Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-03-30
Close OF Woods Trial.

C10se OF Woods Trial.
On Friday MIR. Browne finished his opening, and
introduce evidence for the defence. The whole Of
it corroborated all the statements formerly given in
the Herald" bat the following portions are inte-
resting, as throwing light upon some of the strong
points Of this curious case.
The first interview between Wood and his daugh-
ter, after she away from the house, is thus de-
scrbed by Mr. S. Kirvng -
Mrs. Sill, Mrs. Wood, aud myself with the daugh-
ter, (Sarah Ann,) went to Mr.. WIS hosse and then
in the saloon; he came in and soon as he came In
he uttereda scream some noise, the like OF which
never heard bcfore-he fell down in a fit, and APP
peared to be IN terrible agony, crashing his teeth;
all persons in the to him, his daughter first;
when he came to he Rugged her and moaned; he
showed no anger towards her; he clasped her al
deliberately, and said something to her which
don't recollect. He then wished to see her alone in
the third story and told him she could not go alone;
that had pledged my word to return her. This
was between and 10 A. M. | of the opinion
that he was then insane; he consented should go,
and we went and all persons followed in the third
across the ROOM and commenced fumbling in his
side pocket, and left Mrs. Peak and ran to him;
found he drew pocket book out he drew out slip
OF paper and went to Mrs. Peak--this was a copy
of the marriage certifcate-prescnted it to her. and
asked her il she signed the original; she assented
| and he cried, and he walked the room wringng his
hands and pulling his hair he then stopped said,
my DEAR is it possible that you could come back to
this house as pure as when you left 1t She merely
cried and sobbed; he then put some other questions
| to her; | then requested w: to go INTO another
room 18th his wife, and ask her such other ques-
| tons she could afterwards put to Mrs r. They
| went out and absent about fifteen minutes;
afterwards Mrs. w. and her daughter had private
| conversation, of which | know nothing. lie then
sent to Peak to ask him if he would allow his daugh-
ter to remain with him little whie to comfort him;
p. replied she might, if she came home first; took
! her back again. The father and mother and daugh-
ter held each others hands and frequently all three
| of them would be crying; when she took leave OF
her father they kissed each other several times she
went away between 10 and IL
Mrs. Joel Cook sworn.-l live in Chestnut street.
next door to MIR. Wood the 3Oth of September
! ] heard a crying, screaming, and connection; was
| in the Sd story back room; heard the bursting
open OF door, and heard the report Of fire arms;
| heard two reports; they were distinct they were
not near together that could have been deceived
| by the echo.
| Cross-examine d.-The reports were several Sc
conds apart; this was between and 10; heard the
| report more than minnie before the door was
| burst open; the noise and commotion immedi-
ately after the door was burst open; there were
| many noises by several persons; had been half an
hour or more in my room before heard the noise
| | heard other noise; the report of the pistols
was the first noise heard
In relation to the interview between the daughter
and the family, Mrs Jane Sill stated that her mother
asked her when she married. She said on the
18th Sept. Mrs. w. then asked her if she went
before size got up and she replied yes, and got back
to prepare your breakfast. Her mother then asked
her why did you do so, why did you deceive me! and
the girl made reply. then left the room and
talked to Wood, and endeavored to reason with him;
| wis spoke Of his daughter husband, he became
frantic I then went in the front chamber and spoke
to the CATER and told her of the condition OF her
family, and that, if something was not done, her
| father would commit suicide. The girl assented to
| all proposed.
! Joseph Sill aAirmed.-On the morning of the 30th
of September my attention was attracted by noise
at our back gate, and saw two o. 1r Woods child
rem Reckoning to me- followed them and continued
until came to the back chamber of the Sd story;
there Mr. Wood standing in the middle of the
room, and one of the boys clingng TO him; his looks
were vacant as If he was unconscious OF every
thing around him; passed him and went to the
bedside, where saw the poor fortunate girl well
tering in her blood; felt her pulse and found it
strong; raised her head and called for basin,
water and towel, and ] CONNER ced washing the
| blood from her face; at this time was not aware
what had happened to her; then saw the dreadful
| wound in her right eye. sent my young man for
Dr. Rush. She still continued to breathe at spasms,
and still continued to hold her up; when DR.. Rush
| came in he told me there no hopes; during the
| time ! was holding her the family came around, and
| among them was Mr.. Peak; he vented anathemas on
Wood, but never even stopped down to feel the
| pulse Of his dying wife; he then rushed toward
Wood and thought heard some words;
after this arose and went in the back chamber and
saw Wood lying the bed when j first saw him
he was not asleep, but soon after fell asleep.
Frederick Wood-On Friday he (his father) ate
nothing-on Sunday morning the breakfast table was
set but he didn't eat at dinner time he sat down to la
ble took cup Of coffee and then got up and went out;
at supper time he ate half milk cake and cup tea
on Saturday he ate nothing i and my brother slept
IN The ROOM at the head Of bed and he put
lis lead on her check aad ,aid wha, blessing it is
| tha' can lay my cheek on yours. On Friday night
heard my father tell my mother that there was
one at the back sate and to get up and call her
from the window.
Cross examiaed-Ia am IL years of age and am the
oldest son; my father had to the cake in the
store, but know that he ate none.
Here the Attorney General stated that the Com
monwcath here submitted the under the
charge Of the Court and Judge King charged the
Jury and stated 10 them that their decision must
| rest upon the principle that James Wood is not
moral agent that il such an act could be proved
home To an intellectual agent, it wond be murder
in the first degree that IL they were satisfied that
the defendant not Of sufficient sound mind, IL
there was any doubt on that subject, the defendant
must be acquitted. Judge King did not travel over
| the whole Of the testimony adduced, but merely
| made some general comments upon the law,
far as insanity was involved in the case He told
| the jury that the law allowed no man to shelter
himself behind his passions, matter what the
citing may be. and that liquor not
able for any such offence.
At near 10 o'clock the Jury returncd-thcy had
beeu gone but about or 10 minutes, when they
dered verdict, that JAMES WOOD, THE
DEFENDANT. Is NOT GUILTY, ON THE
GROUND OF INSANITY"
Wood received the announcement OF this verdict
withou' moviag muscle, and remained m his quiet
stoica manner. He reconducted to prison.
During the absence OF the jury expectation was on
tiptoe, and extreme silence reigned in the court
room. The audience manifested dissatisfaction
at the verdict.
Notices.
BRo,pvsy CircusTb evening, for the benefit OF Mr. c.
he