The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-04-20

prietors who pay the expenses of the overland ex-
press, &c. The news was not reserved" in any
way, shape, or form.
Court OF Oyer and Terminer.
Before Justice Edmonds, and Aid. Adams and Downing
TRIAL OF WILLIAM DONALDSON FOR THE MURDER OF
ANDREW MEEHAN.
APRIL 1T.-After tho Judge and Aldermen had taken
their seats and the court opened by tho crer the
Judge announced that Of tho officers who had charge
of the jury went home, last evening" with juror and
through the ignorance and inexperence Of both the
remained away from his fellows all night. His honor
ty and he wished to know from counsel both sides
what course they intended to pursue.
PnlsosEn's CouNsEL-At present would not feel au-
most important The life OF an individual ia at
stake and should the District Attorney press the
will object to all further proceedings based upon
the facts announced by the court
The DISTRICT ArronrEr offered to show that there
had been communication with the juror on the part
of the prosecution and called tho prisoners counsel
to show that there any corruption foul play;
otherwise his objection could not be sustained ~
The PRISONER $ COUNSEL said he would rest his obie
tion on what fell from the Court.
CouRr-We ovcrrule the objection. The prisonc-'S
counsel excepted The case then proceeded with.
JOHN GossIr recalled, and his examination for tho
prosecution proceeded with-After Meehan fell, and
to Mcchan and looked at him; | no blood on him
he Ais back; looked in his face; they called to
the Branch Hotel in the Bowery, tho stoop it was
before the body of Meehan at the station house,
in Leonard street after ! saw Donaldson and saw
blood in the vicinity Of whore the occurrence took
place. when prisoner and met the next morning. I
bid him good morning; he looked detected; spoke of
the matter to him. and said would 20 down TO the
place to the body and ascertain if it was the same
man had the difficulty with; | then won't to the
Tombs where they were holding an inquest saw Do
madison again; spoke to him and told him it the
body; made some other remarks to him; told him
they had tho Frenchman arrested, and that did not
think it was right to have innocent to suffer;
that best for him to get out Of the way that
would disclose the whole matter; in some few days.
perhaps week or ten days he went off to ST. Louis
To the Court disclosed the whole matter in six
months after it happencd left this city to go TO South
America and the West Indies about y month after
Donaldson left; after my return served with q
subpoena, ard then disclosed all knew; our
party but Donaldson came in collision with the
it was between ono and two o'clock in the morning. it
dark night could not distinguish whether it
was blood or liquor that Meehan vomtted
the prsoner was sprnr dirk Knife II vas S nSo w,in
or eight inches long, handle and all only blade;
did not SEQ him have the knife out that night before
but him frequently have a knife before in his DOS
session. don't know what he carried it for it like
the knife produced not so wide, but longer;
him frequently take it out of his pocket and pick his
teeth with it, have not seen him since in New York
until lately
Cross-eramined- him have the knife length of
time previous to the occurrence; him take ii
publicly and exhibit it in bar have knives
carried by other persons; have carried similar knife
myself; in giving exhibitions in the country, in the
profession TO which the prisoner and myself belong,
such knives often useful in cutting ropes and ar
ranging the machinery, &c
Q.-How often had you drank after you left the am,
phtheatre that night before the place
Al was somewhat intoxicated and were all the
party, we were pretty merry when first Bratto
and deceased they all about twenty PAGES mo-
Lockwood and Donaldson ten or twenty
PAGES ahead Of US; something took place between de-
ceased Bratto and Donaldson. which cannot we'll de-
scribe, but it appeared to me that they against
each other; heard nothing from any until heard
the remark from Mcehan to myself after they jostlcd
prisoner and the Captain they continued their
towards me- the contact between myself Lockwood
and Mcehan violent that was thrown against
hak
heard tho rcmark made by Mechsn; 10 made
70 me in violent and angry tone the sidewalk
not wide enough to allow four persons to abreast
After Donaldson struck Mcehan, the latter walked up
and grabbed Bratto the latter pushed him off, said
II he wanted to fight let him and fight his bat
ties, and added " have had trouble enough with you
already some words TO that effect. Ncehan then
went of by himself At the time that the remarks be-
tween myself and Mochan passed Donaldson and Lock-
wood came towards me; Bratto was on tho sidewalk
little above US. told the deceased he drunk and
to go away wished to have nothing to do with him
In backing down the street. Donaldson went against the
railing did not discover that he received any blow
from Meehan, although the latter squaring at him
all the time Amer ho recovered himself at the railing
he continued 10 retreat until he got under the lamp
post where the blow struck which caused Meehans
death The reason the deceased left mo, because
Donaldson said he was a id sooundre for pushing
people of the sidewalk
strike him was that IL was evident 30 the deceased
drunk and we had spent the fore part Of the
evening pleasantly and without getting into any d-
GUILTY, wanted TO got homo without having any
To a Juror was about A. far ~ whore am now
sitting from the opposite door, from tho lamp-post |
was enabled to SOC tho blow by the light Of the lamp
Donaldson and Mcehan Immediately under it.
To tie COURT SOW tho body Of tho deceased naxt
morning. and found, upon examining 1t, that the
wound wns on the right sido Of the neck
To Prisoners Counse!-The conversation had after
ward with Donaldson, Lockwood, present ut
Ellen Carley.
a-w hofc dd you detail the occurrence to Ellen
Carly that night
Counr-The witness may answe, or not, a. he pleasss
WITNESS prefer not answering
PRIsorER's CoUrsnL-The rule Is where the answer 10
pertinent although IL degrade the Witness he s
bound to answer 1t. 1t We could show that Ellen
Carley not at the place whore he may say ID
related that night it would 20 to tho witness credit
Covr1,For the present override the question.
Q.-When did you see Elton Carley last
About three or four weeks ago don't rcmem-
Der whether related tho conversation had with the
prisoner at the corner OF the street not said very
little 70 her about IL.
Q.-Whowas the next person to whom you related Il
Al disremcmbcr; related it to some person while
the voyage to the West Indies; did not relate IL 20
any other person in New York that 1 remetnbe |
don't remember how long il after returned from
tho West Indies that made tho sHidavit-probaby 10
was three weeks or months; had no conversation
with Ellen Carley after got back and before went
TO the police.
Q.-Whcn and to whom did you first state tho con.
vcrsaton you had with Donaldson, at the corner of
Centre and Walker streets?
Al disremembcr sir; related it to some one be-
fore did TO the District Attorney but don't know TO
whom; don't know who told it to the District Attoy
ncy; should be glad to find who ID was that told
hun OFT; had conversation with the District At
torney twice on the subject sanctioned letter which
appeared in tho New ork Herald I caused IL to be
written to contradict reports which very general
y circulated throughout the country to my pref uioc
when was taken to the police office Mr. Stewart and
tho Judge before whom was examined. told me thoy
knew everything about the charge against Donaldson,
and that might well tell all knew about III | did
not however state tho conversation had with Donald
ron at tho corner, because had sympathy for the
man
G.-IIad you conversation with Mr. Ward this
subject
Al had
Q-Did not Ward AK you If Donaldson could get out
Of his way and did you not say that Donaldson could
not get cut Of his way except he to beat him run
ming,
Al did saw no other way that he could get out
Of tho difficulty.
To Juror not SEQ Mechan give Donaldson snT
h,ev during tue whole time; nc vac s2aarips all TAG