The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-09-13
Trial OF spencer for the Murder OF his Wife
In jersey City.


The prisoner took his usual seat his COUNSEL his
father sat him. and in the course OF the day SO did
his sister
The couRr its opening cited from the books auhO
ri y, in support Of its rulingIof Yesterday.
Jusrus L. Dospis was recalled to the stand and cross
G. From the conduct Of prisoner various occasions
what did you believe the state of his mind to have been
Did you believe he was Of mind' Do you
now believe he was of sane or insane mind
The STATE objected Decision reserved
q. The night Of the iath, when you went for the
Waterman did you state to the watchman that the prso
G. On the evening of the LIST of July did you not tell
MDonne the watchman that the prisoner was insane
O. Did you not tell Jones that the prisoner was in
sane
Mrs SUSAN DosBIS. mother to the deceased, here
called to the stand She dressed mourning,
and appeared to be in delicate state OF health, much
worn, and about so years Of age.
Examined by the Attorney General
reside in Montgomery street. Jersey City remov-
ed there on LIST last May knew Adeine Mary Spencer;
she was my daughter; she was shot by her husband
about hapast twelve o'clock the morning of the oth
July; recollect Officer Fooe coming to arrest the pri
the morning ofthe 18th July; Justus Dobbin
my son, was with him; Spencer his wife and Mary Fle
there on that night the bell rang and the door
and opened it; my and the officer came In; went
Sna sat IN my the the Sac Ua9 10
room on the lounger; Spencer rose up and the officer
said he had come for him again, Mr.: Spencer
wanted to know of him if he could get bail, and
could not hear what the answer was Mr. Spencer re-
marked that "he wanted to see his wife y don't know
moment" said Mr. Spencer" want to ask her if she will
go to Jail with me- il shall be obliged to go Spencer
left the room and went TO his we's door, and returned
did not hear what they said he said to my Louis
won't you go and speak to Mary and see she will see
M
datey stepped towards Adenes bed room and Mr. Spen
Ger right behind him b the next moment heard the re
mute or two as the report went off the officer sprang
from where he stood; ! sprang after him. and heard
port, heard her thought that he must have
shot my sprang to the front door, and turned and
men rushed in turned to go in the and saw the
in the middle of the parlor, bringing Mr. Spencer
that heard my son say "she shot stood until they
passed mel ] then ran into see where she was and
ns OF
dear cantyou speak one word to me ~ Her hands were
going and she appeared as if inclined to say can
not" but she could not articuate l can't remember
whetherI stood up sat by her don't think she lived
six eight minutes after this the two reports
thought that my was shot too the men who rushed
in went right by on the LIST July Mr.. Spencer and
IN used bad bad
deed-profanng his Maker; told him that would not
have this quarreng and that every day It was worse
and he gave out that he considered the house his
well any bedys and by G., that nobody should
rule him-nobody should master him ; said, THAT
body wanted to told him that he should be peaceable
and that when Jusus come Justus should get officer
to if he could not make him peaceable !" he soid
"by G., it would mot be well for an officer to come
here you would blood spilled before he would
take )" he then went abusing his wife, and told
her that she had had four husbands and that he suppo
sed she wanted more but by G., she should ne
yer have any more y heard him make that remark to
her before he called his wife srumpet often in my
hearing he told her that she was We she said,
"once would not have borne this !; told him he should
not act so and he called damned old hog he told
wife and that by Cd if I'D, he would shoot me
that his pistol loaded he room and wento
had never seen him SO angry aid not see any hog Of
the pistol that days as he crossed the room his wife said
now he will shoot YOU said no he durstn shoot ;1i
see what will do" addressing me; said in reply, ~
not afraid ofyou your pistols and yet was afraid
noon not great time before time; after candlelight
Mrs Spencer the deceased) came down to the Kitchen
with pisto Mr. Spencer there's she put the pis
toll in little closet place under the stairs was six
barrel pistol believe the pistol belonged to Spencer;
pistol here produced said to her., now, If he misses
that pistol it will make him in rage, and will put
back that pistol agan took up the pistol and carried it
p hs could S the
the bed and knowing that my daughter was afraid Of the
weapon, kept little watch upon it myself sat down
in the paor when left the bedroom and Spencer was
but few minutes when Mrs Spencer took light and
down; kept watch upon her, and again left the
took my light and went to the bedroom door to see
il the pistol there the bed placed it, it was ly
ing there; in a few minutes Mr. Spencer rose up and
went to the bedroom; then walked out to the back
steps, and when heard him start to come out, came
up again. and he moving along discovered that
the pistol removed; there was other disturbance
that evenings my boarder there; and there was no
disturbance while he was there; Mr.: Pattee was the
name of my boarder; then heard Mr. Spencer say
Come Mary are you going to beds" she said II will
lay here awhile, have taken some medicine;" then
went to bed; don't know how long had been in bed
but some time; after my daughter came up stairs;
and she had mot been long up Mr. H %
she is afraid to sleep with me; she says she will lay on
the ounger;" said, very well, let her lie on the
lounger;" he made the same remark as BEFORE that
wanted to separate them then called Justus, and called
my servant; said wanted my son to come there mi
to me-, he came into the room, but while he was
DRESSING Spencer went down stairs Adeline then
into the room my went down stairs and gone
little while my returned, and then Adeline went
down at his request came up again. and sat there
and waited We heard noise down stairs as Of the rat.
Adsline up and was with me during the remainder
of the night believe that il was Spencer that came to
my room door after that and asked Mrs. Spencer to 60
down; said did want to be disturbed heard some
noise down stairs and went out to the lobby hear if
there any killing going on; went TO Mr. Patees
room and asked him to get p he got up and down
STAIRS Spencer came into about twice and said
to him did not want to have him coming into my room;
justice the following days my son went to the Justices
office with me; think he returned home with me;
was present when the officer made the arrest.
Cross-eramned.-On the night of the l4th July when
my left for the police Office for warrant about
house we ali understood where he was going don't
know who asked him to go but my told Spencer If
he did not Donave ntmseu ne Would nave sent TO
al Richardson there at Spencers request in order
bail spencer Richardson was there from an early part
my servant and myself were there; Spencer brought
Richardson there that night, and did not know that he
coming; knew Of no appointment bet ween them;
New York the day before; when Spencer and
Richardson came in SPENCER said that he came across
Richardson the ferry and that he brought him in to
il there could be any reconciliation between them
The Court here took
| RECESS,
and sgan met at a,s o'clock when was agreed that in
of its being Saturday the court should ad
| journ at AZ O'Clock, r. NJ.
| Characterization resumed.-Mr. Richardson came to
our house the early part of the evening of the l4h
July; when Richardson came in the first time the day
of the I4h July, it about o'clock; he did not
main there long; they had conversations believe
appointment was made; can't say what II was about
| The STATE objected to this line Of examination.
| WirNEn-When Richardson not aware
| that there appointment; when Richardson came
he said he would do every thing in his to make