Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1832-05-10
MINA.-The trial of this individual

copy the following condensed account of
the same from the New York Evening
Journal, which is taken from full re-
port in the Courier and Enquirer. Few
cases ever excited more intense interest
in the public mind. Pror. Jour.
The following description is given Of
his personal appearance when placed at
the bar
"He was attired in complete suit of
black-frock, vest, pantaloons, & stock,
even his eye brows and hair are of jet
black. His height is little over ) feet Q
inches; his age about 80 years; his hair,
which was arranged with much care, dis
played low but extended forehead; his
eyes are sunk within their spheres; his
lips are thin; his complexion is salow,
tinctured with a hue of livid blue, giving
Il shade which might be, perhaps, best
described as sickly green, and the low
er part Of his countenance is dlspropor-
tonaIiy smaller than the upper"
| The Jurors having been impannelled,
MIR. Reed, the prosecuting attorney, o.
pened the case, and his address to the
court occupied the residue of the first
day. On Wednesday, the counsel for
! the prosecution commenced the eXamina-
/ ton of their witnesses. The first, Miss
Palethorp, about sixteen years OF age,
who had been pupil at the school OF
Mrs. Chapman in Andalusia, testified as
to the arrival of Nina at the residence OF
Mr.. c. on the 9th Of May, 1881, late in
the afternoon; he asked for nights
lodging, and Mr.. Chapman referred him
to tavern in the vicinity-but Mis-. &.
thought he might remain all night
i Here commenced the fatal intimacy
Nina told his story-a tissue Of lies-and
excited the sympathy of Mr.. Chapman,
whose wife seems Immediately to have
conceived criminal penchant for the
stranger, the nature and extent of which
may be gathered from the evidence OF
, the next witness called:
\ Ellen Shaw, an elderly female who
lived in the house as domestic, corrob-
GRATED all that Miss Palethorp testified,
, and said in addition that she had seen
, much misconduct between Mrs. y. and
8 Nina. On one occasion she saw them
d hugging and kissing each other in the
hall. She saw Mrs. G. while merely at
II tired in night dress sit on the side Of Mi
II mas bed while he lay there. One after
noon that the witness drove with them to
a tavern about I miles distant they walk
ed away in the woods, and were absent
two or three hours. They intended to
stay at the tavern that night, but witness
would not allow them. Both going to-
and returning from the tavern, Nina lay
in Mrs. Chapman's lap, and both sang
love songs-she teaching him. AT one
time Nina and mrs. Chapman went tt
Philadelphia, and were absent three
= days; during which time mr.. Chapman
was almost crazy at the absence of mrs
,e Chapman, telling all the servants that he
t. would send Nina out Of the house a:
soon as she returned. On the evening
OF OF the third day they returned, and mr.
y C.. asked mrs. c. how she could accoun
for such conduct She replied, that Mi
ma had learned in Philadelphia that hi
sister had died, and they were delayed
in consequence. Mrs. c. and mr.. G
then retired into room alone. The TIT
which Nina pretended to have did no
seem to injure him much. The witnes
:, has seen mrs. Chapman come out of Mi
s mas room as early as day light, in he
81 night dress. Heard no angry words be
tween mr.. c. and Nina when the latte
- returned from the three days absence
but the former expressed pity for th'
melancholy cause. Heard mr. G. sa,,
to mrs. G.. at one time, that she did no
use him as she used to do, and expressed
his wonder what was the reason. Ha
seen mrs. G.. tap Nina on the cheek an
call him her "dear little man." Ate
Mina's arrival the affections Of mrs. {
appeared to be weaned from mr G. an
, from her children.
nd Messrs. Guiilon, assistants to respec
"a table druggist in Philadelphia, tcstife
IL as to the purchase Of arsenic, on or abor
~, ~, the 18th of June, by Nina, who repre-
:. scented himself as the son of the Cover
be nor of California. Three days aiterward
es he requested these gentlemen, who un
X derstood Spanish, to write a letter ic
= him in English, the same being dictate
by Nina in Spanish--they complied
- signing the letter "Esta Questa" Oh
name Nina had then assumed. Ii wa
addressed TO mr Chapman, containn
expressions Of thanks for kindness show
10 Nina, "his dear friend" The afiids
Wit Of the keeper ofthe Philadelphia pri'
's, on was then read, which showed thu
"s Nina had been discharged thence, wher
-, he had been confined for larceny, vi
w. wards Of year on the very morning
IL A L. L.. L.. L..