understand the
feelings of the court as it faces this stern duty.
But I desire to call your honor's attention to a
few things. Captain Holt then handed the Court of petition
asking the Court to show Clarence Doyle the greatest clemency
the law would allow in sentencing. The petition was signed
(54:01):
by Senator Skerm, Assemblymanyard Nicklin and Weller, Mayor Sickle, and
one hundred other names of prominent city and county men
of importance. Continuing, Captain Holt said, quote, you will call
to mind that the question of the prisoner's guilt or
innocence depended largely upon the environments at the time the
blow was struck. If Doyle acted wrongly hastily, he acted
(54:25):
also as he thought for the best. You must remember
that he is not a man of mature judgment, and
under the circumstances which the fatal blow was struck, older
and more experienced minds than his would have committed the
same error. It seems to me, considering the prisoner's youth,
considering he acted under the best light that he had
(54:47):
and without malice, that he's entitled to all the leniency
your honor can give him, And I feel assured that
your honor will also temper justice with mercy in imposing
sentence justice, Gummer said, quote Doyle, after a trial in
which you have been ably defended. You have been convicted
by a jury of murder in the second degree, and
(55:08):
the court thinks the verdict adjustment. After a careful examination
of the facts of the case, the court thinks it
will be doing its duty to the public and properly
administering justice by imposing sentence upon you, not for the
full penalty of the law, but a sentence as light
as is possible. Therefore, you stand sentenced to ten years
(55:30):
and three months that hard labor in the state prison.
Doyle heard his sentence unmoved, but both his father and
sister gazed pathetically at him, while the tears coursed silently
down their cheeks. The general opinion about the court room
was that the court had been most merciful in its
(55:51):
administration of justice. That was hard cider and insults, struck
(56:15):
by an axe and killed, called from the historic pages
of the Trenton Times, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and other newspapers
of the era. True Crime Historian is a creation of
popular media. Opening theme by Nico Vitessi. Incidental music by
Nico Vitesse, Chuck Wiggins, and Dave SAMs. Some music and
(56:38):
sound effects license from podcastmusic dot Com. Closing theme by
Dave SAMs and Rachel Shatt, engineered by David Hish at
Third Street Music Media Management, and original graphics for all
new episodes by Sean R. Miller Jones. And as for me, well,
you know what I've been told. You have nothing to
do with mercy, prejudice, revenge, horror, or any other feeling.
(57:01):
I'm True Crime Historian. Richard O. Jones signing off for
NAT
Calbuler got Calm Trenton, New Jersey, November twenty ninth, eighteen
ninety seven.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Clarence Doyle, who yesterday near East Windsor killed Amos Haveland
with an axe, was arrested today at Allentown, where he
was employed as a farm hand. He did not know
that Haviland was dead, and claimed that he had struck
him in self defense. Doyle is a brother of Jimmy Doyle,
a clever young pugilist residing in this city. Yesterday, Doyle
(00:40):
went to the Spence Farm, where Haveland is employed, and
spent the day with him and his wife. The men
drank freely of hard cider, and at five o'clock in
the afternoon they quarreled, the host, accusing Doyle of undue
familiarity with Missus Haviland. Both men were very drunk, and
they were evenly matched in strength. They struggled a long
(01:03):
time on even terms, until Doyle seized an axe and
struck Haveln to blow on the forehead, from which he
died three hours later. After Havelnd had fallen, Doyle staggered
to Allentown, which is not far from the Spence Farm,
and went to bed. This morning. He was at work
(01:23):
at the usual hour and doubtless did not realize that
he was a murderer until told so by the officers.
Doyle this afternoon was brought to the county jail. His
victim body is.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
In the morgue.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
This evening, County physician Rogers held an inquest, and the
jury decided that the blow administered by Doyle caused Havelen's death.
(02:15):
True Crime Historian presents yesterday's news tales of classic scandals, scoundrels,
and scourges told from historic newspapers in the golden age
of yellow journalism. Episode three hundred and sixty seven is
a holiday tale more bone chilling than heartwarming. It takes
(02:36):
place the weekend after Thanksgiving, when family and friends get
together for games and good times. The cautionary part of
this tale is be aware of what topics are best
to be avoided at such gatherings. This time, the touchy
subject is not politics, but I wear I'm true crime
(02:57):
historian Richard O. Jones, and for your horror and indignation,
I give you hard cider and insults. Struck by an
axe and killed. Halund was a quiet, peaceable man, and
(03:19):
wherever employed was highly spoken of. He was pitied by
the community for all knew the notorious character of his wife.
When a young man, Halyn met Anna Patterson and while
under the influence of drink, was induced to marrier. She
at that time was of a shady character. The union
(03:39):
was felt as a keen disgrace by Havelyn's family, who
are respectable people and parents, brothers and sisters disowned Amos
because he would not leave his wife. While the domestic
life of Haveland and his wife never ran very smooth,
they kept together and cared for a large family of
children and until Andrew Decker came to disturb the harmony
(04:03):
there was. Missus Haveland's devotion to Decker enraged Haveverln for years.
They lived one month together in the next apart. Some
months ago, Missus Haveland and Decker were arrested for stealing
and were confined in the Freehold jail for some time.
Since Missus Haveland's return from Freehold, she has been employed
(04:25):
on the farm of Harriet Brown. It is claimed that
Decker and Missus Haveland have been on the outs since
the stealing affair. Haveland and his wife have not been
living together for some time. It was arranged that they
should meet Sunday at the home of Fred Haveland, their
eldest son, and planned to go to housekeeping again. Haveland
(04:46):
has been working for Ellsworth Haynes, a farmer living between
Yardville and Hamilton Square. Sunday morning, Haveland visited his son
Fred and family, who had moved Wednesday, November twenty fourth,
on the Spence Farm at Page's Corner. Between nine and
ten o'clock of that day, Clarence Doyle, who has of
(05:07):
late been attentive to Missus Haveland or her daughter Lizzie,
stopped at the home of Ellis Jones at New Canton
and acquired if Missus Haveland had been there yet. On
being told no, he sat down and waited until Missus Haviland,
her daughter Lizzie, and the baby and a coach came along.
