New-York daily tribune., 1842-08-05
CITY lNTgLLIGgNc NcE.
INQUIRY into the snni,y OF Thos 81, Toppins a

Inquiry into the Hnniiy Of Thos. Topping
The prisoner, Thomas Topping, having been convicted
of the murder OF his wife, which he was charged with ha,
ing perpeta,ed the evening CT st of January last,
and information having been subsequently received and al
fdasits taken tending 10 render probable that the prison
prior 10 and al the time o The murder, laborns
der alienation Of mind sas destroy his accountability
moral agent application made 10 the Executive oi
the State Tor suspension OF the sentence Communication
Of punishment this account and the Governor and his
Council directed inquiry to be made in the OF Top
ping, With view to ascertain whether he proper
subject of Executive intcrposlon and clemency or not"
James Il. Whiting Esq the District Attorney aided by
Dr.. Francis, conducted The examination the Conrt o.
Sessions chamber, which IL o'clock yester-
day, when number OF witnesses examined, the sub.
stance Of whose testimony is as follows:
Dr. John B. McComb, physician 10 The city prison. be.
acquainted with Topping the 2d July wher he
commenced attending him in prison Had seen him twice
often thrice dayon of pain had the
right side Of his head He said he had often been afflicted
with that pain for before He wished witness
tract TOOTH as he said that once relieved h He assigned
cause tor the painappeared labor under great de-
preston OF mndacied chdishy, and cried; gave rea
son for account o it The pain appeared 10 produce
great depression Witness riiied his gum bed berea
add cupped administered 10 him ca,art!cs and
dynes, daily which appeared 10 relieve him. The pain
s heal did not produce apy tl,nr like ing con-
dillon in regard matters that came before him. His APP
petite very poor Witness did moi discover any MARKS
ofnsapity in prisoner He had very little Acknowledgements
John Barr, OF No 24t Eldrdge street, undertaken, had
in ts ship with the prisoner some ii years
aga. Saw him often on the passage. He was then and az
erwards sober, NICE industrious man. Have known him
since and been intimate Knows OF his being attacked
with pain in the head Knows he sun-struck was with
him al The tine, but did then know of it. ltoccured in
the summer Immediately after thal which WAS the cholera
Witness wen, to his shop get his boo, mended and Top
ping walked with him from the Gt 10 the 9TH avenues in
Greenwich lane It The heat ofsumler Topping came
out without his hat and he went along witness advised
him TO his head with his apron or handkerch ei az
the sun was so strong he might get sun,ruck He said 1t
would do him harm, and did his head Top
ping reuaed home and witness went 10 his business In
the evening he the ouse of witness-appeared TO
crazy and held both his hands the sides Of his head
expressing fear lest his brains would drop out He con-
nued tin OF distraction; refused anoursh-
n.ent. Has him oen since up the time of his trou
bic; asked bin stay the night he sun-struck but
he fused; he did drink any thing did advise him
To go doctors his answers were simple not precisely an
wers his questions; bun the next dayasked him if
his head was beer-said he could not tell if it not
He sadhs thought his head would fly This shoulders;
in bed; could work for time. He said his head
boiling over and felt as The roof would fly Off Have
known him do silly and strange acts has often
since exhibited wild STARE in his ooks ave often him
in strange state mind, talking very wildly His memory
very short Never saw him influenced by drink Would
entrusted him before with to periarm any thing
but not since feared the prisoner would forget it,
heard his wife say she thought he was not right in his
q
times when she said and when lie talked wild and foolish
Have seen him bis seat at work and shed tears
Have him rise and walk the floor wrngng his hands,
crying like baby, with the falling from his He
would make crying or winning noise, and complained
of his eyes being weak and said he Rot we'll At these
times he Indifferent 10 takng food. Witness s.. him
the morning of the day on which TIE murder commit
ted 10 10 o'clock NJ, in Centre street. where he work
ed Asked the prisoner his little boy drive the Learse
witness he said witness could have hun and accompanied
witness TO his house found there woman sick in bed and
prisoners wife the honss Asked for the boy who she
said Witness and prisoner left togeterhe going
towards his shop and witness home He was sober then
did call prisoners wife drunk er sober that morning.
