553 Page – American State Trials 1918 Volume X Leo Frank Document

Here is the translated text as follows:

NICHOLAS BAYARD

THE TRIAL

In a Special Court of Oyer and Terminer, New York City, February 1702.

Hon. William Atwood, Chief Justice
Hon. Abraham De Peyster, Judges
Hon. Robert Walters

January 6, Lieutenant Governor John Nanfan and his council complained of libels against the government in the form of petitions circulated and signed by Colonel Nicholas Bayard and others. These petitions were addressed to the King of England, the Parliament, and Lord Cornbury, who had succeeded Lord Bellamont as Governor of these Colonies and who was now on his way here.

Attorney General Broughton gave a written opinion that the petitions were libelous.

**Bibliography:**
Chandler’s American Criminal Trials, Vol. 1; American State Trials, p. 116; Howell’s State Trials (London, 1812), Vol. 14.

**Atwood, William:** Born in England; published a large number of controversial pamphlets during the last two decades of the Seventeenth Century and the early years of the Eighteenth; arrived in New York, where he had been appointed Chief Justice and Judge of the Court of Admiralty, August 1701; suspended from his office by Lord Cornbury and forced to flee from the colony, June 1702; died 1705. (See Dictionary of National Biography; New York State Library Annual Report, 1902; Calendar of Council Minutes, 1668-1783.)

**De Peyster, Abraham:** (1659-1728) Born and died in New York City; mayor of New York, 1691-1695, and afterwards chief justice of the province; president of the King’s Council and acting Governor.

**Nanfan, John:** Born in Birtsmorton, Worcestershire, England; captain of Sir John Jacob’s regiment of infantry; sailed for New York, 1697, where he served as Lieutenant-Governor under Richard Coote, Earl of Bellamont; was Acting Governor from the death of Bellamont, 1700, until the arrival of Lord Cornbury, 1701; returned to England, 1705, and died at Greenwich, 1716.

**Broughton, Sampson Shelton:** Came to the New York colony from England, 1701; Attorney General, 1701-1703; member of the council of Lord Cornbury, 1702. (See New York State Library Historical Report, 1902; Calendar of Council Minutes, 1668-1783.)

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