He joined the party and pushed the baby coach while
(05:30):
they were passing New Canton. Charles Nixon inquired where they
were going, and Missus Haviland informed him that they were
going over to Fred's and remarked that she would raise
a little hell when she arrived there. The party reached
Fred's home and found Amos already there. The meeting by
all parties, was agreeable, and the time was spent as
(05:51):
is the custom of Page's corner in games, et cetera.
Missus Haveland has been boarding Hattie, a five year old
cross eyed daughter, with mister Missus Samuel Mitchell, who lived nearby.
About two o'clock, she, Lizzie and Howard, another son, went
over to Mitchell's. After the girl, Fred and Doyle left
(06:12):
the house and went over to an adjacent farm. They
were treated to sid her. A short time afterward, Amos followed.
He was treated and drank three glasses. The men all
returned to the house together. Missus Haveland had returned with
the girl. On entering, Amos embraced the child and sat
(06:33):
her down on his knee. Then Missus Haviland said, sam
Mitchell says, any man that can't get a pair of
eyeglasses for a cross eyed child ought to go to
the devil. Haviland replied, you better get the glasses of Decker.
She answered the devil with Decker. A few more words followed,
(06:54):
during which Doyle joined in haland became white with anger
and started across the room as though to go past Doyle,
who threw up his hands as if to fight. Haveland
and Doyle then engaged in a short fight, resulting in
Havelyn's favor. Havelyn left Doyle and pushed Joseph George, a
(07:14):
young man present, over a settee. At this stage of
the row, both Fred and his wife ordered Doyle to
leave the house, but he would not. Then Missus Haveland,
Hattie Howard, Fred's wife Lizzie, and two babies hurried into
a room across the hall and fastened the door. Fred
and the young man George, held the door against Tavland.
(07:37):
He then procured a hatchet and struck the door a
tremendous blow. Fred let go his hold on the door
and ran upstairs with George. Haviland then discovered that the
others were in the back room. It is thought that
he imagined the women were hiding Doyle. Finding the door fastened,
Havelyn then secured an axe and broke the latch off
(08:00):
the door, gaining admittance. Doyle stood in a back door
and witnessed all this. It has claimed that the daughter
Lizzie was the only one that witnessed how the deadly
blow was struck. She recited the following to your correspondent
quote after father gained admittance. He threw the axe on
the floor and slid it over under the mantle. Father
(08:21):
stood looking around and I think did not say anything
to anyone. Doyle walked into the room behind Father, picked
up the axe and threw it across his shoulder, took
it down and turned it so that the sharp edge
would strike, and with a quick, powerful blow, struck Father
on the head with the heel of the axe behind
the left ear unquote. The blow felled Haviland like an ox,
(08:45):
crushing the skull of the unfortunate man. Doyle then stepped
up to Missus Haviland, tapped her on the shoulder and
said it's all right now. He then left the room,
still carrying the axe, picked up his coat and threw
the axe to the ground as he ran out the door.
Seeing Fred in an upper window, he remarked, the old
(09:07):
man hit me between the eyes, and then ran away.
By this time the house was in an uproar. Missus
Havelan screamed, oh, you've killed my husband. You've killed my husband.
Doctor Silvers of Windsor was summoned and worked hard to
revive the injured man, but Doyle's murderous blow had inflicted
(09:27):
a fatal injury. It was about four point thirty when
the blow was delivered, and Haln died about six point fifty.
As soon as the victim died, doctor Silver's telephoned to
Trenton for county physician Rogers. A Monday morning, coroner Disbrow
of Trenton arrived and took charge of the body, who
was taken to Murphy's Morgue at Trenton. A post mortem
(09:49):
examination was held. Halynd was perfectly healthy, and it was
found that he had not taken enough sider to make
him drunk. The family claimed that no one was a intoxicated.
Doyle returned to the home of his employer sometimes Sunday
night and was at work Monday morning as usual. While
the officers were searching for him, it was thought he
(10:10):
went toward Trenton. Constable John Tyndall of Windsor notified Constable
Bergen of Allentown to look out for Doyle and capture
him if possible. Constable Bergen learned that Doyle was at
home working, found him there and arrested him. Doyle took
the matter cooling, smoked, laughed, and treated the matter lightly.
(10:31):
It is said he was surprised when informed that Haviland
was dead and claimed it was in self defense and
later said it was through drunkenness that the deed was done.
Doyle and Missus Haviland were both taken to Trenton and jailed. Tuesday,
the remains of Haveland were taken back to the scene
of the tragedy and there rested over the spot where
(10:52):
he had been murdered. His life's bloodstains beneath the coffin
were plainly distinct. Funeral services over the remains were held
at the Allentown Presbyterian Church on Sunday afternoon last Reverend
George Swain delivered the sermon and gave good counsel to
the family of the man whose life has been so unhappy.
(11:15):
The interment was in the church cemetery. Was the murder
a plot of Doyle's and Missus Havilan's. Public opinion generally
thinks so. January thirty first, eighteen ninety eight. Clarence Doyle
(11:36):
is now but seventeen years of age, and has passed
the greater portion of his life in that part of
the city known as Chambersburg. A short time prior to
the tragedy, he secured employment on the farm of Allentown
Presbyterian Church, better known as the Parsonage Farm. Doyle was
a good workman and well thought of by his employers.