They appeared good na,ured together. In lie evening in
passing near prisoners door, crowd and went
The house. but did go in. He the door outside
an having arrested him, and taking him away
Did nots speak to him; say lie witness Witness
was not spoken by prisoners lawyer. Witness knew
prisoner be tried Witness not called upon and
aid not wish to interfere in case OF lie and DEATH After
he was sunsruck said he thought lie should lose his reason
and would ROT be able TO support his family Said he eS
peced the sun did IT.
Edprd N. Mead minister of the Episcopal Church, New
York. acquainted with Topping and has visited him
the lst February last to the present time at short intervals
The conversation purely of religious nature consd
cred him man Of extremely feeble Intellect, almost ap
preaching idocy He appeared to be entirely nsensble
10 the enorny OF his offence, the peculiar situation in
which was placed arising of his conviction His
ry very feeble do not think he has ever adverted 10
any that has affected his head He has uniformly de-
MED any knowledge of what occurred on the fatal day up
ii O'clock and deva,cd from IL He uniformly de-
MED his guilt and whilst he has said he might have done the
Decd has throughout denied any knowledge OF it, He has
manifested any conron tor the offence, insisting al
WAYS on his wan; Of accountability. Never have ha
in condition to be incapable OF judging between an action
naniesy right or wrong in his intercourse with others
mean to say he appeared be in of mind in which
atle excitement might overthrow his reason Never saw
him in solioquy.
James Whitc, of 2i Eldrd-e street. carpenter, has known
Topping 10 years off and othought him harmless man;
thought his brains strong About two years saw
him brothernlaws Burrs) and his conduc, was that
OF crazy His eyes were wild aud did not think
nca ,np1
that be had been suns,rurk from my hrohernaw Never
him drink liquorhe ale very ttle,hough his mind
weak but he always appeared harmless He appeared 10
know that fire would burn him that would drown
him. think he would know that itwould ae wrong TO
knock man down without cause have not seen him
since two years ago at Mr.. Burrs
Elisabeth Topping sister of the prisoner, aged 80,
born a u,e county Nomagh Ireland Has prisoner
seldom for the last three four years He sober,
steady nan, and lived with his wife She told OF the
sarrstroke and said changed him very much He gave
up his work week after he got the stroke He told
me OF his sight failing since the stroke and appeared stupid
and orgetu thought he would have go up to the Asy
Mn. He has often spoken 10 me about the affection in his
head he would sit out in the rain at times and has put me
out In the snow al night and afterwards would ioi believe
L. He treated those he liked hes, the harshes There
hehihg strange abou, him before the sunSroke Some.
Tines be would spring off tie bench and sometimes sing and
cry;aiterwards could net make him believe he had
done il, The last time saw him wss in the horse ~
Charlton street; he ncoberent and was Obliged
10 get named Gibbons 10 put him out He appeared
sober al the time have seen hn frequently SINCE ms CON
6nemen bu could get him recoec any thing i the
murder He would always fully recognize me when vis
ted him in prison. He never mistook part the family
for another He never gave reason why he had no
physician.
Isabella Roberts residing in tue 9th Avenue, hes known
the prisoner 1851 He tenant OF my husbands for
three years after he first this couaty. He was
Steady aud attentive we aud children. Alter that
time he becam somewhat unsteady and dignity in his mNd
did moi provide Tor his family Hardly knew what he
was doing, but did not drink have heardhe was sun
struck, About years ago OF his children died
and he away before the funeral roYed. IL waited
some tune Tor him. and while passing the grave be
the funeral and insisted the child hens taken back
have not known him much snce-haye always thought
him weak minded man.
Moses Heat.y carpenter by trade OF 10 Thomp,on-s,