At December Term, 1800, "Samuel C. Seely, Esq.," the third associate judge, was indicted for "an assault and battery on the body of Abraham Mulford, Esq.," a justice of the peace; and an indictment was found against Judge Seely and Jonathan Butler for "conspiracy against Hugh Ross, Esq.," an attorney. The latter case apparently grew out of an indictment for battery preferred against Mr. Ross at the preceding term, but returned ignoramus, and was complicated by an indictment against Mr. Ross and Abraham Cole for conspiracy against Jonathan Butler, preferred at December Term, but returned ignoramus. Judge Seely was also indicted at February Term, 1801, for keeping a tippling-house. At May Term, 1801, he was tried on the indictment for assault and battery, and acquitted. At the same term the indictment for conspiracy was removed to the Circuit Court; and among the witnesses placed under recognizance to appear and testify against Judge Seely were his associates on the bench, Judges Preston and Ryerson. The final result, in the case removed to the Circuit Court, does not appear. On the indictment for keeping a tippling-house, nothing was done beyond holding the defendant to bail in sixty dollars for his appearance. The difficulty between the judge and the attorney, however, would seem to have been amicably settled not long afterward, for at February Term, 1803, Mr. Ross was one of a committee that examined Judge Seely as an applicant for admission to practice as an attorney, and reported him as duly qualified, and May 13, 1803, the judge, having resigned his commission, was, on Mr. Ross’ motion, admitted to the bar.
[Mathews, Alfred: History of Wayne, Pike and Monroe Counties, 1886.]
[Mathews, Alfred: History of Wayne, Pike and Monroe Counties, 1886.]