(11:59):
Early last Sunday day morning, November twenty eighth, Clarence went
over to Page's Corner near Windsor to see Fred Haveland,
a son of the murdered man, who lived on a
place known as the Spence Farm. There were other visitors
there that day, Amos Haveland, his wife and daughter, and
reports say that the greater portion of the day was
(12:20):
spent in carousing and drinking hard cider. The afternoon was
nearing its close when the fatal quarrel started that terminated
so disastrously for both Clarence Doyle and Amos Haveland. What
started that quarrel is one of the things that the
present trial is expected to develop. There are two stories
(12:40):
which have been given to the public. One that Doyle
had been entirely too intimate with Amos Haveln's wife, who
was a woman in the neighborhood of forty years of
age and the mother of thirteen children. This story is
emphatically denied by Missus Haveland and her children, and as
they were the only ones present at the time. Their
(13:01):
story will go a long way toward influencing the jury
that is to decide whether Clarence Doyle is to be
allowed life in liberty, or whether his crime must be
atoned for by death on the gallows or imprisonment in
a cell. If the story of the origin of this quarrel,
as told at the coroner's inquest by Missus Havelan, her
(13:22):
son and daughter's be true, then indeed was the primary
cause of Amos Havevilyn's death a trifling matter. Amos Haveland
had a little daughter named Hattie, who was in need
of a pair of eyeglasses, which her father had refused
to buy. A certain Samuel Mitchell, who resided near the
Spence Farm, is said to have said, any man who
(13:44):
had let his girl go blind for two dollars and
fifty cents ought to go to the devil. It was
this remark that caused all the trouble. It is because
of this remark that Clarence Doyle is now standing trial
for his life in Mercer Court. Havelen mumbled and muttered
over this supposed insult until he had worked himself up
(14:05):
to the fighting mad state. Then as witnesses testified at
the inquest, without any provocation whatever, he rushed upon Doyle
and a fierce struggle ensued. This much of the fracas
occurred in the presence of the women, but Fred, fearing
that his mother and sister might get heard in the melee,
(14:26):
hurried them into another room, leaving his father in Doyle
to fight it out alone. No one knows what occurred
after that. The occupants of the next room heard the
men quarreling in loud voices, but could hear no blows
being struck. Then Haviland went out in the yard and
got the axe from the woodpile, re entered the room,
(14:49):
and smashing the door in where the women were, he
walked in and threw the axe over in one corner
of the room. Doyle had followed Haland into the room,
and going over to w where the axe lay, he
picked it up, went back to where Havelin was standing
with his back toward him, and struck the axe over
his head. Doyle struck the blow that caused the farmer's death,
(15:13):
but Doyle did not know that the blow had been fatal,
so he walked back to the parsonage farm at Allentown
that night and went to work as usual on Monday morning,
where he was captured by Constable Bergen shortly before noon
the same day. Since that time, Doyle has been confined
in the county jail, where he's been a model prisoner,
(15:33):
causing the keepers no trouble whatever and making many friends.
He apparently does not, as yet realize that he has
been guilty of any serious crime. The defense will be
conducted by Captain W. D. Holt and James Clark, and
will practically be that Doyle acted entirely in self defense.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
To avoid future commercial interruptions, visit us at www dot
patreon dot com slash true Crime Historian. For as little
as a dollar a week, you can enjoy full access
to the true crime historian Dusty vault, exclusive episodes, and
whatever personal services you require. That's www dot patreon dot
(16:28):
com slash true Crime Historian.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
Hundreds of eager, excited curiosity seekers throng the entrance to
the Mercer County Courthouse as early as nine o'clock this morning,
and from that hour up to the familiar ohya oya
of Crier Pearson, the stream of humanity continued to flow
into the courtroom until it was literally packed, but among
(17:00):
in this large assemblage there were but few ladies. A
few minutes after ten o'clock, Justice Gummer and Judge Woodroff
took their places on the bench, and almost at the
same moment, Constable Cappell appeared with the prisoner Clarence Doyle,
the boy who is now on trial for taking the
life of a fellow man. Doyle was natalie attired in
(17:23):
a black suit, white shirt, standing collar in a neat
dark tie. He looked unconcerned and smiling. Shortly after taking
his seat, his counsel, Captain W. D. Holt, came over
and after shaking hands, prisoner and counsel chatted together for
some minutes. Prosecutor Stockton and Detective Clancy occupied the other table,
(17:46):
and nearly all the seats inside the railing were filled
with the lucky ones who were fortunate enough to hold tickets,
entitling them to that privilege. When Justice Woodroff called the
court to order, County Clerk Gummer called off the panel
of the jury. All were present. Then came the drawing
of the jury, which was to decide Clarence Doyle's fate.
(18:09):
Edward McHugh called the clerk jur look upon the prisoner, prisoner,
look upon the jur do you challenge mcew was accepted.
The drawing of the jury occupied just one hour, during
which time thirty jurors were called. There were eighteen objections.
Immediately after the constables of the jury had been sworn in,
(18:31):
Judge Woodruff addressed himself to the jury as follows quote.
You will understand, gentlemen, that from now until the time
you will find a verdict in the case of the
State against Clarence Doyle, you will be sequestered from your
homes and families. So if you have any arrangements to
make in connection with your families, you will have an
opportunity to do so. At this time a majority of
(18:53):
the jurymen accepted this privilege. The brother and sister of
the accused arrived in court at this time. The sister
was crying quietly as she came and took a chair
at the prisoner's side. He smiled at her reassuringly and
clasped her hand. In opening the case for the state,
prosecutor Stockton said, quote, the grand jury found a true
(19:15):
indictment against Clarence Doyle in these words, that on the
twenty eighth day of last November, in the township of Hamilton,
Clarence Doyle did wilfully, with malice, premeditation and a forethought,
kill and murder and commit other wrongs on one Amos
havelnd This gentleman, the State claims, is a murder in
the first degree, and we shall ask for such a
(19:37):
verdict in this case between the State and the prisoner,
which you will be called upon to decide unquote. Mister
Stockton then briefly reviewed all that transpired on that twenty
eighth day of last November, from the time that Doyle
and the elder Havelyn family arrived at the house of
the sun Fred Haveland, up to the time when Fred
(19:59):
and his little sisters Hattie came back from chasing Doyle
down the lane after the fatal blow had been struck.
