The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-11-15
Trial OF Louis De Corn for the Murder or
Eugene Melville.
COURT OF OYER AND TKRMINER.
Before Hon. judge gdwards

native OF Martinique, West Indies mild looking aud gen.
teey dressed man was placed at the BAR rged with
the murder of Eugene Melville by shooting him With
pistol the 3lst Of March 1853 at the Green
wch and Reade streets in the Fifth ward The prisoner
had been physician, but at the time If the homide
engaged in the mercantile busine under the or
Ciraud De Corn.
The body OF the court wei filed, and the Rev. Mr.
Berrian and other gentlemen who took interest in
rbe result, were ieated near Mr.. De Corn.
The for the prisoner did exercise any cha
lepges and after few jurors being excused from attend
spce in Consequence of having formed opinion in
fsn.a 10 the trana ction, the following we're empan
rsled -
John McCottry, Joseph Bessicks,
VIM. H. Reed Thomas Dunlap
Leopold Veith, John P, H,inor.
Jas H Stephens, J,hn phaen. Ds'''
Joseph Wanger, John W Holberton
The District attorney, Mr. n. B. Blunt appeared for the
persecution, and Messrs Jas. 7. Brady Bowden and La
que for the prisoner Mr. Blunt pro seeded to state the
sase for the pl osecution. He said
IL the Court please-Gentlsmen Of the Jury-I ask at
your Iands care al and patient attention while l en-
. = 70 give u'l and d. passionate examination of the
upss are painful but Particularly 80 10 case har-
Ips ~ snis. Inc pr'honer at the BAR by Louis
- ptrre and about thirty seven years Of age The
az the show that he is COZ pected with some
~ first families in France, that he Is
Lar OF liberal education and that he il Q decend.
ant of who has served country in its darkest
hour Of peril You will also find that up the time Of
fatal he has enjoyed good charater as to
proby and yet with all this he is arragned pri-
at the bar accused Of the highest crime
human laws The deceased, Eugene Melville, also
native of France born at Paris and about twenty
years OF eee He also WAS young man of education,
educated in of the liberal institutions of his
hood and had resided here seine tour or five pre-
yicus 10 his death. So ar rs relates to Melville.
the evidence will show that he had been su,je,t to
hts of insanty-'hat he had been confined in
lu natic asylum He al timer subject to those fits
q xctenent but was never charged wi crime It ap
PEARS that period about ayear previous this
Eugene Melville became acquainted, while visit
IL New Orleans with young woman named Emma rod.
He afterwards met her In this city and in the month Of
October 1862 he married to her. The witnesses to
the marriage the prisoner 1T the bar and his part
in Mr. Giraud the prisoner being connected
IN business with Gaud in the provision business Of
Trade and Greenwich streets The prisoner himself having
been educated hyscaD occupied part Of his leisure in
scennc pursuits, This connection between Melville and
LIS wi was in fact the Of the formers death Jhs
went to reside at 6rs in the upper part the city
thence removed to house in Lispenard There
they continued together and ines visited the
prisoner At this time lady, by the name OF
Mrs Barker, arrived here from England She took
lodgings at the Old Walton House. in Franklin square.
She removed from thence to the house in Iispc-
nard street, where Melville and his wife boarded.
INN ediately on meeting Melville she recognized
him a. an old whom she had met previously
in Paris, they having sat at the same table some five
,ix years previous he accompanied at the time by
a.
