The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-04-26
Court OF Oyer and Terminer.
Before Judge Edmonds, and Aldermen Adams and

Before Judge Edmonds and Aldermen Adams ana
TRIAL OF MATHEW WOOD FOR TIE MURDER OF HIS
WIFE.
,r APRIL 2o-lTHRp DAY.[-JANE NcFARLArD recalled
lbefore the cross-examnation Of this witness COM
the District Attorney put the following ques-
9. Had you any conversation with her!
G. What was the nature Of the conversation
sat right behind her on the bed think she died
about 10 0clock witness said to her. SUSAN you are
going to die tell if Mathew Wood has done this on
your" deceased answered. 81 believe -"
PRsoNEas COUNSEL objected to belief it was not evil
dence against the prisoner.
The CouRr oyerruled the question, on the ground
that II deceased herself alive and placed on the
stand her belief would not be evidence.
Cross-eIaninafion. became acquainted with the
prisoner about two ago last Christmas in Ireland
he was married at the time; we all came to this
has always been friendly terms with the prisoner
has no ilfeeing to the prisoner it is nine or ten
months since he said he would be revenged Of
the family; don't know the of the street, 1t
two or three blocks round Perry street. both
houses there no present but u.s. advising
him to take room, and keep better hours, and he
said he would after we landed here, lived in Nine
tecnth street for about year and half prisoner lived
with us about three weeks until he got work at Mr..
LG Ss coox,,., peDutv Coroner .r.m,.a for N.
prosecution Received from Doctor Whitaker small
phal in which the contents of the stomach were he
informed me- contained to be given to Professor Reed
witness accordingly took It to the professors labora
tory, and left it there; witness also left the cake which
same time, with the professor.
JOHN II. WHITTIER examined for the prosecution
Is physician practising in this city; q lecturer
for eight years chemistry in this city; made the
pest norton examination on the body Of Mrs Wood;
been poisoned consequently the examination very
minute; having ascertained the character of the food
In which 1t was suspected she had taken the poison
made inquiry If any of it had been left; found that
part Of cake had remained which desired the Assis
tant Coroner to take charge Of; then made inquiry
about the contents of the stomach which understood
she vomited, but there of 1t forthcoming;
also made inquiries if there any of what the girl
made our examination of the body and found some
dark spots the exterior of the body both back and
front; on close examination OF the eyes, we found
there dark spots the white of each my at
tenton particularly directed by the Coroner to the
eye witness made ncsion through the lower lip for
the purpose Of ascertaning the state OF the mouth
after dividing the lower lip, divided the lower jaw,
and found in the mouth small quantity Of dark color
ed huid which spongcd up and squeezed the contents
Of the sponge into vessel prepared for the purpose
then examined the passages through which the food
into the stomach; found a similar fluid in the pas
sage from the mouth to the stomach and slight evil
denee Of inflammation in the same passage; we then
opened into the chest and the greater
of the lung membrane Of the mouth and opened into
the chest in order that Mr. Reed might have oppor
tunity Of examining the contents Of the stomach
then opened the abdomen, and removed the stomach
and intestines with the liver the stomach contained
large quantity of fluid of similar character to that
which we discovered in the mouth then opened
into the stomach also found there little particles
white color; then examined the condition of the
lung membrane Of the stomach and found il in state
of inflammation, and in some places in state of
gestion also found perforaon Of the coats OF the
stomach, but only one; then removed the contents
Of the stomach and it into two phals Of which
gave to the Coroner to give to Mr. Reed and the other
gave to students that present to examine
them went nofurther in the examination, but should
from the history of the case with the
examination and the appearances presented that she
died from an irrtant poison, which should say was
arsenic, that however to depend upon the analysis;
cred Mt a
time, and could not account for them; but upon
analysis, We discovered they sulphur; that,
ascertaned given to the deceased by Dr. McKenna
the examination of the liver IL Of the great mo-
dern tests that the poison has entered into the creu
| Crosseramined.-The fluid found in the mouth was
mucous mixed with some foreign body which appeared
to be like the rust Of iron.
| Dr. WALTERS City Coroner examined for the prose-
cuion.-Examined the body Of the deceased and from
its appearance witness led to direct the attention
Of DR. Whttiker who made the post norton examine
ton particularly to the black spots the eye after
| having examined upwards of one thousand cases, |
never found black spot on the eye except where the
party poisoned witness caused the prisoner to be
arrested and told him the pretty strong
| against him; he made no remark.
| Cross-eramined, to show that Jane Mcfarland told
| different story when she examined before him ut
| the inquest.
Wood about O'Clock the day she poisoned; did
not order any jaap; ordered that some oxide Of
iron should be given she had the prominent symptoms
4 Of being poisoned, but not oil.
Cross-e1arnned. AT the time her, at o'clock,
JOHN DIVER, examined for prosec uton.-Resides at
No. 120 Twentieth street rccoects the day which
cake out of the backhouse by directions Of Reed and
afterwards giving it to him he took ii to his house
| Cross-eramined.- Wood that morning about
O'Clock went to the house with him his wife in
bed and she appeared to me il she going into
bed; afterwards found Mrs Wood to be very sick he
first said witness then asked what the matter
he said she sick from eating cakes and that Marga
ret Reed was very sick toothat she had eaten cakes
too witness asked where they got the -four he said
eaten buckwheat cakes that morning and they not
sick; witness afterwards met Dr. McKcnna at Brady's
and he told witness that he had great doubts but that
there poison in the cakes he could not get the
batter, although he asked for it, witness Henry
Mcfarland afterwards and he said that his sister
surely poisoned and that he'd kill Wood witness said
he should not kill any one about his premises; If he
wanted satisfaction he should resort to the law for it
saw Mrs. Mcfarland there; she was there the whole
evening there great numbers Of people there all
the evening don't know whether Mrs. Wood and
| she were alone there that evening.
LAWRENCE REED examined for the prosecution.-1sa
chemist and engaged in that pursuit since boy
remember that in this case received altogether five
articles 1t the day before the Coroners inquest
directed Mr. Cockefair to put them into my laboratory
taken from Mrs woods body the first was a small bot.
tie containing the contents Of Margaret Reeds stom
the contents Of Mrs. Woods stomach a bowl
containing the stomach Of Mrs W ood and q pot
containing the liver intestnes SC also paper marked
cakes; made a chemical examination of the whole Of
them next morning, about or O'Clock; analysing
the liver, found arsenic in 1t; the stomach and the
contents treated the same way, and found presume,
10 grains Of arsenic also found arsenic in state Of
combination with the stomach; also examined the
cake and found arsenc found arsenic in tho contents
Of Margaret Reeds stomach; found about grains Of
the poison in the cake few grains, 1t gets into cir
culaton, will effect death; | also found the oxide of
iron and sulphur in the stomach.
Upon his examination, Professor Reed said that
in testing the of Mrs Wood he found that the
hundred and fifty thousandth part of the smallest guam
ty Of arsenic could be discovered in the human body
Dr. MekrSsA, recalIed,Attcnded the post nortem ex-
animation, and heard the testimony Of Doctor Whit
Professor Reed