In concluding, the prosecutor said, the state will insist on
a verdict of murder in the first degree inasmuch as
the killing of Amos Haveland was wilful, deliberate, premeditated, and
with malice a forethought. E. G. Weir was the first
(20:23):
witness called. He testified to the making of a survey
of the scene of the tragedy and of afterward producing
the sketch which was now before the court. The condition
of the interior and exterior of the house was minutely described,
also the location of the blood spots in the so
called parlor where Amos Haveland received the blow that ended
(20:45):
his life. The cross examination was very minute. Captain Holt
was extremely careful not to let the slightest point escape
his vigilance. He drew from mister Weir the average size
of the blood spots were about six inches in diameter.
As mister Stockton called the name of the next witness
(21:05):
for the state, next were craned in all parts of
the room. For the witness was Fred Haveland, the son
of the murdered man. As Fred took a seat in
the witness chair, the prisoner, for the first time assumed
some interest in the proceedings. Every few minutes, as some
vital question was asked, Doyle would quickly glance up at
(21:28):
the man. Doyle's sister was no longer crying, but was
listening attentively, eagerly to every word that fell from the
young Havelyn's lips. She apparently realized that what this man
said had much to do with her brother's fate. Fred
Haveland said he had lived in the house where the
tragedy occurred about two and a half months. Question do
(21:51):
you recall the twenty eighth day of November? Answer yes, sir.
Question did your father come to your house on that day?
Answer yes, sir. Question who came with him? Answer Clarence
Doyle and Lizzie. Witness then told how he Doyle and
his father went over to a neighbor's and drank some
(22:13):
sweet cider and then returned to his house. Question who
did you find there? Answer Mother, my sister's Lizzie and Hattie,
brothers Dick and Howard, Joe Jordan, and a man named Decker.
Question what occurred after you got home? Answer? Mother told
father what Mitchell had said. Any man who would see
(22:34):
his little girl go blind for two dollars and fifty
cents ought to go to the devil. Question what happened next?
Answer Doyle said something. Then father pushed Doyle in the corner.
Question did you see any blowstruck? Answer no? Question Then
what did your father do? Answer why? Joe Jordan was
(22:57):
standing by the sofa, and father went over where he
was and pushed him down on the sofa and began
to talk to him. Question what did you do? Answer?
I went and told Doyle he had better go out.
Question did you do anything else? Answer yes, I pushed
all the family out of the kitchen into the parlor
(23:18):
and locked the door. Question what did you do that for? Answer?
I was afraid they might get hurt. Question who was
in the kitchen after you pushed the family out? Answer
father in Doyle? Question anybody else? Answer no? Question What
did you do after you got in the other room?
Answer held the doorknob? Question what happened while you were
(23:41):
holding it? Answer? It was struck and smashed? In question
what did you do? Answer? Ran upstairs? Question alone? Answer no,
Joe Jordan went with me. Question what did you hear
up there? Answer? Heard them all holler in the back room?
Question what did you do? Then? Answer? I came out
(24:04):
in the hall. Question hear anything more? Answer? Heard somebody
holler you've killed him. Then I stuck my head out
of the window and saw the axe come flying out.
Question did you hear anything? Answer? I heard my mother
say you've killed him, Clarence, you've killed him, oh amos.
(24:24):
Then I jumped out on the roof and saw Doyle
coming out with his overcoat. Question did he say anything? Answer?
He said, your father hit me between the eyes. Question
what did Doyle do then? Answer? Started to run. My
little sister Hattie ran after him, and I started after them.
Question did you catch them? Answer no? Question what did
(24:49):
you find in the house? Answer? Found father lying on
his back in the parlor. He was breathing and bleeding
from the mouth. Question what did you do? Then? Answer?
Ran and sent for doctor Silvers. Question was anybody drunk
on that day? Answer no, sir. The axe was then
(25:09):
shown the witness by Prosecutor Stockton and was identified. The
witness was turned over to the defense for cross examination.
Question do you remember your testimony at the coroner's inquest?
Answer yes. Question at that time you testified correctly as
to how your father was killed? Answer yes, sir. Question
(25:30):
have you not repeatedly talked of this trial, the killing
of what you were to swear? Answer no. Question have
you talked of this affair to your mother? Answer yes,
seven or eight times? Question have you not repeatedly said
you would like to see Doyle hung and that you
would like to be the man to do it. Prosecutor Stockton,
I object, Judge Woodruff, witness must have his attention called
(25:54):
to the time and place where he made such statement.
Captain Holt, pointing to Lawyer Clark, did you not at
your house say in the presence of this gentleman that
you would like to see Doyle hung and you would
like to be the man to do it. Answer? I
said I would like to see Doyle hung, but I
do not remember saying I would like to be the
man to do it. Question? Will you swear you did
(26:15):
not say so? Answer no. Question. On the afternoon of
the accident, while you, your father and Doyle were crossing the field,
were not your father and Doyle apparently on the best
of terms? Answer yes, Sir. February first, eighteen ninety eight.
(26:38):
In continuing the cross examination of Fred Havelyn, Lawyer Holt
succeeded with consummate skill in getting the witness just the
kind of answer he desired. In answer to numerous questions,
Halyn said his father was the only angry person in
the house and that he ran upstairs to avoid him.
