The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-07-20
The Trial Of Catherine Bohan-MesmaxAnz
In onr COnr4s

lFrom the New Haven Journal, July 10
This trial which took place last week, was oso
OF considerable interest partly from the amount Of
the property lost, and which the prisoner was 40
s cn,ed Ct feloniously taking. being SIT in bank
bills, gold watch and some jewelry worth about
$500 more, but chiefly the connection of mesmersm
and clairvoyance with the evidence in the case. A
large audience assembled to see and hear how q
grave judicial tribunal would dispose Of such strange
questions as might possibly arise.
The prisoner is an orphan girl, Irish, and Q ser
want, ISt yet sixteen years old. She had always, so
iar as appeared, sustained good character, has
intelligent looking face, and but one friend in the
VIDE world, and that friend step mother who has
been unweared in her efforts To fair trial in
the case.
she was arraigned on an indictment for theft OF
The above Mentioned money and property belonging
to Samuel b. Parmelee, son OF the sheriff of this
county, alleged TO have been committed by her on
the night of the 9th Of April last, in the town Of
Wallin pford. The facts substantially these
Mr.. Parmeee had that day been to New Haven,
and bad received considerable amount Of money
which he counted on his return, and which, with
other money collected during the previous two
weeks, amounting To the above named sum- he
placed within desk in drawer containing the
watch and jewery, locked the desk and put the key
IN his pocket. The prisoner him counting the
moIey. Some window stills and other parts of the
house had been painted that afternoon and windows
bad been LETT open to allow the paint to dry After
dark the windows were shut down within about an
eighth of an inch, being supported by some nails
plat ed under Them that the sash springs did not
catch. AT the usual hour the family retired after
locking two outside doors, and leaving one unlocked.
TO allow the prisoner who had been that evening"
to come in Soon after Mr. z. and his wife heard Some
one-the prisoner as they supposcd-coIne in at the
unlocked door pass up to her room in shoes and soon
come down to the buttery without shoes and return
to her room. A light that showed PERSONS head
at The open window 'front.' up stairs, was seen about
ten o'clock, by boy in the street, and the light
moved into the prisoners room. Nothing more ap-
peared to have been or heard till the next morn
ing, when the door of Mr.. P.s bedroom left open ut
oh mol tn wall fha nioht hac
closed. His desk was found open. A key that
locked the upper part of the desk was found in the
lock OF the open part, and would lock and unlock it
The money and jewelry were gone. The front door
that had been locked the night before, was opon a
little way. window in the front parlor that con-
nected with the room in whlchthc desk situated,
was raised. Marks as of the fingers of some ons
standing inside found in the green paint on the
window SILL A bench that had been used in paint
ing on the outside, and which the night before was
lett out by the fence as the witness thought, was
close to the open window.
no 'uspicions fell upon the prisoner after these
lacts were carefully noted until by the advice of the
neightors, aud some faith on his own part Mr. p.
ON tbe pstS wh Dr. symonds Of went
young girl of thirte~u who IS or pretends to be- sub
ject to the mesmerit influence, and who, after the
sleep had been induceeby her father, told Messrs.
tba am, az had the servant girl living in
that she had thrown the wath and iewelry into 4
well i'll the rear of his house, AID had burnt the
money. Mr.. P. returned, drew out yhe water from
the designated well, and found the watch and ewerv
just as he had been told he would. He tnen looked
III the fireplace over which the stove pipe W.nt into
the chimney ard found some very light ashes, .s Of
tissue paper burnt, that had dropped apparently
from the pipe He found out Of doors slip OF
writing paper, with hole burned in the mid
die, and with Meriden Bank $780," written on it
He had the night before 1920 Of Merden bank bills
But before Mr.. p returned, his wife had noticed
some little circumstances that led her to suspect the
prisoner was guilty. She sent the prisoner up stairs
to do trifiing job, and she remained longer than
was necessary; A lamp filled with fuid-a lamp
used, and not more than half full The prisoner
had placed stick of wood on BED OF Goals in the
stove and got some brown paper from the brick oven
cloee by, and put in the stove with it. She also
asked If the painters might not have taken the
things.
The prisoner was then suspected. She was accused
and sent across the road to the sheriff's house
She denied all knowledge of it. But after some
conversation with various persons and among others,
with the servant in the sheriffs family, whom shs
told, when they we're alone together, that 'as God
would be her Judge, she was innocent as tho child
unborn, but she'd own to it because Mrs. Parmelee
felt So" she confessed her'ef guilty to Mrs Parma
lee, detailing the circumstances with minuteness.
This confession she repeated once or twice, and
also when abe was brought before Justice Ives, Of
Wallingford, by whom she was committed for trial.
Such were the facts.
The clairvoyant appeared upon the stand, and tes-
tilted that she knew nothing whatever Of the matter;
-
TO the money.
The trial closed on Saturday. The prosecution
was conducted by Mr.. Ives Of Wallingford, and BY
the States Attorney, Mr.. Stoddard, with zeal fair
ness and ability that did them credit.
The defence was conducted by Mr.. Foster, Of this
city, and Mr.. Chapman Of Hartford, with moro than
their usual tact and eoquence and with the earnest
ness Of an entire conviction Of her innocence.
The latter gentlemen were particularly severe upon
mesmerism, or clarvoyance, as means Of evidence
in courts of justice, the former declaring that the
intelliGOace manifested must come from God, man,
or the1evil. If the jury were satisfied it from
God, they of course must treat it with the reverence
due to its author if from man. il must be explained
more satisfactorily than this has been before it can
gain credence; and If from the devil, his honor the
Judge will charge you that he has nothing to do with
lawyers or courts Of law. The latter commented on
it in his most pungent style, and said che would
leave it in disgust" His whole speech, occupying
two hours and half, was able, eloquent, and very
ingenious.
After the charge OF the Judge the jury RETIRED and
after consultation of some fifteen minutes, returned
with a verdict Of not guilty.