The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-04-25


Court OF Oyer and Terminsr.
Chief Justice Edmcnds. the Recorder, and Alderman
Arm A-tThs Judge having waited until near II
O'Clock for second Alderman was Obliged To send for
the Recorder, Who promptly attended to constitute
court In the absence Of Alderman Balls
CIIasGE OF MURDRR-irsANrrY
The People JOHN Moore The prisoner who Is charg
ed with the murder Of Daniel Regan the 9th Of Pob
sbdo men, with knife, placed at the bar ue 10
tall gaunt lo. king man, shaking ~ II with palsy, ap
gard countsnsnce, but more like one suffering from
me ntnl than imbecility Of mind He sat for
time upmoved, and quite Indifferent to the pre-
iimparics that being arranged for the inquiry
Moore IL a native Of nymenstown near Cash-l la ire
land aud is in tho country only about three years
The jury having been sworn the Judge told them
that the prisoner wA indicted for murder; and not
b.ipe able to employ counsel the Court had assigned
him Mr. shsder and Mr.. Dustan who. having inter-
rckat.d the prisoner, felt bound to put in plea
Of inssnity. The Law says that no insane man
be- tried and sentenced to any imprisonment,
for any offence committed while in that state. The
jury were, therefore, empanelled not to try the
gui'' or innoeenee OF sne pr.onsr' a. 20 tno mar.
state Of hs mind. The Court had requested tho at
tendance Of medical gsotemen, who would BE- pro-
and give them the benefit Of their examination
(Ald,rmsn Grifnn here entered the court, and his
honor the Recorder retired
DR. Goodrich, Who has been phyrician praotsing
for twenty years, called on behalf OF the accused,
sasm.n alton he had had Of the prisoner to
his gree Of insanity; he is at all very
,mnil intellect Y From your ex limitation OF his mind
sfslrs! A. No. do not but hi.mind Is so obtuse
that do not think anything could operate very
CrosS.xsmined by the District Attorney Can hard
y classify the KIND Of insanity Of the prisoner; would
not call IL idiocy; h more imbecilty had an inter-
view Of an hour with him; asked him did he commit
the murder. and he said he did; asked him Why he
came to do it, and he said the Lord had put him in his
power; reasoned with him, and he said that h. had
sirce found IL satan put the deceased In his
power; asksd him II he over saw the Lord and he
tsid he him every night; he sometimes saw hun IN
the wick the candle; be hrt said he could tell
what kind obec the Lord but he ntorw ards
said lac WAS ma large n. man.
To the Judge-Ihe prisoner did not commence any
copv.rntiou of his own accord. aud thins II did
not question him ho would have sat there TIL this time
| To the district Attorney Il told him I a doe
the punis hment because he said " he
+ hung God would sav- him. ~ he Was sorry for what
he had done he said, God told himself 80 whom no
J saw him In the candle.
| To tho District Attorney man is capable OF
judging bet right and wrong N he was told TO
cut child. head % he would it would be wrong;
but he to be told he To be hung tor the mur
I der he would cowpr, bend Il.
Dc, tor Nichols Of the Bloom ngdale Lunatc Asylum,
wa, then called by the courtas ofthe physc aus no
had ten instructed by the Judge to vist the prisoner
he that the prisoner Is Of weak mind the
inpr,s.on have formed Of him Is that he Is ncspa-
be d defending himself sgainst any charge affecting
his liic my opportunities OF judging OF him very
few aud | DO not think 1t possible TO state with any
] certainty. without more protraotsd Inquiry tho
exact nature of his imbccilty; he stated to that
fr,m ind g~ston. he frequently became diszy in tho
and subject TO headaches which he attri-
butsd TO Illness he had had before he cane to this
country aud to the chip fever which he had shen he
he said he expected to bo hung he also said
that Rcgsn the deceased had offered to buy his ~iie;
the prisoner expressed fondne~s for his wc, aud said
che he'd disposition 20 go astrsy; u Is my impress
sion that h, unds rstAnds what IL now going had
heard 'ha, 'h,. vac sp,con q" Was ,h % IN
tos want IL memory; 4. would be very difficult W de-
ttet sin uistion In an educated person.
