New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-06-07
MURDER TRIAL.

fore judge. ROCKWELL and MOORE; Justices sHLwELL ami
TRIAL OF JAMES AsrosI FOR THE MURDER OF JOHN
FERDIsaSDI.
The trial of this prisoner who is charged with the muir
der of John Ferdinand both Italians, in Marcy-av on
the evening of the 5h of March last was commenced
this morning and the following Jury was impanneed;
John Manly Mis. Van Buren, John w yssSsiy y
Lynn 1 &hsa1'' game, ssesss Hsay IT,, ss
The prisoner was defended by Alexander MeCuc, Esq,
and the prosecution was conducted by r. C. Underhll,
Esq, Dstrst-Attoney.
The is about feet inches in hight, sallow In
complexion long black shaggy hair, vhskers and mus
tache and appears to be in i'll health probably caused by
his mprsonmentin the county jail He pleaded Not Guilty
through an interpreter.
The Dsrct-Aorney in opening the case, said that the
prisoner stood indicted for the murder of John Ferdinand
on the 5h of March last in that part Of Brooklyn which
is contiguous to the WILLIAMSBURG line near the junction
of Marcy.av and Rodney-st The day of the
was Sunday and il took place about o'clock in the
evening The attention of the neighbors was first at
traced by the report of musketor pistol or Two reports
one probably the echo of the other On looking out they
saw man living on the ground and found he had been
shot the right snoulderblade Several men gathered
around the man. who lying IN the ag9nes OF death anu
BROOKLYN When they came back he was dead He was
political exile in this country and had been here about
n wear He was then taken the Wiiamsburgh Station
House An instrument found by his SIDE but no clue
could be found of the murderer An examination took
place but nothing further ascertaned but the report
Of the pistol. The instrument by his side was iound
adapted to the wound The Coroner proceeded with the
examination and in day two another Italian, tLlspan
who had heard of the death of Ferdinand came to VIII
amsburgh and went TO OF the Police offices where ne
was detained as it was ascertaned that he had been ac
quainted with the deceased He identified the
instrument belonging to the prisoner, which
he once owned and had given TO him. Inquiries were
made as TO whether the prisoner with firearms
and upon the ball being mentioned he said he saw balls Ike
the taken from the wound in the prisoners trunk He
had formerly boarded with him. He identified the ball
and then the officers went in pursuit of Anton and found
him in New-York. The result of the Coroners inquiry
was that the defendant held for the murder. We
have no evidence to show that the prisoner killed the man.
but there are circumstances connected Herewith which
should be explained Crcumstanta details often lead to
the detection of the guilty where the direct testimony
lacking | should here say that when the officer went TO
arrest the prisoner he found pistol in his trunk which
bore evidence of having been recently discharged Ii all
this evidence is not sufficient when collected, to convict
the prisoner, You know your duty
TIE following evidence was then taken;
Michael Dover sworn- live in the Seventh Ward of
Brooklyn Msrcysv Rodney house Is the south
west e Of the svsnue home a.. day saIdsy o. the h .,
Odnsy sbout O'clock that wa. IL the 'front.' part Of
house, attention was called outside about SIX minute. pas.
thing hear firing there Sunday evening" could see no
person but heard the means saw man IN hs center o ,s neg
{ns down y 40 isa nun, 100 e. ~ r~m.inea on he sraon
called Gdd. in the house with me to ut ne
afraid hs said he would call two young men
who in his when all went to he man that was
asked him what ne sed something,
not undsand What said; oeee and ef hetwo
with charge OF the body three ohesI. returned
picked the steel nifs the steel iound) which shaped Ike
bs oee dd not see any wounds. bat coming
mouth the steel found close BY the dead mans side within four
short time wa. put into wsson and conveyed House
Wlansburshi the body there next morning. saw no
e1smpsd-I up the clock the fred and
heard person watkins away or rannint could see
PECK slip nearest Terry 70 home N W
.m.tush about hall mile from my house seldom
OF my house that heard two reports Psio.
William Giddes sworn-I live corner OF Marcy-av ana
Rodpeysti home 5h March attention was called 70
Ar Dover about twenty minutes past O'clock
see VINO II wa, VIVA nun, t, 49, s ~ for m, Police dd
declared This Witness testimony was the same pc
Cros. xmped-I report. pistol bot did no, think
anytime Of until Mr. Dover sent for me- 'oahae' " though
Andrew II. Rome, sworn-Live at No. IS Adams-st.,
Brooklyn; acquainted M Giddes W" IN his house a.
the Ysyy Ysrd gun and the other thought AL one
bach paid attention 70 me teDs' isw MN
n ed to 20 add 70 him; one else in the vicinity
Of the o0d 0S.sa to s hs y law eoa Sos ~
lying down nom M bowers hone e1t could see per.oe
on. VOID Stranger" 1t W" Impressed on mind a, tn. time
mb as stI s.n or sn wenty feet Of Deceased
Abraham Vandervoori, sworn-Live on Marcy-av three
March, about after heard reports pistol
isSs e. ~ .ns iS 81. % sa MINUTE,
the setting up then the door heard that
had been shot the hed and found tho
lying there went with Rome TO look for the Brooklyn police and
whe ~ back the u dead
the navy yard that nigh, aboat p
before; the distance about half mile, about eight
minutes ~sk 1t takes about eight minutes the Peck
clip Ferry
bIet f,umsdA could disappear from where the
ked IN about one Or and bali mnaie was supposed be
from Bookyni escape he would toward Brooslyn;
Hsghesst = about coo 500 iest from Division ay.
Francis +. Larame ,Ir, sworn-Was Police Officer Of
Nilarstugh about this affair Ia South Second st.
between Third wken Mr. Dover and told
think about "a O'clock hrated first about soHg. A.
Brootyr finally Fletcher aud smother Eonf
with what called Boerum's o tn bead u
Nuhst and Dsonsv found the about 80 yads from
the Junction q Dysonsy aud hinh - be Wa yins oo his nsa.
with h. under his head dead; rolled him on
he bach pcs something: identifies numsaf found
nothing bat IN direction ward Boosyn Ssss
blood the body building and then the
came made examination Of the body IN the ot ~
FL his mouth and concluded he had been stabbed saw
Isnned-rhe prh ~s lying BY his tdy 80 .. ton.
hirt spots blood; toward bfoos{ 80 -.
uc. about two r. :. h.h toward there was al open
field and rope ~sk about 80 yNds distant l.; .......
DIR. c. II. Schapps sworn-Am Pny s'e"' ~ peAuec
.namnsIion sPon .ne coay o.
murdered lib March w ~ 'as Nss'as'