My paternal 6th-great grandfather, Joseph MAXSON, was born on this date in 1692 in Westerly, Rhode Island. Joseph was the son of Rev. Joseph and Tacy (BURDICK) MAXSON. Joseph married circa 1715 to Bethia MAXSON, daughter of John and Judith (CLARKE) MAXSON. Bethia was born July 31, 1693. They had 10 children. Bethia died 1747 in Shrewsbury, Monmouth County, New Jersey. Joseph died 1747 in Shrewsbury, Monmouth County, New Jersey.
My maternal 6th-great granduncle, Thomas SWAFFORD, was born on this date in 1783 in Greenville, South Carolina. Thomas was the son of Peter James and Rennie (HOWARD) SWAFFORD, and the younger brother of my Jacob SWAFFORD. Thomas married before 1801 to Nellie HOWARD. They had 13 children. Thomas died November 2, 1856 in Bledsoe County, Tennessee.
My paternal grandaunt, Vera Delphene HALEY, was born on this date in 1890 in Jay County, Indiana. Vera was the daughter of Eli Weldon and Cora Belle (METZER) HALEY, and the older sister of my Ruth Pauline HALEY. Vera married Clarence Leroy STUBER on February 14, 1915. Clarence was the son of Henry and Martha (________) STUBER. They had 1 child and lived in Allen County, Ohio and Jay County, Indiana. Clarence died May 20, 1981 in Portland, Jay County, Indiana. Vera died June 1987 in Portland, Jay County, Indiana.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Biased Juror? Eli Weldon Haley: Mentioned in Indiana Case Law
While doing a Google search on my paternal great-grandfather, Eli Weldon Haley (1866-1957), I came across an interesting link that tied him to Indiana case law. He was mentioned in the court case of Greer v. State of Indiana (1929) which went to the Indiana Supreme Court.
It seems that grandpa Eli was on the juror during the original trial that resulted in the conviction of Frank GREER. During the appeal, it was alleged that Eli was guilty of misconduct, because before the trial, it was alleged that Eli had stated to a James MILLER, that GREER was guilty, and that if he (Haley) was on the jury, he "would stay until the last dog was hung that he was guilty". This statement was supposedly given in the presence of Wesley F. METZNER, Eli's brother-in-law. It was alleged that grandpa HALEY had been biased and that GREER could not get a fair trial.
This trial took place in Jay County, Indiana and involved the act of receiving stolen goods from another state. In 1925, Greer received stolen clover seed from Van Wert, Ohio and knowing that it was stolen, tried to sell it in Jay County. He was convicted and sentenced to the Indiana State Prison. The Supreme Court did not grant his appeal based on his claim that my ancestor was a biased juror.
This sounds like an interesting case to research. On my next trip to the library in Portland, I am going to see what I can find out from the local newspaper articles.
It seems that grandpa Eli was on the juror during the original trial that resulted in the conviction of Frank GREER. During the appeal, it was alleged that Eli was guilty of misconduct, because before the trial, it was alleged that Eli had stated to a James MILLER, that GREER was guilty, and that if he (Haley) was on the jury, he "would stay until the last dog was hung that he was guilty". This statement was supposedly given in the presence of Wesley F. METZNER, Eli's brother-in-law. It was alleged that grandpa HALEY had been biased and that GREER could not get a fair trial.
This trial took place in Jay County, Indiana and involved the act of receiving stolen goods from another state. In 1925, Greer received stolen clover seed from Van Wert, Ohio and knowing that it was stolen, tried to sell it in Jay County. He was convicted and sentenced to the Indiana State Prison. The Supreme Court did not grant his appeal based on his claim that my ancestor was a biased juror.
This sounds like an interesting case to research. On my next trip to the library in Portland, I am going to see what I can find out from the local newspaper articles.
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