New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-09-28
TRIAL FOR MURDER.

TRIAL OF WILLARD CLARK FOR TIE MURDER o.
RICHARD W. WIGHT, At sEw-BAvgs, or
LAST APRIL.
SUPERIOR CogRT-stPrssss. Ts's-Beiss Jsavs
PAsE sDd ELLSWORTH
From Oar Own Raporisr
Nkw-HAvEs, Thursday Sept q, iss,.
TIL. the ,e,th dsy Of the trial. and insere-, sod
importance is "a. great day. for the prospect Is 9, As
hour tbs, the trial will terminate today.
The excitement and interest in the city yesicrdA,
were greater than at any previous day; the crowd
At the Court House unprecedented, and there v1
greet curiosity manifested by the hundreds ostside
unable 20 gain admit,ance, to zee the prisoner. Me
close Of the Count at and at night, grs. crowd
~ould assemble 10 see him, and yesterday the psa
from the Court. House 10 the jail was completely hDee
with anxious spectators desirors Of catching ghmFse
M the prisoner. He walked through the crowd VIII
apparent indifference, ana with much cooness and y
sersibiity.
YererSsy morning the Court Houe was crowded
for more than AN hour previous 10 the opening OF the
Cont and among the congrcgated multitude wen
many Of the most prominent nsn of CoDnec neat The
mos eminent men Of the profession had gathered here
from all parts of the State to bear the argnmeHsn
lis extraordinary case rhe Courtroom beng TOO
email TO hold tenth part OF the spects ors that wished
10 hear the Pleas the Court opened in Representatives
Hall. in the State-House. The Hon. Chas; ChapmR
the n commerce. the closing argument for the aesehs
-
And that il wss Clsik that murdered him, but ne pu
in MS ples of insanity and claimed that he was not
his ria ut mind a. the time he commits led tue sc,. lie
claimed that his client was monomshiac, ana ta4
the breaking off of the engagement nad prouuceda
nnnis in his mind that developed itself on various e
ions: s.id be doubtless insane upon thr es
idea and said that insanity was hereI.Afy %
eese, and tina, Clark Inherited II rom MS
father who was proved 10 be insane az tines.
Mr. Chapman closed his extraordinary argument a.
4:4O L. NJ, having occupied all the forenoon and
nearly all Il afternoon IN making H. IL was listened
20 with the deepest attention by nearly one Thousand
peopIe When he closed his Honor Judge Ellis worth
rcee ami delivered his charge to the Jury. he CON
meDoed by impreesing upon Tie minds OF the laro"
the responsibility ana DUTY that devoved upon uhetn
He said that he believed that the counsei Tor me de-
frn, had admitted tn st Clark had committed the act
Of which he stood charged IN the indictment. Tie de-
hne1 what tse statutes OF Connecocut Called marust
IL the st ana second degrees and mansiaughIer but
said that the testimony would prove IN thls case that
il WAS murder in the fret degree lie considered that
the plea OF insanity entitled 10 much consldera-
tior but if the prisoner was IN his right nnd NJ tne
time he committed the act, the law would NOT ssieh
him from punishment the jury mus, therefore con-
slider shethaf the evidence in the was sub
cicut TO prove that at the time the prisoner CON-
mitied the ce.d he did not know right from wrong.
lie spoke OF the testimony oil Drs bnueI FARE ana
Ray IA experts Ia their profession, ana uioughtH
valuable testimony and entitled 70 much weight with
the Jury; but thought il should be considered tha
theee nleu who were experts IN their proei SION were
allowed 10 sc TIE prisoner III inc obhoi
sicis>s were excluded from visiting him. DIS. Jewe1
and Knight wished TO see him, and although they
called, tie prisoner would have little or no converse
ton with them. DIR. Jewett had been refused the
privilege Of visiticg him in Jail becsuse he was sent
III, n by the Stao-AttoBey 10 ascertain whether Clark
showed any symptoms Of insanity Every man Of
mature sge presumed to be- accountable for bis ae
II man is Il taalist aud believes in those doctrines
he must nevertheless be held accountable for his sc
And so with the inhdel and atheis. Clark was
skeptica upon the rub ec Of reg and appears oy
evidence that he old not believe that man was his ovn
free npept bat if lie knew right from wrong when be
committed the act of which he sands Charged hen 10
must pay the penalty prescribed by thelaw.
His Honor, Judge Ellsworth delivered his charge
in q very impressive manner, and concluded 81
o'clock ast evening.
Tie Jury retired from the ROOM and the Court was
then adjourned to O'Clock this morning. The Jury
CONNIE iced their deliberations last evening aud
session all hour, and then adjourned 10 o'clock ha
morning
At 9 clock this morning there was another great
crowd Of people in and about the state Hoase, and
REPRESENTATIVES Hall crowded with spectators
anxious to hear the verdict. But verdict was given,
or Jury were heard from up 20 IL o'clock TO day, 70
that hour the Court adjourned to Z. N.
The Jury have been closeted since "a O'Clock NJ
| morning and have not yet agreed upon verdict
o'clock this afternoon may or may not bear ffrn
thep. II s generally believed that they will be ~
able to agree upon any verdict whatever.