(27:00):
He also said that his mother had greatly incensed his
father by running with a man named Andrew Decker, and
when Decker's name was mentioned, his father always grew white
with jealous passion. Captain Holt next brought to the attention
of the jury the abject cowardice of fred Haland and
refusing to respond to the cries for help of his wife,
(27:22):
mother and little ones. Finally to cap the climax, Haveln
fell victim to a wily question of Lawyer Holt and
admitted that the reason he did not go downstairs when
his wife and mother called for assistance was that he
was afraid of his father's jealous rage. Joe Jordan, another
witness of the state, was like putty in Captain Holt's hands.
(27:46):
He said he was so frightened at Amas Haveln's display
of temper that he ran upstairs and hid in a closet.
Captain Holt also made Jordan admit that Amos Haveland, after
his anger had been around to a white heat by
his wife's actions, had made a ferocious attack on Doyle,
attempting to hit him with his fists, while Doyle, on
(28:09):
the other hand, had not retaliated, but had simply warded
off the blows of the infuriated man as bestie could.
Anna Haviland, the murdered man's wife, also became tangled and
confused under the fire of Captain Holt's questioning, and testified
exactly contrary to what she had sworn in the coroner's inquest. Finally,
(28:31):
she refused to answer the questions at all and broke
down crying, with the excuse that she did not know
what she was doing. At the coroner's inquest, Mary Haland,
wife of Fred Haland, had tried to tell what she
knew of the killing, but she proved hard work for
the prosecutor. She corroborated her husband's testimony in the main
(28:53):
and contradicted that of her mother in law, Anna Havelnd.
Clarence Doyle kept his eyes riveted on the witnesses all
the afternoon, especially when anything was said respecting the killing,
but he never lost his look of confidence. Occasionally he
would turn and address a few words to his mother
and sister. Both the latter wept whenever the fatal blow
(29:15):
was mentioned. On the whole, the defense were well satisfied
with the result of the first day's work. Another chapter
in the story of the trial of Clarence Doyle for
the murder of Amos Havelant was commenced at nine thirty
five this morning. In spite of the fact that was
pretty generally known that little Lizzie Haviland, daughter of the
(29:37):
murdered man and the state star witness, would be put
on the stand sometime this morning. The crowd in the
courtroom was not nearly as large as yesterday. Evidently, many
of the morbid minded ones whose delight it is to
look upon the misery of others, understood from the drift
of testimony taken yesterday that there is but little chance
of a fatal termination of the trial. Consequently, their interest
(30:01):
in the affairs of the Mercer court has taken a drop.
Captain Holt made his appearance at about nine thirty. He
was attired as usual, with the exception that this morning
he wore an unusually broad and complacent smile. Clarence Doyle
took his place by his counsel's side, but a few
minutes after nine thirty he looked just as confident and
(30:23):
smiling as on the opening day. His mother and sister
were with him as usual. They too seemed to be impressed,
with the general feeling that all was going well with
the boy they loved. A delay of forty minutes was
caused by the witnesses from the country failing to arrive
at the time appointed for the opening of the court.
(30:44):
During this delay, the courtroom filled up slowly until the
attendance was almost as large as that of yesterday. When
the Havevilins did arrive, it was found that Mary Haveland,
the wife of Fred, who was to be cross examined
this morning, was so overcome by the cold occasioned by
the ride from Page's Corner, that she would be unable
(31:05):
to go upon the stand for some time. So Justice
Gummer instructed the prosecutor to call the next witness for
the state. A hush fell over the courtroom for a
few moments when mister Stockton called Lizzie Haviland, But as
the daughter of the murdered man walked up the aisle,
the spectators on both sides rose to their feet to
(31:26):
obtain a better view of the witness who was expected
to convict Clarence Doyle of the crime charged in the indictment.
Lizzie is the brightest, most attractive in appearance of the family.
She was neatly attired in a dark blue dress. Lizzie
answered the questions of Prosecutor Stockton freely, but seemed reluctant
(31:47):
as soon as Captain Holt commenced the cross examination. Lizzie
said she was the daughter of Anna Havland and that
she recollected the twenty eighth day of last November. Question
who went with you to your brother's? Answer mother, her
baby and Clarence Doyle. Question in what room were you
(32:08):
when your father came back with your brother Fred and Clarence?
Answer in the kitchen? Question what happened? Then? Answer they
began to talk about the girl's glasses. Question What did
your mother say? Answer any man who would let his
little girl go blind for two dollars and fifty cents
or three dollars? Ought to go to the devil? Question
(32:31):
What did your father say? Answer let Decker get them? Question?
Then what did your mother say? Answer to the devil
with Decker? Question what happened? Next? Answer? Father flew into Doyle.
Question did you see any blow struck? Answer? No? Question
(32:52):
well what next answer? Father pushed Doyle outside. Then father
came over to the sofa where Joe Jordan was staying
and pushed him down on the sofa. Question where was Doyle? Then?
Answer by the shut door. Witness then related how her
brother Fred had hurried all the rest of the family,
(33:12):
accepting her father and Doyle into the parlor. Question, now
tell the jury what happened next? Answer father struck the
door down, came in and threw the axe into the corner.
Then Doyle came in and picked up the axe. Question
what did he do with the axe? Answer struck father?
(33:33):
Question you saw him strike your father? Answer? Yes, I
saw him do it. Question then what did Doyle do? Answer?
Went out? Question what did your father do? Answer? Fell
on the floor. Question what did you do? Answer? I cried?
(33:53):
Question where was your mother when your father fell? Answer?
She was going out of the room. Prosecutor Stockton then
had the witness described with a stick exactly how Doyle
struck Haveland, having Lizzie represent Doyle while he stood in
the same position amos Havelan stood when he received the
fatal blow. When the cross examination was taken up, the
(34:17):
courtroom was so quiet that a whisper could be distinctly
heard all over the room. Captain Holt questioned Lizzie as
to her knowledge of the oath she had just taken.