Doctor Islls dcposed that the prisoner IL In stats
Of mind approaching more TO mbecilty than to de-
msnt, STATE: witness detailed conversation hs had
With the prisoner similar GO that Of the Grrt witness
he rsd thai God had given the man into his hands;
that he bad seen his sife lying on his tdeeoasiD
lap be ,ad he 'uPpo,.d he you'd Dc hung thas ne
TO sulnt to whatever he Inflicted him; all his
given after some interval u time.
b. To the JUDGE should think he "a a man whose
mind would be very easily thrown from its balance
and that he has not poser 20 control his mind
amin,d by the District Attorney ey-Ie IA a
man Of W, al intellect; conclude. from my
ton With him. that he knows right from wrong; s,vng
that he saw Godn the candle is an delusion-s uc.
nHti,p can hardly answer whether halucinAion and
. imbsclty go together.
4 The REV Richard Cor exannO by prisoners coun-
sci-I kno~ the accused shout Three years. aud
elder him possessed u very little reason; consider him
exceedingly wtsk aud fooLsh; he called .. the
Jastor Of the church (EpiscopAean) TO which he be-
Hinged and seized me TO visit his wife. she was III
isd frequent opportunities ~ witnessing his state u
uird; he loot child some time ago and he was then
In th, same state 81 excitement he had reversBtia
fclrg fer his pastor; he had spent some $50
$50 rhleh be- brought to this country, and then be-
came pei nsioner my bounty. The witness vent
on TO detal several conversations with the prisoner
ard cav, uss bis long established opinion th., the
man was uu uuse,ouniahe. He told me that Gcd took
the hhs of he hands In the cell and that h. goa
that shste which affects him ever since God appeared
% him.
(i,timorisls ef good character given TO prisoner
w're h,fe produosd They verr from the Rev Ncho-
I lss Hsrh,rt knocbgrsfen Rectory. and the Rev Mr.
Pole Of Athsssei Rectory Golden, county ripperary
Iiesnd
/ John jack depo-ed that he knew tn. prisoner for
tr,niy month. vss q, hi, hoass one d,y about
quart a milk aud he brought in loaf Of bread he
w0 t'nant of mine snd he left week before bis
month up and rum the time he brought In brad
instesd a milk aud the way he tre.ed sb put the
r.nt1 don't think he right In his mind; usughtcr
Z h, We aiways dull and never ssv him lively
/ wmiAm fsrr,n d,pos-d that he knows the pri-
\ souer since dune, 1s4s ssw him about fortnight
since extended my hand TO him he turned s-sy,
sro ssid. be did not know
sstsh have. depossd that she ssv the prisoner In
FULTON haTket several times act In very ido,o nan.
ntr he ussd To s.ll candies aud vhen ne tOok bad
Money On verrl occasions he would refass 10 fp ~
the ysrson Who gave him he has turned muney over
sidef.d stupid snd foo.h witness detailed In
stances ~ HE simplicity
Nrs Horuett d.po.sd that she always considered
the prisonsr forssksn by Bod ard aud without
snbiicp within him 10 raise hiins-,f -(Lsughter)
Lsvrene wsod and other witnesses vers examined,
Az tract copy of letter found on the prisonvr sd
dress'd to HE -fe and dated he day Of the murd'f
7" Ny deer vife Mary Anna fsnces Moore wright
thost fwe lines 10 hoping 20 and you In b.ter
state ~ fcsl nsr than am 81 preseut-for you have
fof~d m. tcj jslesy In allowing another to be the
partner Of ny bcd for which husband that loves
,ou tet'r then do nys,lfi -iii hsy. b.. ~.
The foIovirg Va copy Of ietter nom his wifs,
vhieh vss found In his possessop ~hsn srr~~sedi--
NJ Deer John. Before this vill meet your eye
vill b. many mile from Nev York more 20 put
NJ foot IN " or We viii never meet Again there "
IN looking for me for no In Nev York tno~
any, hug shout me or my child sold the quilt and
tvo blankets 20 mste the money lost yesterday -
belonged TO the lady s~wed for Tarewvil Zoe
for -'i n.et NOR. msy q u re Bi.ss you
and make you happy Farewell
II k useless Toe me 70 ssy mor." - -
NARy ANNE MOORE