Timeline
1843
Monday, May 1 John B. Parke, John Castner, Maria Castner, and Marie Matilda Caster
were murdered between 9 and 10 pm at the house of John P.
Parke (“It was common knowledge that the crime had probably occurred between 9:00 and 10:00 PM on Monday night. Several people in New Hampton who lived near the bridge at Simonton’s Mill had reported hearing a horse and wagon cross the bridge about 9:00 PM and turn toward Changewater.” (Meeker 49))
Tuesday, May 2 Body of John Parke was found in the sink hole, followed by the
discovery of the other murdered family members in the house
Wednesday, May 3 Joe Carter and Peter Parke worked to clean up the old Mansfield
Church in the AM (Meeker)
Joe Carter, in Peter Parke’s shop, wrote the letter to Squire Howell,
letting him know he wouldn’t be able to make his appointment
because of the funerals (Meeker)
Thursday, May 4 Joe Carter gives Cougle the letter for Howell
The funerals are held for the murder victims
Friday, May 5 John A. Smith found the wagon and horse tracks he thought were
from the murderer(s)
John B. Parke’s family gathers at his house to assess his assets
Advertisement went into the Trenton State Gazette stating that a reward totally $1300 was being offered in connection to the murders
Saturday, May 6 Part of John B. Parke’s estate was divided up and given equally to his
nieces and nephews
May 22 Peter T.B. Vandoren (Holy Alliance), under orders from Moore Furman
(Holy Alliance) arrested Joe Carter
May 23 Examination of Joe Carter by the magistrates Creveling, Davis, and
Robeson and County District Attorney William C. Morris began
June 2 The magistrates unanimously agreed that Joe Carter was not guilty
and finally freed him
Tuesday, June 6 A grand jury was convened to once again examine Joe Carter’s guilt,
or lack thereof, at the insistence of William C. Morris (Meeker)
Tuesday, June 15 Grand jury indicted Joe Carter on four separate counts of first degree
murder and one count of assault with intent to kill (Meeker)
Tuesday, August 22 Trial of Joe Carter for the murder of John Castner began at the Court
of Oyer and Terminer in Belvidere
Wednesday, September 13 At 1 pm the jury went out to deliberate
Thursday, September 14 At 2:30 pm the jury returned with a verdict of not guilty
November 30 Abner Parke arrested
December 8 Prosecutor Morris moved the second indictment against Joe Carter
(the murder of John Parke) to trial. At this time, Carter’s lawyer, Clemson, requested that the case go before the state Supreme Court,
arguing double jeopardy.
1844
March 9 The state Supreme Court ruled that double jeopardy did not apply
to Joe Carter’s case
June 4 The second trial of Joe Carter for the murder of John B. Parke began
in Belvidere
Monday, June 24 The jury began to deliberate on the second trial of Joe Carter
Abner Parke, Peter Parke and Henry Hummer were indicted by the
grand jury for the murders
At 6 pm the jury returned with a guilty verdict for Joe Carter
August 19 William and Rebecca (Rachel) Hulsizer took David and Abner Parke to
court, “demanding an account of John B. Parke’s estate.” (Meeker 87)
September Joe Carter was moved from the Warren County jail to the Mercer
County jail in Trenton and his lawyers petitioned the Supreme Court
for a new hearing
September 14 The NJ Supreme Court overruled all the objections coming from Joe
Carter’s lawyers about the previous trials
October 22 The trial against Henry Hummer began
November 14 Joe Carter’s attorneys appeared before the Supreme Court to present
information about jury prejudice at his second trial
December 5 The trial of Abner Parke for the murder of John Castner began in
Belvidere
December 27 Abner Parke was found not guilty
Peter Parke’s trial for the murders of John Castner and John B. Parke began in Belvidere
1845
January 17 The jury began to deliberate on the trial against Peter Parke; after 4
hours they came back with a guilty verdict
Abner Parke was re-arrested
February 25 Peter Parke was moved from Belvidere jail to Mercer County jail
March 3 Peter Parke’s case was argued before the New Jersey Supreme Court
March 7 The NJ Supreme Court announced that they refused to grant new
trials for either Joe Carter or Peter Parke
March 8 The NJ Supreme Court agreed to delay sentencing until the next court
term so that they could present their case to the Court of Errors and Appeals
April The remainder of John B. Parke’s estate was divided up amongst his
heirs
May 16 Lawyers of Joe Carter and Peter Parke went before the NJ Supreme
Court asking for another delay in sentencing
May 22 The NJ Supreme Court denied the delay in sentencing, and sentenced
both men to death on Friday, August 22 in Belvidere
June 3 The trial of Abner Parke for the murder of John B. Parke began in
Belvidere
Saturday, June 28 Jury began deliberations on the charges against Abner Parke -- came
back 10 hours later with a verdict of Not Guilty (Meeker)
July 16 The Court of Errors and Appeals agreed to hear the cases of Joe Carter
and Peter Parke
July 28 The Court of Errors and Appeals announced that Double Jeopardy was
not an issue in the case of Joe Carter and that the murders were all
separate acts
August 1 The Court of Errors and Appeals announced that they agree with the
verdicts of the Supreme Court and that the verdicts would stand
August 2 Letter from Peter Parke was published in the State Gazette
August 4 Letter from Joe Carter was published in the State Gazette
August 15 The Court of Pardons announced it would not pardon either man
August 18 Peter Parke and Joe Carter were taken back to Belvidere
Friday, August 22 At 12:15 PM Peter Parke and Joe Carter were hanged
Monday, August 25 Moore Furman sued David Park and Abraham Castner for the reward
money they had offered
October 8 Abner Parke was discharged from bail
1846
January 16 The lawyers of Abner Parke asked that their client be discharged
from the remaining indictments and the Supreme Court agreed
