Baltimore County Crime News The Centinel, Gettysburg, Pa , May 27, 1812 Libel on Col. Pickering Timothy M. Joy, the unfortunate man who a few weeks since framed the scandalous tale respecting Col. P. for the gratification of the democrats at Haverhill, was arraigned for his crime and pleaded guilty. The court, observing his penitence, that his health was infirm and that he had already suffered imprisonment a considerable time, only sentenced him to pay a fine of 50 dollars for the use of the commonwealth and cost of prosecution and to be imprisoned one month. The prosecution was commenced without the knowledge of Col. Pickering. [Submitted by Nancy Piper] The Centinel, Gettysburg, Pa , June 3, 1812 Col. Pickering having been most atrociously libeled in the Baltimore Whig, he commence a suit against the Editor. At the present session of the circuit court, it was one of the first for trial, but to avoid the animadversion of the law upon his labors, his council proposed the following amende, which being generously accepted, was published in the Whig, of Wednesday evening. From the Baltimore Whig Justice – It is due to truth, to the reputation of the press, and to the character of individuals to state that the communication made to the editor of the Whig, concerning Timothy Pickering, in July 1809, signed ‘Z.Z.’ and published in this paper, is ascertained upon careful enquiry to be wholly unfounded. The editor, therefore, has no hesitation in retracting the publication, and such other remarks as are attached to it. BACK -- HOME © Genealogy Trails