She seemed unable to understand and failed to make any answer. Question,
were Doyle and your father on the best of terms
previous to the quarrel. Answer yes, sir. Question what was
(34:39):
said before the remark made by missus Haviland about the glasses?
No answer? Question were they all good natured? Answer yes, sir.
Question then what happened? Answer all at once? Mother went
at father about Hattie's glasses. Question do you know Decker?
(34:59):
Answer yes, sir, for six or seven years? Question could
you see your father's face when he went to Doyle?
Answer yes, sir. Question was he angry? Answer? I do
not think so. Question what did he do? Answer jumped
into Clarence? Question was there any reason for such an
action on his part? Answer? None that I know of.
(35:24):
Question did you hear your mother say to the devil
with Decker? Answer yes, sir? Question was not that? What
made your father mad? Answer? I don't know. Question what
did you mean when you said that your father fell
into Doyle? Answer a fight? I suppose? Question did you
(35:44):
see any blowstruck? Answer no, sir. Question then how was
it a fight? Answer? I thought they were mad? Question
did Doyle do anything to make you think he was mad?
Answer no, sir? Do you call that a fight? Then?
Answer where in the parlor? I call that murder? Question
(36:06):
I mean the first affair in the kitchen. Answer I
thought that was a fight. Question but you did not
know any reason why they should fight? Answer no, sir.
Then Captain Holt smiled. Question why did you go into
the parlor and shut the door? Answer? I wanted to
(36:26):
keep father and Clarence out? Question why were you frightened?
Answer not so? Very question were you not frightened at
your father? Answer no question, nor Clarence? No answer. Now, Lizzie,
you say you were not frightened at your father or Doyle?
Will you tell me what you were frightened at? No answer.
(36:48):
Can't you answer that question? No answer. Captain Holt then
tried to shake Lizzie's story as to the manner in
which Doyle had struck the blow that killed her father,
But in this he failed, as she told it again
precisely the same as she had related it to Prosecutor Stockton.
Question do you have any feeling against Doyle? Answer? I
(37:11):
did not have, but I have now. Question did you
ever say you wanted to see him hang? Answer no, sir.
Question did you ever hear of any trouble between your
mother and father on account of this man Decker? Answer? No, sir,
Mary Haland was then called for cross examination, and she
(37:31):
again went over all the incidents of that twenty eighth
day of last November. Her testimony as to the origin
of the quarrel was the same as her husband's, that
the deceased grew white in the face at the name
of Decker and then rushed at Doyle and later at Jordan.
Question why did you go into the parlor? Answer? I
was afraid? Question afraid afraid of what? Answer mister Haveland,
(37:57):
question were you afraid of Doyle? Answer? No. Witness then
stated that she had met with the family six or
eight times to talk over what was to be said
at the trial. County physician Rogers testified as to the
finding of Amos Havelyn's body and the injuries sustained. In
cross examination, he said that the dead man must have
(38:18):
been very strong and muscular. Doctor Silver testified to being
called to attend Amos Haveland immediately after he was injured.
Richard Haveland, the son of the murdered man, was also called,
but only testified to being told by his relatives what
to say. Prosecutor Stockton then offered the acts and skullcap
(38:39):
of Amos Haveland as evidence, and the state rested immediately
after the calling of the afternoon session, the defense was
opened by James Clark, who, after quoting and explaining the law,
stated that the defense of Clarence Doyle would be based
upon self defense and the prevention of the committal of
a crime. Said mister cla quote. If I see a
(39:01):
man break down a door with an axe, rush into
a room where there are a number of defenseless women,
and threaten to kill them all, I am justified in
killing that man if need be to save the lives
of the others. This gentleman, is a point in law
well settled. At this point Clarence Doyle took the stand
(39:22):
and testified in his own behalf enjoy ad free listening
at the safehouse. Dubbadubbadubba dot Patreon dot com, slash True
(39:44):
Crime Historian, February two, eighteen ninety eight. The opening of
the defense in the case of Clarence Doyle, charge marged
with the wilful murder of Amos Haviland by lawyer James
(40:04):
Clark yesterday afternoon in Mercer Court was a well rounded,
cleverly executed piece of work, which, as was easy to note,
impressed the jury favorably when mister Clark attributed Doyle's action
in part to a human impulse to answer the cries
of those defenseless women and children. He touched a vital
(40:25):
chord in the hearts of every one of those twelve
men in whose hands Doyle's life and liberty rests. It
was a clever stroke and had about it so much
of that plain, unvarnished truth that always carries great influence
with the jury. The full power of thus dating the
case was not brought out until some time later, when
(40:45):
Doyle admitted he was afraid of Haveland, but he could
not stand idly by when defenseless women were crying for
help and danger perhaps of their lives. This admission on
the part of Doyle placed his action before the jury
and a light little less than that of heroic, For
a man who intervenes to save the life of others
(41:06):
when he fears for his own safety is generally regarded
as a hero. True, it is that while Doyle had
plenty of sympathizers from the very first, the entire attendance
in the courtroom was in sympathy with him, long before
he had finished telling his own story. And what was
his story in a voice ringing with truth. He looked
(41:27):
upon his jurors squarely in the face and told them
the whole of the tragic history of that fateful day
when the freedom and straightforwardness of a boy unburdening his
troubled mind to his mother. It was a story to
be believed, and judging by the expression on the faces
of the jury, they accepted it as such. Doyle told
(41:48):
them how he and the man he is charged with
murdering had never exchanged a harsh word in an acquaintanceship
of two years duration. How suddenly this man, Javelin, had
sprung upon him like a wife out beast, without any
provocation whatever. How after hitting him in the eye and mouth,
he had threatened to lick everybody in the house. Then,
(42:09):
after the women had become frightened at Halen's madness and
locked themselves in the parlor, Doyle told the jury how
Havelnd went out in the yard and got the axe.
