The New York herald., 1846-03-26
TRIAL OF ALBERT ]. TRRELL,
FOR THE
Murder Of Maria Ann Bickford,
IN BoST ON.
FIRST DAY.


Commonwealth Us. Albert j. TirreR, tor TIE al
legged Murder Of Maria Amm Bickford. For the
Commonwealth, SAMUEL ID. PARKER, Esq, County
Attorney. For the prisoner, Hon. RUFUS CHoATI,
and ANNIs and A. B, MERRILL, Esqrs.
TUESDAY, March a, 1886.
AT an early hour this morning, the Court House
and every avenue leading to it was thronged by an
eager multitude to witness the trial of this unfor-
tunate young man. AN eyes were anxious to get
view Of him who is charged with the appalling
crime Of numbering Mania Ann Bickford, a
young married woman, much celebrated in GER
tain circles for her personal beauty and at
tractive charms. At nine o'clock the prison
was brought into the court room before the ven-
cradle Judges, and an eager e and gaping crowd Of
lawyers, who were all eyes and ears. From the
anxious countenances of the eager multitude, and
other demonstrations in and about the Court House,
one might be led to suppose some great event was
about to take place, some new burst upon the
world
Al much curiosity always exists in the human
heart to know how man looks whs has done any
deeds, whether good bad to distinguish him from
the rest Of his fellow travellers in this "vale Of
tears" we will describe he appeared to us while
he stood in the prisoners bar during the reading of
the indictment. BY order OF the Clerk, he was re-
quested to hold up his right hand, while this well
drawn and carefully worded instrument was clearly
and distinctly read. He did so, and as he rose, he
exhibited a countenance marked by sorrow and in
tense thought In person he is nearly or quite six
feet TALL slender about the waist, full breasted and
apparently possessing more than an ordinary share
of muscular power.
He wore snuff brown colored coat with rounded
lapels, and bright buttons; doube-breasted black
satin vest black pants, black handkerchief and shirt
collar turned down the whole being very fashion.
ably made and well fitted to his genteel form His
counenance has nothing in it peculiarly attracting,
and would pass among the crowd as very well look
ing. His forehead is not high, nor broad but the
intellectual Developments are fair. The most pc
cnar feature is his mouth. This is unusually large
the corners being much turned down, giving it the
appearance Of grief, it not Of worse passion His
and somewhat muscular in its appearance, if we
may use such term. His eyes light blue or hazle,
and his hair light brown. He wears no whiskers
complexion is light, but his countenance is not pal
lid, being rather ford and fresh looking for one who
has come out Of prison.
But for his dress which is Of the dandy cut he
might be taken for some mechanic, or even young
farmer, so far as his face is concerned. While the
indictment was being read to HIM he held up his
head as ii his nerves were not easily moved by out
firm and faced the Venerable judges, he sharp eyed
lawyers and the gaping crowd, with as much cool
ness and apparent unconcern as any man could un-
der the same circumstances who was gazing upon
him with such eager curiosity Before the Indictment
was read the process Of empanneling the jury was
gone through with. The prisoner having the right
to challenge, peremptoriy, twenty jurors, and as
many more as he could find cause for challenge,
counsel stood beside him with paper in his hand
containing the names Of all the jurors summoned,
and told him when to challenge. The clerk would
call juror. and say "Juror look upon the p:ison;
face each other and the prisoner would say, Ichal
lenge him., !" another would be called, and he would
say, let him be sworn" Thus he did until he had
Each juror thus accepted BY the prisoner was sworn
to make true answers before he was sworn In chief
to try. the prisoner on the Indictment, and true
deliverance make between him and the Common
wealth.
The following are the names of the jurors empan-
neled-the foreman being appointed by the court =
Samuel Aspinwsl foreman; Theophius Burr, Ben
Calvin Haskell, John Mardsn Calvin 8. Magoon Daniel
Messinger Jr, Geo. w. Parmenter, Joseph Winsor, Jr
After the jurors were thus empannelled, the in
dlctment was read, and the prisoner put upon his
trial. Mr.. Parker then rose and opened the case to
the and jury in very able, eloquent and inte
resting manner. His address is as follows:-
THE OPENING ADDRESS TO THE JURY.
according to law, and set apart from your fellow
by the personal choice and selection Of the unhappy
young at the bar to enter upon the discharge Of
prsssnsmsns ss:nst him. Which You have just heard
read to you and Of certifying to this HonCsbl: Court
and to 2: the People o. this n their ~
most foul and atrocous murder astounded the
nhsbitan. Of this city upon i, discoysry in the mids.
question. whether Albert John Tirr. who now stand:
crime n manner AM and form =. sst iortS in hi: ndics
ment Before God and this assembly you have pledged
s
according to the evidence only II rumor BY any Of
her thousand tongues or the press BY sny Of it, ten
your minds BY Impressions prejudices affecting this
all the principles Of honor duty, law and religion
your minds and insure the prisoner as fair trial
&c an earthly tribunal can give.
T Ds n,
Of great personal bssssy, sciting manners and do,
sduteress But gsntsmsn Of the jury the law throws
good and murder loses not M guilt in the bassnsss Of
It's victim Life IL the GIFT Of God to all and while II
s .ern .
and suddenly drives he sufferers another world with
to no one private person. sud the lite of every high
and low rich and poor, vrtuous depraved guarded
law II has been said, none high to be above
its CONTROL and none low % to be benssh in regard
Al cv,l,.sa nation, have M made murder % capital felony
dered and the punishment by our statute also
forfeiture Of the life Of the murderer Whososvsr sheds
law for Ave thousand years Bat while the awful pun.
shment 70 prescribed In our statute book the definition
fence.
That you may readily undsrsand the bearing and effect
Of the testimony ~ shall introduce IT, may be proper
to give yen brief outline Of the facts expect to prove
Albert Tirren 10 the of the late Mr.. Leonard Tir.
roll Of Weymouth in this State, who died In l643. I'm
der his father he was brought up TO the shoe manufac
turing business His age was ~ last February He was
married N leA2 q the age Of 10 years, and has now
vile and two children. The cause Of early
marriage in his minority, | need not state. He had
unfortunately . kinsman living in New Bedford,
mate with Mary Ann Dickford In the summer Of
1874; she wss married woman, twenty.ons years old
last June, she was married In the State of Maine to
James Bickford In March ls40, being then less than
seventeen ears old she deserted her husband ls42
gor, whose name need not be stated here Alter some
time she was abandoned BY him, and rssortsd to pros
tuition for support both In Boston end New Bedford Her
husband made several ineAectual attempts 70 reclaim
her He was long and perfectly acquainted with her
adultereus intercourse with Albert j. 1irs and see m