The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-05-20
Price Two Cents,
Court OF Oyer and Terminer.
Before Judge Kent and Aldermen Hatfield and Balls
TRIAL OF THOMAS TOPPING.

''''''' "F
peared on the part of the defence and the District Aor
ney for the prosecution
From the facts presented, il would Seem that no poor
creature ever yielded her life under stronger than
the unfortunate deceased she having been literally killed
oy mShes ana pershing by cruel death while in the
inmolaors hands The following the principal est
mony in the easel
CArhARIMr KELLY sworn-was in Orange street, be-
tween walker and White, on the LIST Jan. last,
quained with Topping and his wife; the latter vas the
mother oil ten children, but only OF them hv home
me others beng away went 10 assist Mrs. Topping;
they occupied the back the second story Itook
cor ana Mr.. T. advised me to go to bed kind Of
nedsead IN the corner on the morning of the jan
Topping appeared 10 be well; his wife brushed his
coat, and he went to the shop; he is shoemaker he
came back about ten O'clock he met her she going
TO get pail of water he asked her where she going
she said to the pump; he said she needn't co. she SAID
how cen cook without water; he said mind do
not want you cook she still wished go but he stop.
ped her; she then in and took off her things and
stood by her bedde he then put the things the
stove to cook without water was in my bed sitting
up; the small one burn coal with a place
for cooking top she looked me, and laughed and
said that queeriway cook he gave kind smile
when she said this but looked at her, and he her
his list on he head and knocked her across the bed he
muered something he got up, which did not hear; he
then struck her with small rocking chair over the head
which began bleed she still the bed he then
struck her with broomstick, which he took up by tho
broom part and the handle broke in three four pieces
her down. she spoke but once though she struggled and
kicked great DEAL when he commenced beating her she
said Tommy, don't Kill me; what all this forf' didn't
near her speak after that was at the time he struck her
with rocking chair; he answered her damn you,
Wlsh YOU" lie LOOK pieces OF stick his
hand, aud stabbed her the he would do with
kniie he stabbed her about the body there
three knives and forks laying the table and he stabbed
her vii them in both breasts and the body after he
bed her with knife he pulled her out OF bed the floor
he threw her in bed again then he would stab her with
OF the knives the forks and pull her bed
again. he struck her on the head also with hammers he
then would throw her the bed again. she small
woman, and he could lift her in and like child; he
continued dragging her in and out of bed sabbing her.
jumping upon her and beating her. for about hour
ahaf he did not say much but now and then he would
curse her; he said "G-d d-n you, have threatened
you, and will not be satisfied till have your life and
Georges liie" 1t was occasioned by that
took place fortnight before when the when
his father quarreing with his mother and he threw
the former the bed; the day heard the pr-
threaten deceased that he would murder ,her her
she never spoke after he struck her with the rock
ing chair; it about IL o'clock when he first COM
ed, and he kept beating her till Dusk dur
ing that he sat down and smoked ppe after he had
been beating her about hour, l told him would
halloo murder He said it is of your bust
ness, she is my wife; he said you very sick
said if | made any alarm at all he would serve
me the same as he did Betty; thought he might have
would get up and if possible try cook for him. but
said he didn't want any cooking begged him go out;
told him he was killing the woman by inches he said
that was what he meant to do dark he smoked his pipe
again his wife dead when he left off beating her
and he laid down the floor, in bed all the
while and spoke to him several times but afraid
raise alarm his little Thomas in the room
when he first commenced beating her He said, father
you are always beating mother and he away after
thought Topping had gone 10 sleep he lay the floor
got out of bed by the help of clair and large
carving fork in the key hole and found that the door
locked wished 10 go out as thought would not ike
be in the room if she dead had called to her but
she did answer; found the key of the door on the
mante piece unlocked the door and threw wide OPEN
about 10 minutes afterwards their George in
he said he had hurt his head said nothing TO him but
called him and told him that his father had
been beating his mother and afraid she dead
he w nt to his mother and said good God mother
dead he looked down upon his father and cried him
good while but he did not speak he down short
lime and said he would 90 to Green or Greenwich street
| nc mini aft.rh
had gone out, my brother John Kelly came in with MIR.
Patten he brought me some cakes and pie | mo-
toned him 10 go from Topping lay the floor all
this time but said nothing brother smiled when told
him to go AWAY and said was crazy then called him
! ONE, told him what had happened he said wasout of
my head the deceased lay the bed my brother allied
TO her, and made some expression which did hear
man. and the house full while my brother was
out Topping got up, and began washing his wife, who
what is the matter why don't you sreak mer while
he washing her the watchman in and took him
asked them what they took him for he didn't know any
hing about It they carried him of and the watchman
staid their all night
The witness who intelligent, bright looking
girl stated that she nineteen years Of ege and now
lives with her brother statan Island Her brother had
given Mrs Topping considerable washing TO 90 and she
asked witness to and help her She took cold
and became very sick She had been there DAYS. and
had not seen any improper drinking going She under
went strong crossexaminaon but nothing material
presented.
| EDWARD M.uERLY-Testifed TO keeping a grocery
Orange street lie let one of the rooms M
to prisoner and his family Heard noise
cient to take notice Of the day deceased killed
Topping said his wife had killed herself the
| on account of the loss other children.
| DR.. ARCHER, Coroner and Dr. ToMrSrSs-Tesfed TO
the nature of the wounds There about tho
near o. serious character many cuts and bruises being
and alSonen nntn ,h SANS M .e pteast
made with iork They rHcornipe ha shsp ~ nie
hammer &C. exhibited as those found in the room and be-
ieve the stains on them TO he blood
john KrLLY--Confrmed the testimony of his sister
lar as regarded what occurred after he arrived at the
NUS Tsr ,oc,.,. :. ,... 49,,
Mill dsnoson h T ha, nov, nt the piisoners OF
the berv poe in BIeeeker street in ,sa1 s n 81
several instances were given in which he had exbbitcd
lighness of mind He a native ireland hailing from
The county of Armagh about 40 10 years of age and
rather delegate looking than otherwise An attempt
made to impeach the character of Catharine Kelly the
principal witness, but not much was elected in that
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