Then he shouted to the women to escape, for haveland
was coming with the axe. How the enraged man smashed
in the parlor door with the axe and shouted, damn you,
(42:31):
I will kill you all. How he Doyle, hearing the cries,
for help, but fearing for himself, had hurried in to
do the best that he could, and found the women
trying to escape, whereupon he had picked up the axe
Haveland had lost, and, knowing he was no match for
Haveland man against man, how Havelnd then directed his attack
(42:53):
on him, and he, thinking only to disable him, had
met the assault with a blow with a flat part
of the acts, the blow that had subsequently been the
cause of Havelen's death. That was all, but Prosecutor Stockton
was unable to shatter a single word of the boy's story,
although he subjected him to a rigid cross examination and
(43:16):
made Clarence illustrate with the acts just how he struck
the fatal blow. This Doyle did so well that it
only tended to add to the strength of his story.
As the case now stands, on the testimony, it is
Clarence Doyle's word against Lizzie Havelen's. Then the defense rested,
(43:37):
and now but three scenes yet remain of the final act,
the summing up of the council, the charge by his
honor Justice Gomer, and the verdict, the beginning of the
end of the trying ordeal, to which Clarence Doyle has
(43:58):
been subjected for the past three days, was ushered in
at Mercer Court this morning at nine point forty. The
young prisoner, who has conducted himself so well through all
these bitter hours, was the same today as he has
been on previous days, confident of his own innocence. The
(44:18):
crowd in the courtroom was the largest of any period
since the trial commenced. The room was literally packed with
people who were evidently friends of the boy. When Doyle
appeared with Constable Capple, a murmur arose in the courtroom
that almost amounted to an outburst of applause for the prisoner.
As Prosecutor Stockton opened up the summing up for the state,
(44:41):
Doyle listened attentively to every word which was intended to
prove his guilt of a crime, the penalty of which
was death. His eye never faltered, his cheek never blanched.
He seemed willing to look the whole world in the
face because he had within his own heart the assurance
that he had only intended to do to his duty,
even if his own life was to be forfeited. Prosecutor
(45:05):
Stockton arose to address the jury, and the court room
was still in silent as a tomb. The crucial moment
was now at hand. Mister Stockton traced the course of
a killing from the time it was committed up to
the time the facts are given to the jury. In part,
the prosecution said, quote, you have been sworn to try
(45:26):
the facts of this case and determined from the evidence
put before you what is the truth and where justice
is due. You have no more to do with the
question of law in this case than any spectator in
the audience. You are to accept the words that come
from the court as the only law in this case.
With you, it is the pure question of facts. You
(45:49):
have nothing to do with mercy, prejudice, revenge, horror, or
any other feeling. You must make your minds a total
blank to everything except the actual facts put before you.
If you show mercy, you are assuming a right that
belongs only to the court, and you are thereby going
outside the lines of your duty as jurors, and are
(46:10):
betraying the confidence imposed in you by both the state
and the accused. Unquote. Prosecutor Stockton then cited and explained
the law concerning murder and then said, quote, if you
decide that the prisoner has committed a murder. You will
then have to determine whether it is murder in the
first or second degree. The law concerning a killing of
(46:32):
a fellow man in self defense has nothing to do
with this case. It is not applicable in any way.
The state thinks that the defendant, Clarence Doyle, struck the
blow that caused the death of Amos Haviland, deliberately, wilfully, premeditatively,
with a malice of forethought, and shall therefore ask you
to render a verdict of murder in the first degree. Why, gentlemen,
(46:56):
the defendant's own story is false and impossible of blo
by any reasonable person. It was plainly manufactured to suit
the necessities of the case. Premeditation does not mean that
a man must think and meditate on the killing of
another a year, a month, a week, or a day. No,
not even in an hour. A single instant is all
(47:18):
the time required by law for premeditation. The state can
show that while Clarence Doyle was outside in the yard
with his overcoat on his arm, he was then deliberating
as to whether he should go back and kill Amos Halin.
That was enough time to show premeditation, and it did
not matter if the whole party were laughing and joking
(47:39):
all the previous part of the day. I shall go
over the facts and evidence in fuller detail at a
later time. The plea for the life and liberty of
Clarence Doyle by Captain Holt was a touching, convincing, eloquent
effort in well rounded tones. The captain related the oft
(47:59):
time old story. He described the horror of the situation
in which young Doyle was placed alone with a madman
who was trying to take the lives of any and
all that crossed his path. The able lawyer pleaded in
a deep undertone that impressed the jury and doubly increased
the solemnity of the utterances. In part. The plea for
(48:21):
Doyle's life was as follows quote. The prosecutor is right
when he says, you must have proof beyond a doubt
that the act that deprived amos Haland of his life
was committed wilfully, deliberately, premeditatedly, and with malice a forethought?
What is malice badness? Why, gentlemen, such an action must
(48:43):
come from the mind of a man utterly destitute of
every principle of right Prepense is a word taken out
of the old common law, which means to weigh before
to calculate to a nicety the hour, minute and second
of the time when the crime is to be committed.
Who is the murderer? Look upon him, gentlemen, Does he
(49:04):
look like a murderer. It is a boyish face, destitute
of viciousness. It is an honest faced without the mark
of cain upon it. He comes to you as a
boy would go to a father, and asks of you
nothing more than God's own justice. On the twenty eighth
day of last November. The indictment says, this boy killed
(49:25):
Amos Havelen with malice. Malice, gentleman, why his mind does
not know about the words meaning unquote. Captain Holt then
retold the story of the witnesses of Anna Havelyn's remark
concerning Decker, and of how the demon was aroused in
the dead man's breast by the mention of the man's name.