After two three weeks-it having been init
mated to Melville that amounting to $50 month
Wood-he lett the city for the purpose of making nqu
While absent with the knowledge and privy Of
the prisoner with his full consent and by his aid Mrs
Melville left the house in Iispenard street and took
up lodgings under feignsd at the same
house-ths Walton House--whsre she passed un1er
the Of ME-. Stanley. On his eurn her husband
found that his wife had He'd He unable to ascertain
her address her whereabouts and he remained in this
STATE Of ignorance until the morning when he met with
hia Thp nriso via at hare
and the night before the death Of her husband he
there He there at nine O'Clock the day when
Melville met with his death On the day eding Nell
vile had received letter from his foster nott Madame
fowler, who residing in Paris congratulang him
the letter package contaning large number of
his wife He exhibited this letter Barker
ovg ,sibe to have bis wife informed Of the fact,
expressing hope that he might return At 10 scock
the morning of the 3st OF March the deceased went to
the premises occupied as the store of De Corn Gil
raud, and inquired for Mr. De Corn He carried Ia his
hands very light looking much formula BILE
than it really Mr.. De Corn not in. While wait
g, Mr. De Corn through the Reade street dooc
UD his emit Melville went up to him. holding his
stick and handed him the letter which he had received
Some words passed in French which the witnesses present
unable to understand According TO the testimony
of clerk in the employment Of De Corn Grand afte
taking the letter it returned by Da Corn it'll
fifteen steps, snd then advancing drew pistol from hi
pockea six barrell r@volverand when about six fee
from Melville fred the ball passing through his heart
Melville then staggered through the door into wicl
stree and mm. da civ fell and expired. he Corn thel
fed putting his weapon into his pocket. Alarm wa.
given, but trace of him could be found A
three O'Clock OF the same day a carriage, contain
ing Mrs. Barker and Mrs. Melville, proceeded to tn
station house. where the deceased taken Capt Car
penter made inquiries and learned that person
the description OF the prisoner had been goin
into Mrs. Msville's at the Walton House At min
O'Clock the prisoner the Walton House. at ten tn
deceased shot at o'clock he entered again
he use, and 1t three four O'Clock the discovery
made and ihe Captain OF Police accompanied by
tsnt proceeded TO the premises sho the room
occupied by Mrs Melville The found locked an
on breaking 1t open IT empty On proceeding small
dark pantry they found the prisoner covered up with
woollen blanket, leaving foot exposed His va
sts the n;ssn up ne Panty anu ~ one 81 ns pos1
and his way to the station house he confessed thu
deed but said he did it in self defence This ia PLATO
GnvarDished statement OF the facts in this It viii
fe incumbent upon the prisoner TO explain how it
that this fearful catastrophe took place The burden
upon his shouldersthe death of the deceased lies MI
coor; and, upon this state nent Of facts say
The law would pronounce the crime to DO murder. St
far have besn able to investigate this case though
LIT in the dark as what the defence may be have
received proof to the contrary. That the proof may
be furnished may God in his mercy grant.
Thomas c, Nnne examined by Mr Blunt deposed !
au physician; the 31st Of March last lied
upon by Coroner Hilton to hold post mort examination
On the body Of Eugene Melville; found wound through
the breast bone between the third and fourth RIBS
opening the body traced the wound backwards ant
found bullet under the right shoulder blade; [tht
bullet produced it passed through the heart and logec
under tie right snou der bace there other
that could see; there doubt that that wound
the cause Of his death should suppose that the
- incting the wound in the position nearly fontn,
the deceased the wound received in front, and
from left to right.
Cross.exsmined by Mr.. ady-Meville was mar
about my own size, about i've feet six seven ate
ging through the ibis and the heart the ball rested
der the skin of the right shoulder blade
10 Mr.. Blunt-Nter striking the rib Il glanced up
wards.
Joseph Hilton. CoroEer, deposed-0n about the 3s
of March last held inquest on the body Of Eugen
Melville, at the Fifth ward station house. at that In
quest II is pistol this and this lar pro
'iuced: number OF papers AMI letters also pro
duced; gave the French letter to you (Mr Blunt.)
Mr. Blunt raid he had not the letter; would sent
for IL.
Mr. Brady said, "a Mr Hilton wouldhave to be recalled
he would not cross examine him There would b.
no difficulty a. to the letter in Nelvie's hand; but thu
letter marked No. at the Coroners inquest he wished
Witness 10 Dir. Brady-I think q police Officer
rallied attention TO the matter first he said there
the body of man at the I'll IN ward station house who
murdered; Melville had not the the stter
his hand at the time saw the body; not at tn,
station house when Mrs Melville there carriage
the first OF Mrs Melville at the station house.