The New York herald., 1850-04-26
Court OF Oyer and Termincr.
Before Chief Justice Edmonds, and Aldermen Hawcs
and Griffin
CHARGE OF snURDER-INsAyrTy


CHARGE OF Mt,RDER-INsANTry
April 25-Ihe People John Moore for the Murder
Of Daniel Regdn.This case continued Tho Court,
having consulted together thought IL would BE-
advisable to have verdict from the jury now which
would enable them to send the prisoner the Luustc
Asylum in Bloomingdae until hs real stat. of mind
was more satisfactorily ascertaincd The jury. with
one exception. agreed without leaving their box to
return verdict that the prisoner Of uusound
mind.
The Judge explained TO the mona grc,ng Juror that
the result Of the verdict would be TO have the
properly taken Of and put upon trial for
murder unless the ply ysoian of The yum
him. after some experience of his habits 20 be
The dissenting Juror said that he was of opinion
that the prisoner was sane man now and responsible
for HE acts.
The Judge said that the case the proscc uion
should go on with the examination Of their witnesses
man named FARRELL was then called aud being ex-
amned by the District Attorney deposed that he Knew
the prisoner for ave months beforr the murder: he
never considered him strange In his manner: heard
him say few days previous to the murder that he
would have some ones life. and that ne would then go
mad; he sad he would have blood; heard him talking
to himself one morning and say. Pool that was,
that didnt take his life when had him In power,
knowing that he had dishonored me-
Cross-cxamined-Iiave not said to any one that he
must lie hung, l havc said that my lfu would b. u
dangered IL he was at large.
jeremiah Moore mot related 20 the rrisoner) also
dcposed that he knew him for some time asd consi-
dcrcd him in no way singular in his aud ha-
bits.
Mr. Justice Lotbrop identified some of the letters
that found the prisoner aud which were pub.
lishcd in the Herald yesterday
Mr.. Edmonds, Keeper Of the City Prison. drpo-cd
that from his interviews with the prisoner he was con-
strained to come to the conclusion that thc man ws
not insanc he came forward very reluctantly TO give
this testimony a. he would rather my murd' rcrs
should escape than that one should be hanged the
prisoner was man OF very wax mind.
Dr.. Colyel, the Physician to the City Prison, de-
posed that when Moorc was brought in he sad, oh,
Mary YOU have brought me to this" witness paciici
him, he has very weak powers of mind easily agtacd
aud excited after little while heard he was insane,
and II took me rather by surpri-e; went TO him; +
asked him did he know me and he said 'no, slrH I
said that very strange for you have known
since you came to the prison; witness thcn detailed
other interviews with the prisoner; advised him not
TO play of any tricks. and told him that IL hc got his
friends around him and stood his trial he would have
more chance with the court and with th. Governor
than II he attempted To simulate. he afterwards sent
for me, and he told me that II he had knosR he
talking to friend. lac could have answered me with
more Wit be said he did not know what t. do: that
some friends advised him TO assume IL; asked h N
what they advised him to do. and he said they t,ld
him to look foolish in court and TO wink hs eyes do
not consider him an insane general subjects;
he " man that seldom smiles aud perhaps mover
laughed; the only species Of insanity n those du-
sions can be called his id Of seeing the lord
in candle, aud saying that God had put The In
his power witness considered IL humane and proper
suggestion that the court made. have the prisoner
sent TO lunaiic asylum, in order TO ascertain his
rVal state Of mind
DR. Alexander Hossck, dcposed that he has been
practising ~ ply sician over twenty years aud
had frequent opportunities Ct seeing lunatcs had
Interview with the prisoner, and made general
animation; his pulse beat with the regularity of q
man OF his age; he said he did not know what he
killing man, he said he did not know the name Of
the man he murdered. mentioned that u wa Rrgan
and he replied. That's the name" he subseq ucn.ly
told that the dcceassd a had had proper intimacy
with his wife witness then detailed some cruvrrss-
tons he had with the prisoner he sad he had owned
fam Of thirty siN in Ireland and told ho~
he used to farm them he said he here cblige
his wife; my impression from the invest CATION was
that he was assuming insanity he was man of very
weak miud. and easily excited; particularly when
speaking on Ireland his pulse quickcn-j beyond its
usual bcating his mind Is shattered by tho loss Of his
wife 20 whom he was greatly attached aud the death
Of his child.
To the Judge-I should think his mind Is that Of q
sane lacking energy and yergiug towards d,aen-
ra; believe the delusons about seeing the Lord In
candle assumed.
To Mr Mckeon- 1isllucination does not usually ac.
company imieclity
Dr Renne hysican of the Lunatic Asylum on
Elackwslls Island depcscd ~ conversation he had
with the prisoner. In which he not communca-
tive; he said he did not know what ne IN prison
for Witness mainly corroborsted the testimony Of
DR. Co.yel Witness came to the cons iu-on thas ne
prisoner was endeavoring TO foign thinks the prt.
soncr's state is partial isibecilty.
Cross.csamined-Thc ship fever might impair his
mind and II u sometimes the insanity lea
lousy In such mind ~ the prisoners might cause
insanity.
The case then about ono o'olock0 given 70 the
jury without summing up on either SIDE OF any
charge from the Judge, he having given his views ON
the subject this morning
AMER upwards Of three hours delibc bcration. they
brought in a verdict that the prisoner insane ami
recommended that he be sent TO the BlOomingislc
Lunstc Asylum, in order that his state of mind may
be tested