(49:46):
Captain Holt continued, why, gentlemen, Clarence Doyle was a hero
at the time he rushed to the aid of those
defenseless women who were alone in the parlor at the
mercy of Havelen's jealous rage. Weak as he was, he
was willing to do his best. Do you think he
ought to hang? For that? Contrast Doyle's action to the
(50:06):
abject cowardice of Fred Halund. Then, gentlemen, the testimony of
the state's witnesses was contradictory. They said they wanted to
see the boy hang. Shall then testimony be taken against
that straightforward, honest, manly story you heard from the lips
of this unsophisticated country lad. Finally, it rests with you, gentlemen,
(50:28):
whether this boy shall go from this room with a
fond mother and loving sister to a home of love
and care, or whether he shall be condemned to end
his life ignominiously and in despair in a prison cell. Unquote.
In summing up for the state, prosecutor Stockton made a
powerful plea for the conviction of the accused of murder
(50:49):
in the first degree. The voice of the prosecutor was
earnest rather than eloquent. Mister Stockton said, quote, you and
I both loved the name of Jersey justh and we
do not want to see it dragged in the mire.
But if Clarence Doyle is not guilty of the highest
crime known, the state does not want his blood, and
if he has it, it is your duty to say
(51:11):
that he pays the penalty. As to the origin of
that quarrel in the kitchen, when Havelnd rushed at Doyle,
it is almost beyond belief that the remark made by
mister Haveland about Decker should have aroused Haveln to the
fury of a demon. Why then, did Havelnd rush at
Doyle Because Doyle was telling Missus Haveland that her husband
(51:33):
was having improper relations with a certain old hag, and
Havelyn was incensed to hear Doyle thus produce him in
the presence of his wife. The defense got all the
Havelins to say that they had feelings against Doyle. It
was right that they should have feelings against him, for
did they not see their father chop down with an
(51:53):
axe in cold blood by this defendant. Would not you
have feelings against the defendant? Were you? And the Doyle's
motive was revenge. He wanted to get square for those
two blows Haveln struck him in that fight in the
kitchen unquote. In charging the jury, Justice Gummer explained the
law so clearly that there could be no doubt that
(52:16):
the jury understood their duty. If ever a jury did,
all the evidence was reviewed commented upon in a clean,
clear manner. It was an admirable charge, one of the
best ever made in the Mercer Court. February fifth, eighteen
(52:36):
ninety eight, for the killing of Amos Haveln with an
axe on the twenty eighth day of last November, Clarence
Doyle was this morning sentenced by Justice Gummer to ten
years and three months at hard labor in the State Prison.
Doyle was brought into court at fifteen minutes of ten o'clock.
(52:56):
He smiled pleasantly at friends he recognized among the spectators,
and still appeared to be unable to appreciate the gravity
of his position. Shortly after he took his seat by
his faithful counsel, Captain Holt and James Clark. His father,
sister and brother arrived and occupied chairs around him. His
(53:17):
mother was not present. Prosecutor Crossly then moved that the
prisoner be sentenced. Captain Holt, in asking the court to
show mercy and imposing sentence, made an eloquent please, setting
forth the weaknesses of a great portion of the evidence,
the youth of the prisoner, and the recommendation of mercy
of the jury. Quote, we are here this morning to
(53:40):
face a most trying ordeal. I can well understand the
feelings of the court as it faces this stern duty.
But I desire to call your honor's attention to a
few things. Captain Holt then handed the Court of petition
asking the Court to show Clarence Doyle the greatest clemency
the law would allow in sentencing. The petition was signed
(54:01):
by Senator Skerm, Assemblymanyard Nicklin and Weller, Mayor Sickle, and
one hundred other names of prominent city and county men
of importance. Continuing, Captain Holt said, quote, you will call
to mind that the question of the prisoner's guilt or
innocence depended largely upon the environments at the time the
blow was struck. If Doyle acted wrongly hastily, he acted
(54:25):
also as he thought for the best. You must remember
that he is not a man of mature judgment, and
under the circumstances which the fatal blow was struck, older
and more experienced minds than his would have committed the
same error. It seems to me, considering the prisoner's youth,
considering he acted under the best light that he had
(54:47):
and without malice, that he's entitled to all the leniency
your honor can give him, And I feel assured that
your honor will also temper justice with mercy in imposing
sentence justice, Gummer said, quote Doyle, after a trial in
which you have been ably defended. You have been convicted
by a jury of murder in the second degree, and
(55:08):
the court thinks the verdict adjustment. After a careful examination
of the facts of the case, the court thinks it
will be doing its duty to the public and properly
administering justice by imposing sentence upon you, not for the
full penalty of the law, but a sentence as light
as is possible. Therefore, you stand sentenced to ten years
(55:30):
and three months that hard labor in the state prison.
Doyle heard his sentence unmoved, but both his father and
sister gazed pathetically at him, while the tears coursed silently
down their cheeks. The general opinion about the court room
was that the court had been most merciful in its
(55:51):
administration of justice. That was hard cider and insults, struck
(56:15):
by an axe and killed, called from the historic pages
of the Trenton Times, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and other newspapers
of the era. True Crime Historian is a creation of
popular media. Opening theme by Nico Vitessi. Incidental music by
Nico Vitesse, Chuck Wiggins, and Dave SAMs. Some music and
(56:38):
sound effects license from podcastmusic dot Com. Closing theme by
Dave SAMs and Rachel Shatt, engineered by David Hish at
Third Street Music Media Management, and original graphics for all
new episodes by Sean R. Miller Jones. And as for me, well,
you know what I've been told. You have nothing to
do with mercy, prejudice, revenge, horror, or any other feeling.
(57:01):
I'm True Crime Historian. Richard O. Jones signing off for
NAT
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!