Wednesday, March 23, 2016

PEOPLE v THOMAS DELNY: TRANSCRIPT OF THE COURT FILE OF A RAPE CASE PROSECUTED BY LINCOLN

Set forth below is a transcript which I made of the important documents in the court file from a rape case prosecuted by Lincoln on as a specially appointed state's attorney pro tem.

The document numbers in the right hand column represent the document numbers assigned to the documents by the Law Practice of Abraham Lincoln website.


PEOPLE v DELNY: TRANSCRIPT OF COURT FILE
DATE
DOCUMENT
DOC.#
5/8/53
WRIT OF MITTIMUS
State of Illinois, Tazewell County} The People of the State of Illinois to any Constable of Said County and to the Keeper of the common jail of said County
Whereas Thomas Delny has been arrested and brought before T.V. Pinkham one of the Justices of the Peace of said county, charged on the Oath of Paul N. Rupert with having on the seventh day of May 1853 committed or attempted to commit a Rape on the person of Jane Ann Rupert who is under the age of Ten years, and the said Justice of the peace being assisted with him James Harriot, a neighboring Justice of the Peace of said county and they having taken the examination of the witnesses and considered the proof adduced and the testimony thereon did adjudge that the said offense had been committed and the said Thomas Delny was gujilty of the charge exhibited against him, and required to enter into Recognizance with good and sufficient Sureties in the Sum of Two thousand dollars for his personal appearance at the present term of the circuit court now being held in the county of Tazewell, with which requisition the said Thomas Delny has failed to comply.
We therefore command you the said constable, forthwith to convey the said Thomas Delny to the common jail of the said county and deliver him to the Keeper thereof and you the said Keeper are hereby required to receive the said Thomas Delny into your custody in the said jail, and him safely keep for the want of Sureties, until he be discharged by due course of law
Witness the said T.V. Pinkham and James Harriott Justices of the Peace of Tazewell County this 8th day of May 1853.
T.V. Pinkham J.P.
James Harriott J.P.
People vs. Thos Delny
Mittimus
Bail Ought to be taken in the sum of Two Thousand Dollars
T.V. Pinkham J.P.
45695
5/9/53
COURT MINUTES
Ordered, that Abraham Lincoln, Esq., act as Prosecutor for the People during the remainder of this present term.

And now this day comes into Court the Grand Jury and made the following Presentment
The People of the State of Illinois vs Thomas Delny} Indictment for Rape
Indorsed a True Bill
David Mark, Foreman of the Grand Jury
45697
5/9/53
INDICTMENT
Of the May term of the Tazewell county circuit court in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and fiftythree
State of Illinois, Tazewell County} SS
The Grand Jurors chosen, selected and sworn, in and for the county of Tazewell aforesaid, in the name and bu the authority of the People of the State of Illinois, upon their oaths present, that Thomas Delny late of the county aforesaid, on the seventh day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand, eight hundred and fiftythree, with force and arms, at the county aforesaid, in and upon Jane Ann Rupert, a female in the peace of the People aforesaid, then and there being, violently and feloniously did make an assault, and her the said Jane Ann Rupert then and there violently, and against her will, feloniously did ravish and carnally know; contrary to the form of the statute in such case made and provided, and against the Peace and dignity of the same People of the State of Illinois.
Lincoln Attorney, pro tem
And the Grand Jurors aforesaid, in the name, and by the authority aforesaid, upon their oaths aforesaid do further present that Thomas Delny, a male person above the age of fourteen years, late of the county aforesaid, on the seventh day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fiftythree with force and arms, at the county aforesaid, in and upon Jane Ann Rupert, a female child under the age of ten years, towit of the age of seven years, in the peace of the People aforesaid, then and there being, feloniously did make an assault, and her the said Jane Ann Rupert, then and there feloniously did unlawfully anad carnally know, contrary to the form of the statute in such case made and provided, and against the peace and dignity of the same people of the state of Illinois.
Lincoln Attorney, pro tem
A True Bill
David Mark
Foreman of the Grand Jury
Witnesses –
Jane Ann Rupert
Paul N. Rupert
Joseph S. Maus
Dr. L.A. McCook
Catherine Rupert
Joseph C. [?]insey
54854
5/10/53
JUDGE’S DOCKET
A special Grand Jury sumond Monday 2nd week & Bill found
List of Jurors & witnesses waived – Copy of Indictment furnished
Arraigned – Pleads Not Guilty – Jury Sworn verdict guilty – confinement penitentiary [illegible] – arraigned for sentence – Judg of Court – to be confined in Penitentiary for 18 years – one year of solitary confinement – Residue at hard labor – Shf to have keep & convey him to Alton
45703
5/10/53
COURT MINUTES
People of the State of Illinois vs Thomas Delny} Indictment for Rape
This day came as well the People by their attorney and the said Defendant in proper person who having been furnished with a copy of the indictment and list of the witnesses for plea to the Indictment saith that he is not guilty as charged in the Indictment; and of this he puts himself upon the Country and the People doth the like, whereupon came a Jury to wit: [lists twelve barely legible names], twelve good and lawful men, and elected tried and sworn to try Said issue; and having heard the proof and allegations & the [illegible] and argument of counsel there, for verdict say we the Jury find the Defendant guilty in manner and form as charged in the Indictment and we determine that he be confined in the Penitentiary of the State of Illinois for the term of eighteen years – And now the said Defendant Thomas Delny saying nothing why the sentence of the law should not be pronounced against him, it is therefore ordered by the Court that in [illegible] of the verdict of the Jury the said Thomas Delny be imprisoned in the Penitentiary of the State of Illinois at Alton for the term of eighteen years, one year of the term in solitary confinement, and the remainder at hard labor – And that he pay the cost of this proceeding –
It is further ordered that the Sheriff of Tazewell County further [illegible] from [illegible] convey the said Delny to the Penitentiary of the State of Illinois at Alton and deliver him to the proper officer having charged thereof.
Ordered the Court adjourned till tomorrow morning at nine o’clock  
45700
5/10/53
JURY VERDICT
We the Jury find the Defendant guilty in manner and form as charged in the Indictment and we determine that he be confined in the Penitentiary of the State of Illinois for the term of eighteen years
Zachariah Phillips
John Waldon
James Fuller
David Shay
[illegible]
Daniel Hedgson
William [illegible]
John S. [illegible]
[illegible]
William Booth
E.B. Morse
Henry H. [illegible]
45702

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