The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-03-30
TRIAL OF ALBERT ]. TIRRELL,
FOR THE
Murder Of Maria Ann Bickford,
IN BOSTON,.
ACQUITTAL OF THE PRISONER.



FIFTH AND LAST DAY.
Supreme Judicial Court.
Present-Judges Wilde, Hubbard and Dewey
:, Counsel for the Commonwealth, Samuel d. Parker
Esq; for the prisoner Hon. Rufus Choate and Annis
Bosror, Saturday March IS
AT o'clock, the hour of adjournment the Court came
day ofths trial. in attendance The clear and beautiful
Day without 80 calm and fresh with spring contrasted
every countenance among the spectator who but
mpstisnty awaiting the result Of the days proceedings
seemed to form the centre Of atraction" haifconsc
ous yet calm that he the chief parsonage in the
He sit. erect. shows fair front, is neatly and well
dressed and would make no moan ngure in the fashion
JuDoE DswEY's CHANGE TO THE Juar
The prisoner at the bar stands charged with crime
Of the deepest dyethe murder ofMrs. Maria Ann Bck
ford The Judge advered to the enormity of the crime
10 clear and candid manner The prisoner hes wide
circle OF accusers bring forth strong proof
by the interference Of certain unavoidable circum-
stances and passions Life tho gift Of God and the
Murder is the crime Of which he stands charged but It
must clearly be proved that it was malicious and pre-
acs would be useless to point out the differ
seems TO admit OF but this is murder or sui
eide. You have heard the evidence given-upon your
Judgment you must rely for direction and 10 your
duty to render verdict in accordance with that judg
menf There several kinds Of testimony which may
But witnesses are liable to be psrjured From our
knowledge OF human nature and actions s passions and
other. Crcumstantal evidence must fully satisfy the
jury Of the existence Of the facts sought to BE- establish
ed fthese facts arc not found the evidence cannot be
supported. The facts are well known; and tho Judge
then rserrsd to the Of blood and commenced the
recital Of some Of the evidence Of Coroner Pa OF this
he rat did not visit the body until some hours after
the deed was Perpetratsd, especially. Whether
Of things " 70 the and true n. ' ssr
examining ss.nony ssnsrs
he said the gust s-Was murder or suicide =
Several Pectable witnesses testified that mght be
suicide And again, may be said that she had prin
laudanum and the threat Of taking her own life with
violence too was brought uphe fact that she carried
But the witness who has testified to such important facts
Il.
deed was done either by the deceased the prisoner
at the bar II in your Judgment it was a Suicide you
judge otherwise it will be your duty verdict
according to that Judgment But the prisoner in the
prisoner in another place but on the contrary evil
dence sho wn that his clothes were found in the
destroy the works of unhoy and wicked act may be
considered in this connection See the matches scatter
ed in various parts Of the roomand especially those
tion of the body when discovered-snd we have tes
have been able to move after the infection Of the
wound. The fight Of the prisoner from the scene Of
blood. was very peculiar and, as would seem. with
no apparent idea that he liable to be charged
with aarse Rsins tsld Inst il the fset he prompt
" replied that he would meet that charge But follow
ing the advice OF friends he took different
csedng to Montreal and then to New Orleans All this
may be conclusive evidence that he feared to tho
in consequence the old s.ir % cry which
he was liable TO be punished; and not wholly be.
There is some evidence Of slight petty quarrels
which will 60 to weigh somewhat in the conclusion of
this case And another Of the deep love- the
prisoner Notwithstanding the iegaty) seems to be
wholly inconsistent and unreconcisble with the fact
with her charms thst he could not break without talk
ing the life OF the syrsn But who did the deedi e
act, you must bring him in guilty. The law presumes
hat all parsons are capable Of violating the law, until
they are found at times to have control over the
science reason or judgment II the latter shall be the
case Of tho prisoner he ought to be acquitted II pro.
pondsrsnce to this phantasy upon which the defence is
act from impulse he should not be held response
BILE for this act In Of somnambusm, the dreamer
seeks punishment Of one who has lost reason
conscience or sensibty through thing that comes
under either Of this head other Such are strange
but yet common occurrences The testimony of physi
Clans Of eminent standing 10 not lightly to be regarded
And In connection with tho testimony regards the
nearly all the evidence brought forward by the defence
to prove that the prisoner was subject to this species of
sss S" s. 90 de
prisoner in this state oil sleep at the time Of the murder!
Does II not appear that he made all necessary ar
to ss s saw Hesa on s mU1
ing Of the a7th Of October He had just left the
must have had his all awake at both these places
GrSrLEMEH,-The cause Of the prisoner 10 In your
Sm s b9
the causes mentioned in the defence, Is your duty to
acquit the prisoner II not then 1t will devolve upon
you in fulfilling the requirements Of justice and tor the
protection Of society and its general welfare to bring in
q verdic, Of" guilty.
cradle feeling prevailed and the prisoner appeared
deeply effected In referring 70 some particular points
The jury went out .. ia before ii o'clock.
At Ave minutes Of O'Clock Air. Sheriff EvELrrH an
verdict upon this Important He warned the audi
snce to receive the verdict whatever might be- with
out the least noise or dsordsr, and charged the ocsrs
The Jury returned, after absence Of hours, alta
minutes Sfi o'clock, with verdict Of NOT GUILTY.
sed applause pervaded tho court room and while the
prisoner, with his eyes firmly fixed upon the foreman
received the verdict Of his counrsnen athrili Of JOY
seemed TO glow upon IT,
The Jury did not consider the question Of sonambu-
The prisoner was formally discharged on tho indict-
The streets and avenues leading to the courtHouss
were throngsd with people, who received the ntsll
gence with much appreciation and feeling
LEGISLATIVE SuMMARY-In tho Senate, to-day,
private claims occupied the entire session. The
bill for the relief Of B. Thomas and r. worden went TO
bird reading The bill for the relief Of the heirs Of
James Dobbin passed The hour Of meeting was chang
with. Adjourned.
In the House. the select committee much Of
the message relates to tho Manor tenures submitted
report through Mr. Tden, accompanied by four bills
to abolish dist for rcnt-to equalse taxation-to
amend the statute Of and dsscents and to sxtn
gush certain In relation to costs In courts
Of record The committee reported, ALSO BY majority,
against the bill in relation TO tenuros Ten times the
usual number Of report and bills ordered to be
printed The bill 10 extend the Troy and Schenectady
railroad to Utica read G third time, and several
amendments prcposed-one Of which imposing camel