The New York herald., 1851-10-19
The Trial or j. II. Thursson for nIarder.

OwEGo, Oct II, 1851.
The trial of John Metcaf Thurston for the murder of
Anson Lambertson, il progrsssi ng Justice Mun,on
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 to the in
quiry Of some to how he to do such act
the prisoner said he could not help After the
vas done Garrison Hall retained his position in the
chair and the prisoner stood by him and held candle
in his hand while his mother held the head Of deacad
1t announced by the counsel for the defense that
their principal plea would be temporary insanity The
evidence il support of this tends to show that for period
ofsbout years past there has been general de-
rsDgement Of the mind Of the prisoner that he had Pc
RODS OF depression in HI spirits occurring in about
four Eve weeks ana contiI uing from day to week
that he regular in bis habits Sci but 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 committing this act AID went 10 Keeping house
the Monday previous.
Mr. Benedict. superintendent and physician Of the
Utica Lunsc Asylum sats that he first visited Thurs
ton in his cel in April last aud concealed from him his
sioual character and during conversation Of five
hours the prisoner gave OF an unsound mtnd
tending 10 cementA. tie considered the fact OF the
the indicative OF Insanity The act was
extraordinary one ss u appears 70 have been
without sufficient provocaon and his subsequent
duct together with various other circumstances led him
toshs believe that the prisoner had been graiusily be
coming unsound in his mind and tHat 1t vas case Of
inpul!vc IL sIIity -
professor JobnM Butler of the Inssn. Retreat at
Hartford Conn agre, with DR. Benedict that the pri
must have oumited the &C, ia III Of impusive
insanity and that his mind ' al this time tending to-
wards esrrsn;1.
Professor Charles Nichols, superintendent o. the
Boomin gdae Asylum, New York hrst the prisoner
in his cell Tuesday last and agreed ia the opinions Of
Drs Benedict and Butler
These thrte medical gentlemen Questioned a.
great length snC gave learned and lucid explanations
the subject and al united in the opiaion that the pr
eoner insane the tine OF committing the act
DR. IL Allen, OF 0swego also agreed in this opioion
The defence closed their evidence AZ IL o'clock AM
proeec uon introduced evidence this afternoon
buttipx the testimc ny given BY the defence.
A large number Cf witnesses called who had
long known him, and who stated they had never OBJ
served anything peculiar about him. Some said be had
bee known 10 be somewhat eccentric in his political
and religious views
Mr. Edward J. johnson at time heard him say
that he would deem IL less a crime TO shoot than
90 vote for q slave holder a liquor seller. lie
violent aboonst and carried his views In that respect
further than other men.
The evidence both sides closed az p NJ. and the
court adjourned until TO- morrow.
The prisoner looks pale and feeble lie IL young tall
and slender and has pleasing expression and nothing
about him indie Of that fTocity which u generally
expected to be possessed BY charged with such
crime.