The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-05-27
Trial OF Mary Ann Wheeler, an Miivouklss
WIS Tor the Murder OF u. M. w. Lace.

have know defendant from child but partieu
h-y acquainted with her until 81; she came and siad
with us = while she lief, for Milwaukee in lSa9 saw her
the Goth eth OF o;tobsr last in the prison. no
ticsd she had this wness that has been spoken Of she
was in her cell when first her IN JAIL she lp-
pesred much excited and overcome; noticed nothing
particularly strange but her conversation her Language
di1erent she used ather hard language; only
called upon her twice in all the day she appeared
to be much east down; ! remained Nth her ABOUT
only appeared strarge and Wild talking about her
troubles and her fdeIds she was chaBged l always
locked upon her amabs; never her out of
humor while he resided in my family when saw her in
jail she quite changed her appearance m ade ne
shudderi her appearance was haygArd aud pale (rhe
witness eaoed upon the stand here and with his baud
kerchief to his eyes, cried for some time She ga
girl that thought great deal Of her character; you
poor she said aud her character was all she had;
no connection OF the defendant
ter as being all she had she poor have heard
her speak of her fathers misortunes in losing his pro-
rery and she he'd not had the advantages that other
girls had received in her crcum stances she spoke OF
this particularly in the prison; she spoke in jail
of shooting Lace; thai her character was all she had
that he hs robbed her of that and that the Law would
give her redress and she had taken his life; she was
much excited the se,ond time called at the jail
she the first have seen her also in February
he did not much overcome in October, and
since have her that time she iidat seem much
George kellogg sworu-I live in this city; keen saloon
know John W. Lace WELL he occasionally came in,
from her saw it Ia his possession he said it wa, from
her. he passed IL to me to read think about year ago.
1.-THE letter handed the OF the
Dis riot Attorney to Mr. Arnold and from him to the
wness Letter objected to by objection sus
tanned.
G. C Campbell, recalled by defence--I think am az
quaired with the handwriting of Miss Wheeler should
think this il her handwriting iholdng the letter ia his
hand) Identifies four other letters being the hand writ
ing of defcndant; took letter from Mss Wheeler 20
her father the lass time was here
Sheriff Page Called and sworn for defence-I found
them org the papers If John W. Laca, at his
in Brchads block; they we're among number Of papers
Kellogg recaleo-This is the letter that Lace exhibited
to and read it; it was in my places don't know Of
his showing it TO any other person a. that tms any
| other time.
James b Cross sworn-I knew John Lace; l recoll-ct
his showing letter over year ago, (witnsss bere
looked the letter and seemed to read refuly add
replied, II think it is the letter, frsm some things"
he read it in Beden's saloon he read it to wtress and
afterwards banded it to there think, but
besides in the room it was on Sunday.
Harvey ~ Woodruff sSora-I kept boarding house
Wheeler boarded with me Mrs Cleveland boarded with
the first Of May Miss Wheeler sent there at the
house to board don't recoect the time Mr.. Lace
,howed ne letter purporng to be from Miss Wheeler
By Mr. Arnold that the letter. pists. Attorney
counsel for the defence here put several questions to
identity the letter. being one written BY defendant
and having been read by John ~ W Iace the questions
all objected to by the prosecution and objection
aired by the court the defence taking exception to the
Norman J Emmons sworn-I knew John Lace. CUES.
tons intending to elicit evidence as to the of
the letter reading &C.. by Lace, objected to- objection
sustained question then varied objected to objection
sustained.
The Court remarked against the defence putting the
question qusstons calculated show the fact
that he bad ruled inadmssible evidence and re
marked that he was wrong in his ruling he sui
GENTLY committed to afford the benefit of it to the de-
fence and that he did think the question tending to
the same matter should be repeated
carpenter in the country from the 4th of October till
the 10Th was engaged in the theatre the 18th was
at the theatre: him the 18th at the theatre
saw him at various times What time did you zee him
sustained Defence stated that this question vas put
with the view to further the testimony to show the
conduct of Lace that tiEe) The theatre was open
| seven nights on that occasion
DeteDdal tt counsel hee proposed show letter
produced by Lace and read to Witness and Lace stated
that it was one of his pious Icks he had upon
defendant and could CONS the upon any other
OF lady in the city, he had little jeEery, and
little tine and that knowledge Of these facts to
the of defendant, and forming part Of the
Gd, ard that was calculated to produce species of
sequen; neglect to destroy the equilibrium of her mental
aculties.
Ota cited to by the prosecution, and objection aus
| tanned.
Mr. Tucker stated that he considered the question of
very great importance the defendant, and wished the
court to hear argument the admission of the ev
| dence.
The cou1. then adjourned
c. C. Garfield Of Ohio called. Here letter exhibited
ore-ion-Is that Miss wheelers haniwritng9
Witness bould think it was.
Ieence WIN your Honor mark it,
Court Il have
| sheriff Page called "A paper exhibited by def.cce.
Question -Eave you The paoer before?
| Wi'ress Have seen it before found it among Miss
Wheeers papers on Wisconsin street. in her ROOM
| day Of homicide
lie defence stated he thoud present this as evidence
TO the jury
He here read it as follows -
| 9 Fay to my folks that died very suddenly from
disease Of the heart let me pass under fictitious n:me
that 1t not reach the OF my friends if IL is
pos ibs to take dakuerreotype that viii LOOK in the
least natural for my friends do So Malinda 81 ss) let
ho dcha uf ia in fba
black trunk the key hangs here) l54-439,
I much possible for friends /"
C. Z. Garfield called again-A letter presented by de-
| fierce
ouestcD-whose band writing is that9
After examining it for time-I not positive
VIII Sc 1t is shoud think however it Miss Wheelers;
it is cop, Of paper thai had from Miss Wheelsr
took from the jail her father received it iron her the
26th or 9th OF October first day went to Jail she read
it To saij correct IL and read to her fatker told
her wsied to it ard read it her friends
urged her hard to send and she gave it me- took it
home.
Cross exam nation-Fi,st that paper lone put BY
Arnold on the counter here; perhaps twenty minutes
ego; the letter Ohio handed to her father in
original nany times should judge was ord Tor
word copy never comps ed it with original received
letter from prisoner Goth 9th October last
after her arrest; the letter took Ohio; presume
read IT ten times read It twice to my knowle ige my
way home, this he cons dered correct copy.
Mr. Arnold = The father of the defendu n the ORR
ginal letter in his possession and nislaid it.
Court 1t may be admissible, but can't tell how i'm
| portant it may be-
crots examination.--Thiak tais her handwriting Tex
hibted letter am rather confident. it compares with
her writing compares according my Judgment; prior
tn death Of Lace have her letters several tmes
have been written to me since his death while she was
10 prison have written to her, and think she has
swered shortly after returned f om there wrote, AID
she replied sensibIy' an,wered my questions
The paper wens to the jury, Mr. Arnold reading TO
them.
Mr. Arnold here state that witness Mrs Casey, had
bsen subpunaed but when the officer went for her she
told him she would not unless he took of
baby and he requested an attachment to be issued which
was done
Caleb Wall svorn Last year, in month of May sold
furniture know John Lace sold hm good deal OF fur
| nituIe within the lat year.
| The defence here put the 'ollc wing question:
Fad yon any generation in regard to the of
! his purchasing fur oi.uie9
The defence stated that the ipterregatory show
that about year ago Lace 10 the tore Of Mr. Wall
and In conversation with him we'll his ,lerk whom
shsll call he stated 10 explanation to thu question
that he about 10 be married lady in the city, and
that that lady was the defendant.