Two unusual circumstances of the trial was that the State was allowed
to challenge for cause a juror who, though not a Quaker, announced
that he would under no circumstances vote for a guilty verdict if the ~
death sentence would be given and that a black man, generally accepted
to be free, was not allowed to testify because he did not have papers
of manumission, Her defense was insanity, but the State produced a
strong case, showing that she had purchased the arsenic, Mrs, Bailey
testified that she believed her to be sane and said that she had been
discharged only becauseof. her drinking habits and Mr, Hone signed a
paper of manumission at the trial. Convicted and sentenced to die,
she was hanged in New York City on April 18, 1817,
AMERICAN CRIMINAL TRIALS, Edited by Lawson, Volume II. PP 837-881
" seelast week Diana Sellick died of yellow fever at New York, having
been for some years under sentence of death for haffing poisoned her
mistress, but the sentence,'in consequence of her ill health,' was
commuted to imprisonment for life, = DEM, PRESS," DAILY NATIONAL
INTELLIGENCER, Washington, De Ce, Dec. 2, 1822 (2~2,)
i Phcter— 269
Two unusual circumstances of the trial was that the State was allowed
to challenge for cause a juror who, though not a Quaker, announced
that-he would under no circumstances vote for a guilty verdict if the —~
death sentence would be given and that a black man, generally accepted
to be free, was not allowed to testify because he did not have papers
of manumission, Her defense was insanity, but the State produced a
strong case, showing that she had purchased the arsenic, Mrs, Bailey
testified that she believed her to be sane and said that she had bem
discharged only becauseof. her drinking habits and Mr, Hone signed a
paper of manumission at the trial, Convicted and sentenced to a
she was hanged in New York City on April 18, 1817,
AMERICAN CRIMINAL TRIALS, Edited by Lawson, Volume II. PP 837-861
",eelast week Diana Sellick died of yellow fever at New York, having
been for some years under sentence of death for hatting poisoned her
mistress, but the sentence,'in consequence of her ill health,' was
commuted to imprisonment for life, - DEM. PRESS," DAILY NATIONAL
INTELLIGENCER, Washington, De Cey Dece 2, 1822 (2—2.)
tic LLG
Two unusual circumstances of the trial was that the State was slowed
fo challenge fan cansa|a’ jusoe oo) tough nab \n)uelersyannouno
“vote for a guilty verdict af the
death epntence/wonld belgiven and ine vainiiee man, generally accepted
to be free, was not allowed to testify because he did not have papers
of manumission, Her defense was insanity, but the State produced a
strong case, showing that she had purchased the arsenic, Mrs, Bailey
testified that she believed her to be sane and said that she had been
discharged only becavseof. her drinking habits and Mr, Hone signed a
paper of manumission at the trial, Convicted and sentenced to die,
she was hanged in New York City on April 18, 1817,
AMERICAN CRIMINAL TRIALS, Edited by Lawson, Volume II. PP 837-8f1
",,elast week Diana Sellick died of yellow fever at New York, having
been for some years under sentence of death for hating poisoned her
mistress, but ‘the sentence,'in consequence of her 411 healthy! was
commuted to imprisonment for life, M, PRESS," DATLY NALIONAL.
{NIELLIGENCER, Washington, D. C., Dec, 2, 1822 (2-2.)
(/ halo 269
Seman tryed in few Sore City ah eld ty Te
Pied ivy Ye OSL
ie, q
SELLICK, Diana
Hearn confirms commutation from NEW YORK SPECTATOR.
Miss Sellick, a black woman, was a slave, the property of a Mr, Hone
in New York Cityxwho had purchased her in 1807, telling her that he
would free her in 1819, At times she was a good servant, but she was
subject to spells of resthessness and he finally told her that she
could go elsewhere and earn her keep and that he would, in time, manv-
mit her, She obtained employment with a Mrs, Bailey as a domestic
servant and boarded her young daughter with a black woman named Hester
Johnson, Early in January, 1816, Mrs. Bailey dismissed her for intem=
perance. On Jane 5, 1816, she appeared at the Johnson house with a
white bowl which she daid contained some gin and asked Mrs. Johnson
to drink it. When Mrs, Johnson refused, she gave some of the liguid
to her own daughter and then gave two teasponnfuls of white substance
which she said was sugar to Mrs, Johnson's two-year-odd daughter, Hes-
tere Miss Sellick then left and shortly afterwards both children be-
came ill and started vomiting. She returned and suggested that a phy~
sician be summoned, The doctor said that the two little girls had
been poisoned and expressed the Opinion that they had been given arse-
nic, Miss Sellick then told Mrs, Johnson that it he had meant to poi-
son her as she was "possessed with the Devil," Little Hester Johnson
died four days later and Miss Sellick was charged with the murder,
SELLICK, Diana
Hearn confirms commutation from NEW YORK SPECTATOR.
Miss Sellick, a black woman, was a slave, the property of a Mr, Hone
in New York Cityxwho had purchased her in 1807, telling her that he
would free her in 1819, At times she was a good servant, but she was
subject to spells of resthessness and he finally told her that she
could go elsewhere and earn her keep and that he would, in time, manv-
mit her. She obtained employment with a Mrs, Bailey as a domestic
servant and boarded her young daughter with a black woman named Hester
Johnson, Early in January, 1816, Mrs. Bailey dismissed her for intem=
perance. On Jane 5, 1816, she appeared at the Johnson house with a
white bowl which she daid contained some gin and asked Mrs, Johnson
to drink it. When Mrs, Johnson refused, she gave some of the Liquid
to her own daughter and then gave two teasponnfuls of white substance
which she said was sugar to Mrs, Johnson's two-year-oiid daughter, Hes-
tere Miss Sellick then left and shortly afterwards both children be-
came ill and started vomiting, She returned and suggested that a phy-
sician be summoned, The doctor said that the two little girls had
been poisoned and expressed the opinion that they had been given arse-
nic. Miss Sellick then told Mrs, Johnson that she had meant to poi-
son her as she was "possessed with the Devil," Little Hester Johnson
died four days later and Miss Sellick was charged with the murder.
SELLICK, Diana
Hearn confirms commutation f rom NEW YORK SPECTATOR.
Miss Séllick, a black woman, was a slave, the property of a Mr, Hone
in New York Cityxwho had purchased her in 1807, telling her that he
would free her in 1819, At times she was a good servant, but she was
subject to spells of restkessness and he finally told her that she
could go elsewhere and earn her keep and that he would, in time, manu-
mit her, She obtained employment with a Mrs, Bailey as a domestic
Early in January, 1816, Mrs, Bailey dismissed her for intem-
On Jan, 5, 1816, she appeared at the Johnson house with a
white bowl which she daid contained some gin and asked Mrs, Johnson
to drink it. When Mrs, Johnson refused, she gave some of the liquid
to her own daughter and then gave two teasponnfuls of white substance
which she said was sugar to Mrs, Johnson's two-year-old daughter, Hes-
ter. Miss Sellick then left and shortly afterwards both children be~
came ill and started vomiting.
sician be summoned,
een poisoned and expressed the opinion that they i
nic. “Miss Sellick then told Mrs, Johnson that Sica ea at
son her as she was "possessed with the Devil," Little Hester Johnson
died four days later and Miss Sellick was charged with the mrder.
eee pislanes a
