The New York herald., 1851-10-18
The Trial or J. II. Thursson for sIarder.

OwEGO, Oct II, 1851.
The trial Of John Metcaf Thurs,On for the murder of
ADson Lambertson, il progrsss ng- j ustce Munson
presiding The evidence the part of the prosecution
sustained the opening OF the Hon Joshua A. Spencer
Of the counsel for the people In reply the in
qury CT some TO how he to do such an act
the prisoner said he could not help it. After the act
done Garrison Hall retained his position in the
chair and the prisoner stood by him and held candle
in hs hand while his mother held the head Of deaceaed
1t announced by the counsel for the defense
their principal plea would be temporary inssn nifty The
evidence in support Of this tends to show that for period
ofs5out years past there has been general
raDgemen Of the mind Of the prisoner that he had Pc
RODS Of depression hi spirits occurrn about
four Eve weeks, an contiI ung from day to week
that he regular in bis habits Sc bu, troubled
with violent headaches and other disorders which were
claimed indications of diseased state OF the
rysten. He married very happily about three months
before eonittIg THIS act AID went 70 Keeping house
the Monday previous.
Mr.. Benedict superintendent and physican Of the
Utica Lunsc Asylum STATE that he first visited Thurs
his ceQ April last and concealed from him his
Trofes onal character and during conversation Of five
hours the prisoner Indication Of an unsound mtni,
tending TO Gementia. lie considered the fact OF the
the indicative OF Insanity The act was
sa extTaoIanATy one. a. appears 20 nave been
without sufficient provoea'ion and hs subsequent
duct together with various other circumstances led him
t0shs believe that the prisoner had been gradually be
coming unscund in his mind aud that II vas OF
inpukvc IL siLity. -
Professor JobnM Butler Of the Insane Retreat at
Hartford Conn agre, With DR. Benedict that the pr
must have committed the &C, in a fl Of mpusve
insanity and that his mind i' az this time tenliDg to-
wards esnen;id.
Professor Charles Nichols, superintendent o! the
Bloomip gdale Asylum New York frst the prisoner
in his cell Tuesday last and agreed il the opinions Of
Drs Benedict and Butler.
These THREE medical gentle men Questioned a.
great length gave learned and lucid explanations
the subject and al united in the opiaon that the pTi-
eoner insane az the iLle OF committing the act
DR. 8 IL Allen, OF Oswego, also agreed in snis opsuou
The defence closed their evidence At IL o'clock ami
the uon introduced evidence this afternoon
buttips the testime ny given BY the defence.
A large number of witnesses called who had
lopg known him, and who stated they had OBJ
eeryed anything peculiar about him Some said be had
been known TO be somewhat eccentric in his political
and religious views
Mr. Edward J. johnson at one time heard him say
that he would deem IL less crime TO shoot than
20 vote for a slave holder a liquor seller lie a
violent aboionist and carried his views In that respect
further than other men
The evidence both sides closed az P. NJ and the
eouIt adjourned until to-norrow
The prisoner looks pale and feeble He s young tsu
and slender aud has pleasing expression and nothing
about him ndicsti Of that feToci;y which generally
expected to be possessed by charged with such
crime.