Collections : [University of Michigan William L. Clements Library]

The John Hughes and Sussex County Jury papers are made up of legal documents pertaining to the 1875 trial of John Hughes for the murder of his wife Catharine, as well as lists of jury members in Sussex County, New Jersey, in 1875 and 1876. Two jury lists concern the trial of Robert Kimble for manslaughter.

The John Hughes and Sussex County Jury papers are made up of 8 legal documents and testimonies pertaining to the 1875 trial of John Hughes for the murder of his wife Catharine, 1 jury list for the Sussex County, New Jersey, Court of Oyer and Terminer for the April 1875 term, and 2 jury lists concerning the 1876 manslaughter trial of Robert Kimble.

John Hughes, an Irish immigrant, was accused of murdering his wife Catharine (or Catherine) with an axe on January 7, 1875. Legal records include a recapitulation of the case's proceedings (April 3, 1875), an affidavit with a sworn statement by Thomas A. Rogers (January 7, 1875), and a writ for the arrest of John Hughes (January 7, 1875). A bound group of documents (around 50 pages) contains testimonies and other documents from an inquisition related to the Hughes case. The collection also contains lists of potential jurors and witnesses. Newspaper clippings with printed testimonies or witness statements regarding the murder are affixed to 3 additional sheets of paper.

The remaining items are a list of grand jurors for the court's April 1875 term and 2 documents with lists of possible jurors for the manslaughter trial of Robert Kimble in the Sussex County Court of Oyer and Terminer in September 1876.