On the day above mentioned the last day of January the above
named Peter Whitaker was Tried for the above offences he being first
ask[ed] whether he was guilty or not declared that he was not
guilty and was Ready for Trial Mrs Alexander was introduced as an
Evidence against Sd Whitaker who first being sworn to make true
statements as the Law directs—stated as follows that sometime in
the summer of eighteen hundred and twenty-two she saw Peter
Whitaker the defendant in company with W. F Gibbons and
William Whitaker at one time kill 2 Hogs the property of John Mitchel
and at different times Killed one other Hog belonging to John
Mitchel and one belonging to John Milican and further states that she
lived at the House of William F. Gibbons at the time and place
where those Hogs were Killed and has an Entire Knowledge of the
whole of the sircumstances
the Evidence being herd the case were submitted to a Jury of six
men who were duly qualified to Try the case the Jury found thedefendant Guilty and returned a verdict as you will see
accompanying this
as Respects this affair of Peter Whitaker the Evidence against him
is very positive and I am fearfull that they are altogether a bad set
my oppinion of the Matter is that Gibbons is very much of a thief
and has perhaps been the cause of those young men getting into
these bad habits he is their Step Father and has partly Raised them
this young man Peter Whitaker has the appearance of an Innocent
young man and appears much mortified—for my own part I feel
much disposed to pity the young man tho I believe he has done Rong
an order for the whole of them to leave the country Immediately
perhaps would be the shortest way of Ending the Trouble he the
sd Whitaker first paying all cost and charges before he should be
Released
There is also three Spanish Horses left in my possession the
Horses that were said to have been stolen tho the theft of the
Horses were not proven I have not found out the Spaniard name
that owns the Horses nor neither do I Know where he lives as also
there is an old Rifle Gun left Here that was taken from a duchman
by Gibbons the duchmans name not Known you will direct me what
to do with this property the Horses and Gun
as also State to me wheather Gibbons property can be taken to pay
for three Hogs that were stolen.
the charges exhibited against the above Named Persons were
steeling of Hogs som time in the summer of 1822 as also steeling of
three Horses about the first of August 1823 we find the DefendantsPeter Whitaker to be Guilty of Steeling fore Hogs supposed to be
worth 10$ Dollars a peace and agreeable to Law in that Case we
assess three times the value which is One Hundred and Twenty
dollars
The theft of the Horses were not proven the defendant paying
all cost and Expence for Guarding at the rates of $2.00 for each
thirty fore Hours allowing Two men to be sufficient Guard Cost
as Respects his on Trial.