The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-04-19
TWO CENTS.
Court OF Oyer and Tsrminer.
Before Justice Edmonds and Aldermen Adams and
Downing.


court OF oyer and Terminer.
Before Justice Edmonds and Aldermen Adams and
Downing
TRIAL FOR MURDER.
William Donaldson, indicted for the murder OF An
drew Meehan put to the bar after which the fol-
make between the prisoner and the people Oliver
Bryan, jr. Lewis b. Bacon, Seth Dean Thomas C. Lit
tie, Richard NJ Pe Jonathan Smith Norris f. Phelps,
Nathaniel Bassett Charles Fletcher VIM. H. Weed,
james H. Perkins, and James Crombie. The Associate
District Attorney then stated tho briefly from
the deceased was at party in Anthony street got up
for the benefit Of a widow and her orphan children
He left the party in company with q man named Brat
to- and in coming through street they met four
men. 1t seems the deceased and the prisoner in
liquor and they ran against each other They then
squared off, and the prisoner was heard to saw damn
YOU why did you run against me,u They continued
to square of at each other until they got under q
lamp post when the prisoner WAS seen TO strike tho
deceased after which he fell on the side walk One Of
the prisoners party afterwards said to him William
you have hit the man pretty hard - Upon which the
prisoner replied Eyes | think he will never speak
again" The deceased was, in some time afterwards
picked up by police officer and brought TO the station
house and upon being examined il was found he was
stabbed in the neck and the carotid artery separted
He died from the efusion of blood soon after he was
rought in Bratto was taken up on suspicion of the
urder but afterwards liberated after hearing his
ecount of the transaction. 1t appeared that next
! ornng the prisoner left the oity, and went to New
Orleans; and in months afterwards it found
that he the prisoner) the person who caused tho
cath Of Meehan. reQuisition then procured to
he Governor Of Louisiana, and the prisoner was ar
ested in New Orleans. He afterwards discharged
custody
eauenty came to this CITY and surrendered himself to
take his trial.
ROGER McGLorE called and for the proseou-
tion-Knew the deceased, Andrew Meehan; knew him
in the fall of S47 worked with him at that time at the
steam boiler works owned by Hogo s. Deamater; knew
John Dupleyy: he lived at that time in Anthony
street between and Centre streets went to his
house about that time; after being there about two
hours Neehan and Bratto came In: party WAS given
there that night for the benefit OF a widow woman;
Meehan danced and seemed to enioy himself he also
seemed to he little under tho inuencs Of iiouor be-
Iart.h
pany with Bratto; witness did not see him afterwards
until he saw him in the station house dead; witness
knew him two years. he was rs far rs knew
q quiet, peaceabe man. except when under the niu-
ence Of liquor; he wa. then little quarrelsou,e
OLIVER BRArro examined for the prosecu tion-
Knew the deceased and worked with him; he helped
witness in the mandatory; with him at Dunlevy's
it was after IL o'clock we came through Leonard street
together he came to see me home piece of way as
we came up walking on the sidewalk, witness
next the curb stone and Meehan inside we met three
or four fellows coming against u.s. they we're making
good deal of noise they were coming in front of u.s. as
they passed, deceased turned round and made a mo-
ton with his fist as if to fight witness thought he was
joking and thought he called the others or some OF
them ron of a BIB and At the same time turned
round and went towards them witness then felt some
thing his arm; he turned and saw them all running
down street and the with them witness then
went home: he thought that Meehan went back to
the party lively when they left thought
he met some of his friends and was going back with
them; witness got up next morning, and was going to
work when he was arrested and brought to the police
Office upon examining his coat red spots were found
IL,
the marks Of red lead; knew Meehan for about year
before he appeared to be a Of quick temper but
knew him to be in . quarrel; he was very good
natured that night the prisoner and his party passed
inside Of Ncehnn and witness
Cross-ersmined- Witness saw Meehan that night
on the stoop of Dunevys house; met him there acct
dentay 1t was about eight o'clock well as witness
recoects he asked witness to in; witness cannot
say whether he drinking not; he appeared DO
pretty lively; witness does not recoec to said
kcGloin that he did not like Meehan' is disposition, and
get away from him As soon as he could nor did
m neaalw no hlck In
party; nor did he tell him that Neehan botherng
and annoying him; witness is a married man, and he
was ashamed to be out late aud he wished to get
home; witness heard little noise before he the
prisoner and his party; did not them until they
came upon us; they passed between Meehan and the
house, they appeared to be pretty together; the
first thing saw deceased sQuaring of, and calling
one OF them a son of II -; II understood him right,
that was the expression used; they all passed before
raw him make the motion; cannot say that saw any
thing said or done by any Of those until
deceased square of; they all then started deceased
with them, and ran down the street.
Direct Cannot tell whether 1t was 100 $50
feet from broadway where We met the prisoner and his
party.
JOHN GossoN examined for the prosecution.
the prisoner some five six years; witnes and pr-
soner were both attached to the circus; prisoner
was an ethiopian singer when witness first knew
him; in company with him the night OF Nov.
LIST, 1S4, after tho performance the Bow
cry amphitheatre witness met two persons named
Charles Lockwood, and the other named Bussing,
eastern captain at the Branch Hotel in the Bowery:
Donaldson with witness ut the time, and one vi
them asked witness and Donaldson to go with them
them; we stoned first at two drinking houses and
drank there we then went to houses of ill fame and
drank there also cannot say partc ularly how nany
houses Of the deecription went but know we
were at one in partc uiar in Leonard street when in
Leonard street aughing and Joking Donaldson
was in the habit and loud
ed they got the right Of street coming
towards Elm ST. Donaldson and the captain were ahead
about twenty feet; this we discovered two
men coming up street; cannot say they run against
my party that was ahead. but there was some move
up against the iron railing and was meant a. ( sup
posed, direct insult; witness turned round