The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-08-05
Price Two Cents.

was not in his right mind have seen him Frequently sit
ting on his seat apparently not able to work and other
times walking about the house wrnging his hands aad
cry ing like badly have frequently heard him say he
was afraid he would lose his eye sight ave him
standing at the table eatng-he would down and
appeared TO be Indifferent to food. was not a
on his trial saw him on the day of the murder. both
before and alter that first him that
day between and 10 o'clock house here be was at
Work IN Centre street short distance from his residence
h was sn %o5k on his seat had conversation with
drive my hearse He said he wonld, got up and went
WIN me 10 his house there found ly ing in
ped anu his WIFE lie asked his wife for the bow and she
said he was out. We both told her wanted the bow and
ne sald she would send him. and then Topping and my
sen weht out together, and he to his work and
went home He was sober at the time and we aid not
drink any together He engaged in some hit talk said
twas dull New-yea day but that he wond be civ
to have plenty some time. cannot saw his wife wss
drunk but she looked if she had drank some cannot
say that she drunk or that she was sober tn an
peared to be goodnatured and pleasant towards each
other. next saw him on the same day when word came
out OF what was done was passing by his place on my
way to church. and a crowd around his door I did
not go ms saw him in the DOOR the officers had arrested
HIM, and were bringing him away did not speak to him
nor dd go to the Police ufhce, but went church.
did not see him between that time and hi, trial. went to
the prison twice for that purpose they would not adj
mt me- did not wish to appear the trial witness
because was of life and deah was never sum
ned or called onior the purpose of becoming Witness
heara ne was sunstruck on the night oil the occur
renee he has frequently told me since he
that he was afraid he would lose his reason and become
unable to support his family.
CORNELIUS b. ARCHER, ESQ, sworn.-Winess is Coro
ner OF the city and county Of New York. and phys
cian Has been in practice physician for ten years
first saw Topping the I'd of January last at the time
OF holding the inquest the body Of his WIFE He APP
peared to be man who much bewildered in his
MIND which attributed TO fright He was present during
the examination of the Witnesses and exhibited stod
Indifference to what was going saw evidence of
dlotism in his manner that he did know right
wrong. asked him how he came to commit the murder.
and he replied that he did not know what
him." have seen him frequently since, both before and
since ms trial He appeared TO be of feeble
intellect without education and Of mited means of IN
formation Subsequent to the inquest he appeared to
and that he to be executed and asked me how long
was gong to give him to prepare He must have
education as have frequently seen him reading the bible
never saw any direct evidence of insanity in him.
saw him exhibit any indications of insanity although he
appeared to be man of great debility Of mind. con
sdered him man OF inoiiensive turn of mind and
hardly conceive how he could commit of violence
without some powerful and exciting cause.
EDWARD N MEAD sworn.-b minister of the gospel,
connected with the Episcopal church Has visited Top
ping frequently since the LIST OF February Our
versation has been of purely religious character He
appeared to be of avery weak and feeble mind He told
me several times that his wife appeared him. He said
that on one occasion he asked her, Well Betty did
commit this murder r and she replied, Z" Yes, Tommy,
you did that he then said well then didn't know 1t
Betty; and that she replied know you didn't, Tom
oohache and that she and turned his head the
pillow, and the pain Immediately left him. His memory
appeared to be feeble and he has appeared realise
the enormity OF his offence He has frequently told me
that he did not recollect what occurred the of
January last after o'clock He has exhibited any
conrition for the offence. him in q condition
when thought he incapable of disting right
and wrong, or the difference between moral immo
| raj action
JAMES WHITE, sworn-Wtness resides at 24j Edridge
street; carpet weaver by profession, but
poyed by the corporation. Has known prisoner for
ten years, and always found him very harmless man. I
saw him about two years since at my broher-inlaw's
would not trust him to do any business and beiev ed
him to be incapable of doing any. Never heard him
plain of his head Have heard he sun-struck AL
ways thought his mind was weak and that he gno
rant-what we call simple man. did not apprehend
ne would do any person an injury believe he was capa
Ole oil distinguishing wrong action from right one
have not seen him before since that day two ago
| spoke Of
ELIZABETH TOPPING sworn-Witness is sister to the
prisoner Toppng he was born in the county of Armagh
Ireland and has been eleven years in this country
not seen him but seldom for the last three Jour
years. he sober steady man when he first to
this country; his wife first told me Of his being suruck.
and said that his temper had changed since that time very
much he appeared to be more stupid after that accident
than ormery afraid thst he might become insane,
and 60 to the asylum; he always weak minded man;
he has put out in the when sick, and
wards would remember he had done it, and would not
believe it at times he would act strange ards his am
y and would treat those that he liked the best
never knew him to act strange when boy have fire.
quently seen him have strange fits jump suddenly from
his seat and sometimes and sometimes sng once he
acted very strange suddenly bursted cry ing said he
had home and then began to abuse and curse his
Their; have seen him in prison frequently since the MUIR
der and he has had recollection of the murder;
knew him to mistake member of the family for
| other; he always knew me to be his sister.
| ISABELLA ROBERTS swom--Wness resides at No. 30
Sixth Avenue has known Topping for eleven years he
tenant ofmy husbands for about three years after
| came
family after that he became unsteady and exhibited
much weakness of mind, which have heard attributed
TO his being sunsruck about FIVE years ago Of
his children died and he left the house the u
neral after waiting for him long time the procession
moved and he met in the road and insisted taking the
corpse back to the house; he weak minded but
can't say whether he could distinguish between right
| and wrong or not.
MosEs HEATLY sworn-Witness resides at II Thompson
street Has known Topping between two and three
He tenant Of mine. have him but three times
during the last fourteen months. he last time
him the in month Of April previous to the murder He
came my store and passed through into my and
sat down without speaking to After he was there
time spoke to him, and he gave me simple answer
did not understand. My wife remarked that he looked
strange. then told him go home, and he got up and
| went home. One night when he was my tenant, was
called and found him partly dressed in the entry and
threatening to kill some women ! was told he had ?
| knife. Ibeeve he knew the difference between right
! and wrong never thought him insane.
Dr. JOIN RosISsoN, sworn--On the morning Of the LIST
| of January last man, whom afterwards ascer
tanned Topping was at his house attending sick
girl named Kelly; reproved the women for not follow
directions and they treated me rather harsh Top
ping quite courteous towards me- asked me to take
sea he appeared sober; noticed nothing remarkable
his conduct except species OF over cearteousness
| SAMUEL DALzELI, housekeeping in my employ
about fourteen months from ls4o to the time of the
murer. He did his work as well ms he could but he was
not good workman; he was irregular quite fogetiul
and strange in his have heard something Of his
having been sunsruck; he my store the morn
ing of the murder, about o'clock gave him some
money. saw nothing unusual IN his Iooks he talked
about going work; he always looked pale, had wild
vacant look, IL he man lsborng under trouble
and never appeared cheerfu never him in q condi
ion when thought he could not distinguish bew Ger
he murder when he told me he had no recollection Of
| how II happened.
| The Commission was then adjourned until Monday
| next at O'Clock, P. M.
CHATHAM THEArRB.--A rare bill at the Chatham
tonight Besides the tragedy of Macbeth, with al
excellent cast, they bring out the interesting dram