Craven County, NC - Edward Tinker & Peter Durand, 1810

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Raleigh, NC May 3

A gentleman who was in Newbern during the setting of the Superior Court
last week, has informed us of a murder which was lately perpetrated there 
supposed by Capt. Edward Tinker and Mr. Peter Durand, on a lad about 17 
years old. The following is a history of the case as received from our 
informant:

Capt. Tinker with Mr. Durand (his brother-in-law) and the lad on board,
carried a cargo of sugar & coffee to Baltimore, which they sold for money.
He then ensured his vessel with a valuable cargo to Newbern, and sailed
in ballast; near the Hatteras Banks he landed the money and sunk the 
vessel by boring holes in her bottom then came up to Newbern and with 
Durand swore to a protest that the vessel was lost in consequence of her
age and bad condition, and stated the money went to the bottom, and two
men were drowned in diving for it. The lad, though evidently tutored, 
prevaricated, and in subsequent conversations said no men were drowned 
and that he himself assisted to land the money. 

On Saturday night the 8th ult. a little after midnight, Tinker, Durand
and the lad (who lodged at Tinker's) were hailed by the watch near the
wharf. Tinker had a gun and answered they were going to shoot ducks.
In an hour or two after they returned without the boy and were again
hailed by the watch who enquired for the boy. Tinker said he had gone
on board a vessel.

On the 18th ult. the body of the boy was found floating on the river
with 60 weight of stones fastened to him by ropes, his feet tied, and
from appearances had been shot in the back. 

Tinker and Durand were taken up; these with many other corroborating
circumstances appearing in proof, they were committed to jail. A few
days after, Durand, under a hope of pardon, made, it is said, a full
confession of the murder.

On Thursday last Tinker was arraigned for trial at Craven Superior
Court, but it was found impossible to obtain such a jury as the law
deems impartial. More than 200 talesmen on being questioned, said 
they had formed and expressed an opinion unfavorable to the prisoner;
between twenty and thirty were challenged by the prisoner, and after
every exertion during the whole day and summoning every free holder
who could be found, only seven jurors were sown. The trial was
therefore postponed to the next term of the court.

There were some extraordinary circumstances which led to the discovery
of this murder. It was not customary for the watch to remain out after
12 o'clock; that night was accidently an exception; and their meeting
Tinker and Durand both when going and returning is remarkable. That
the body of the boy should float with 60 weight of stones to it has
also been deemed an extraordinary circumstances.

Tinker's connexions are wealthy and respectable. He is himself rich
but his character has always been a slender one.

Source: Windham Herald
        June 1, 1810

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This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by
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