The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-06-17


OF Daniel T. Woodward, who on Thursday, the
sth Instant was convicted of killing his wife, by
shooting her on the oath of December last The
toAowlng are the grounds which The motion
was predicated, namely:
|. Because the rdict is contrary to the la nd
the evidence in the case; in that the inference OF
ms guilt does not exclude every other inference;
the evidence showing as II does that the deceased
might or could have killed berself that some
person other than the defendant might or could
have killed her, or that she might have been acct
dentally killed, or that she light have been killed
by defendant SIN transport of assion which for
| the time controlled his conduct" and "with ade-
quate provoCation," and thereby reduced the
| crime to Granddaughter" instead of murder.
2. Because 1t ID believed and proposed to show
that according to the declarations and admissions
OF one or more of the jurors upon the trial, they
the said jurors, agreed and determined upon their
said verdict OF guilty Immediately after the close
of the evidence in the case, and before the court
instructed them to the law of the Gaze, and be-
fore the accused, thereafter, had the assistance
OF counsel for his defence
3 Evidence discovered since the trial. and
which the utmost diligence of the prisoner and his
counsel Jailed to discover previous to The trial, and
which the prisoner and his counsel verify believe
would have led to different verdict had it been
aoduced upon the trial, and which they expect TO
deduce, and thereby secure a different verdict
upon new trial, if granted; said evidence being
to the full effect that the prisoner has within the
last twenty or more years. been so far of upsound
mind frequently, If not uniformly, as to be wholly
unconscious and irresponsible tor his acts; said
unsoundness of mind, according to said evidence,
being attributable, In part at least, to dsappoint
ment In love and religious enthusiasm.
Messrs. Thompson and Darlington seyerally
addressed the court in favor of the motion.
Mr.. Fendall replied; and
The Court, after reviewing the premises, over
ruled the motion.
After the lapse of few minutes, Judge Craw-
ford asked, ''Danie L. Woodward, have you any
thing to say why the sentence of the law shall not
be pronounced by the court?'
The prisoner, who had risen I'm the dock and
was leaning upon the rail, replied in firm and
audible voices 81 have, your honor All eyes
now directed towards him, and there was
more than usual quiet in the courtroom. de
continued:
al am not guilty of the charge brought against
me. did not cause the death of my wife The
witnesses against me 5wore to falsehoods. Ny
wite't feelings were wrought on by her father.
do not deny that there had been differences be-
tween US. She knew | never raised my hand TO
her unless provoked to such a degree that did
know what / about. From the first day of
our marriage until her death, / never knew that
she going TO deprive herself of existence.
"On the evening of the 23d OF December Hilton
came to the house for me; don't recollect the
| hour; and found my way to the magistrates
| office | asked what was the matter Squire
| Drury said had uttered abusive language. Ire
! piled | did not know that | had, except takiu q
roughly. He then said if | would leave the pistol
| might go home. | at first hesitated, but fina ly
| gave up the pistol. Hilton said to Maston that
| Mrs Woodward afraid of her husband, and
| you are single man and can go home with her, ,
and that be would go along too. We sat down
there, taking. but about nothing in particular 1t
was said by a witness that | proposed to sing my
wife's fayorite songs, w ashington's Crave and
the 'lrish Emigranps Lament Hill ton said TO me-
us strange that at one time you are low spirited
and pelancb holy, and at other times are given to
levity.' don't recollect my answer, for the rea
| son he did not inquire the cause of it,
81 have been laboring under a strange condi-
| ton since | lett the Jail. After the officers
had been at my house, Hilton, at ten o'clock, pro-
| posed to go. They left every thing peaceable and
quiet. hove myself on the bed with a cigar. My
wife was on the opposite side of the bed. | APP
! pealed to her feelings, and | will tell you what
! language made of. After lying there with
/ my clothes on, said to her: why do you GO after
the police officers, and have constables running
| after me? What have ! done that you should do
so? injured in both arms and an K les in Jail ,
| After appealing to her feelings, said / could not
live so, and if it was agreeable would separate.
| asked her what che would do Considering g
| few moments, she said: well, Dan, you shall
/ never go to ia'l while live | got I'D and went
] into the shop to see what doing there and she
\ went into the back room and fastened the door,
/ When went into the front room heard the re.
port of pistol and entering the other room ga W
| my wife breathing her last"
| The prisoner acquiring additional earnestness,
/ and in tremulous tone, continued:
| 81 could not destroy the only friend had on
\ earth. had nobody to care for me but that wo
| man. Whatever nv failings were, she was my
friend, and hers. After pause That even
ing she said she was afraid. | did not harass her
feelings, to my knowledge. Never NEVER!
never cherished feelings of illwi hate towards
body, My character has been principle, hon
esty, and uprightness in all my dealings in life. |
have been soldier, sailor, and been in various
parts Of the world, and no man can say that ever
wronged or Injured or had a spite against him.
1.-THE interest In the narration on the part of the
audience seemed to increase vita every successive
| sentence reside in Washington. In youth
associated with friends now grayheaded, and not
! one lady or gentleman can come forward and say
/ that Daniel L. Woodward ever did a wrong thin q
to any family, or lady, any ones sister. If had
killed my wife, would acknowledge ii in the face
| q the world and of God, of whom expect forgive G.
ness. / stand before your honor and before God
! an innocent man.
"The witnesses testified falsely against me
| did not know them.
IF i were guilty mani have the heart of q
| man-let my tallings be what they may, | would
come forward, and, in the presence of my God
| and you, Acknowledge my crime.
| 81 pray your honor to grant to this man who
/ stands before you new trial. Do not let that
| flag which has waived over my head in suffering
! demned man. l have travelled under the Ameri-
! can flag, and rode upon the waves at sea- but
/ have yet to suffer death as an innocent man.
never knew what IL was to be considered a crimi.
| nal, and have my life plotted against by wicked
| persons, who have been the cause of the death OF
/ my wife. They sold my wifs's clothes at public
| sale, and my property, and afterwards contrived
| against my life.
"Oh, God! it is hard Gaze. God knows the
| failings of human nature. We can't know things
too mysterious TO find out. | tell you Judge
should be afraid to stand up here and open my lips
with falsehood upon them. / fear not death II
has no terrore to this man. | feel that it would be-
| stigma on my greyheaded mother to say that
her son died criminal Tears came into bis
eyes, and at this point they who almost breeth
lessly hung upon his words appeared deeply tc
sympathize with the prisoner | And my sisters
hearts, too, would be wounded if Dan died al
murderer. 1t ia too hard. pray God to show
justice.
81 know that am innocent man. My wife,
father and brother drove her to destruction. Sht
loved She Gould not help it. She knew
never would do wrong if knew W hat was about
''lf it is possible, pray you to grant me a new
trial, and leave the with Almighty God. Il
is hard thing. Were l guilty Of the charg,
which was brought against me would have no
thin to say in defence. would say did the act
and pray God to forgive me. There was no sou
in the house to my knowledge. 1 think it wa
shut up. l don't know how it occurred, unless sh.
destroyed herself. We here noticed many of tn,