The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1834-10-15

4 Father Tried fot the murder Of his Sor.-On
Tneds,y last, the trial of JOHN WmeheH of Sufheld
Connecticut, was held before the Supreme Court,
in Session at Hartford, for the murder of his son
Uriah IVineheH 1t appeared in evidence that a
bitter controversy had long existed between the
father and son-that the son had repeatedly made
attacks upon his person, and occasional depreda-
tions upon his property--tha, for sevesal years
past, in consequence of fear ofbody harm from the
son, or some other cause unknown NmcheH hao
been in the uniform habit of arming himself win
deadly weapons, sometimes with mushe'' anu
at others with pistol and dlrk-that on the -fh
of March last the son engaged IN setting up
and covering a coal pit of wood taken from tue
land claimed by both father and son. and about 'pe
possession of which the controversy between them
originated; that in the afternoon OF that day, WIN
chell was seen wandering about the region OF the
coal pit apparently carrying pistol III his BOSOM
that about sunset the report of firearms, and the
cry of murder, was heard in the direction OF the
coal pit and the son found wounded by pistol
shot in the left side below the lower rlb-that I'M
mediaely after the report of the pistol and the cry
of murder was heard, Wnchel was seen emerging
from a rayine, near the pit; with a pistol IN his
hand, apparently exhausted in body and agitated IN
mind, and TO the inquiry whether he had shot ms
SON. replied hesitang gly mot until he hit, or hurt me
frst-that the son langushed about thirty hours IN
the most excrucating agony and died.
On the part of the prisoner 1t was contended that
there was no evidence of premeditatton of malice
that in the absence of this evidence II was to be pre-
sumed that he armed himself for thepurpose OF de-
Tending himself against the anticipated attacks OF his
son that he accidentally came in contact with him
at the coal pitt and shot HIM, not however, IN pur-
suance of q previous purpose and design, but IN
self-defence in consequence OF the excited ana
perverted state of his mind occasoned by the repea-
ted threats and attacks of his son. 1t was further
claimed that, at the time of committing the honl-
eide he was not possession of that degree OF san
ity of mind, necessary to constitute hlm moral a.
gent and render him accountable for his acts-that
thou yh on most subjects he was rational, yet on the
subject of his family controversy he was totally IN
sane. large number of witnesses were examined
on this point, and of testimony adduced, but
tending more to establish oddity and eccentrlclty
than alteration of alienation of mind.
The case ably argued by the Attorney of the
State; and j. Parsons Esq for the prosecution, and
by W. w. Ellsworth, w. Hungerford Esqs. for the
Prisoner. On Thursday morning the case was
committed to the jury, who after an absence OF a
short time returned with verdict of MANsLAUGH-
TER The prisoner is represented an old gray
headed man, seventy-two years ofage. lie appear
ed perfectly unmoved throughout the trial. and when
the verdict was rendered did not shed tear or hcave
sigh 1t is stated that he is dissatisfied with the
verdict and has requested the Sheriff to intercede
with the Court to pronounce sentence OF death upon
hn.-Philod. Enq