The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-11-01
IMPORTANT CRIMINAL TRIAL IN VIRGINIA.

IMPORTANT CRIMINAL TRIAL IN VIRGINIA.
Murder OF . wife by her Husband I'M FIT
II JsaIsusy-A Catholic Priest Called upon
- Reveal In Evidence the Secrets Of tho
Csnfessional-HAs Refusal, and Decision
II the Coart In his FAv0r-Convfetion and
Sentence or the Prisoner for the Minor OF
1ence or Mansls tighter.
SPECIAL REPORT FOB THE NEW YORK HERALD.
RICHMOND, Va, Oct. %, 1855.
involving points of unusual interest ana novelty
las closed this evening in the Superior Court of this
n.y. Judge John A. Meredith presiding. A man named
John Cronin sorekeeper in this city was tried for the
murder Of his wife, having inflicted upon her. on the
18th of last month"; injuries which led to miscarriage and
subsequent death.
The Of this treatment was her detection in adult
ferrous cohabitation with named Thos. Byron Who
- avoid the vengeance Of the aggreved husband had
hnnediately quit the city. For days after the
seourrence the injured woman seemed compare
lively well, and 1t was not till she had siven
birth to a stilborn child, which was about
ne sixth day. that she manifested any alarming symp-
ssDa She fingered until the 18th inst, and up to the
moment her death made the most solemn
q innocence in regard to the charge Of adultery made
agAinst her by her husband.
The case commenced on Saturday morning and con-
The first witnesses examined were Doctors Gavenxel
and Bese Of this city, both of whom testified that the
woman by her death from rupture of the spleen,
On, more directly, Inflammation of the stomach, which
I'D 70 abortion The rupture, which they stated to be
Me origin of the malady produced by violent blow
II the region of the spleen externally the nature of the
wound confusion indicating that It inflicted by
Ne point Of stick something Of that circumference.
Edward Mcsweeney, brother of the deceased was next
examined He said, that on the night Of the 18th Of
September, while at the house Of his brother.in-
NV he prisoner alarm fire was given, whereupon
he and the prisoner started up and ran in the direction
ne ollpg Of the bell indicated the to be- They as
ssrtaned however before proceeding far that the alarm
manned at the prisoners house until about 10 O'Clock
night when he left for his boarding house, he retired 70
bed soon after getting there. In about hour two
him from his Sleep said he wanted him at his house;
he arose, dressed with little delay as possible and
@ with the prisoner entering the street he
sver caught Margaret (ueaning his wie in the back
house with Byron; i told her to say nothing about
~ and that would be silent upon the matter.o He
(wnes and the prisoner then proceeded to the house
and entering the bedroom found the wife there both
talking upon the subject of the daculty;
and after tie interchange OF angry words prs
sssroom BY Soarasr a and threw se1ss
and the prisoner followed hcr and through the in.
tsrposion of the boardcrs who got out Of bed
hrs,nS the s wa
(vtness) again returned to the room whence she fed
snd there again. after few angry expressions she
manned motioness tor a minute two, and then arose
and sat upon the bed. The prisoner remarked that he
would go and kin Byron, and Immediately rushed down
satrs He (witness followed and going into the street.
observed friend Of Byrons, and called upon him to
come In, else the prisoner would murder Byron. He
Then went for the Waterman, and upon his return
being about three quarters Of hour absenthe found
the deceased in the street. was forced or dragged out
ny the prisoner and compelled to take refuge In neigh
Mics Mary King testified that she attended her for several
days during her Illness she observed several bruises
and some bruises the neck, from severe throt
t6ng; after her death she observed good many bruises
upon her body she also bore the mark of blow
% the eye and complained great deal about bruise
her side; heard Mr.. Cronin fthe prsoner) say in
presence Of his wife, that she innocent and that he
wsuA make proclamation Of that fact in the public pa
PER-, # she would consent to live with him; shs Che
we) replied that she recovered she would, and
she died, he would be the cause Of her death.
Two other female witnesses testified to the fact Of her
being east out Of doors by the prisoner at late hour
fhe night In question.
Tho case for the prosecution closed here
y witness, named Campbell, boarder in the
hsass Of Cronin, testified to much the same
given II s sgSos By the ee
S6r HUSBAND rne pri,ssoner, in his presence, while
she was being upbraded with her CONDUCT that Byron
Sreed the Of the bacshouse open while she was 10
could not BIO forced without much difficulty.
Joseph Mayo Mayor Of the city, testified that on the
INST Of last month the day which the prisoner was
before him for examination upon the charge the deceased
stated that while in bed the aght of the Sth she
aroused by the touch OF some person, whom she dis
covered upon close observation to be this Byron she
ordered him to leave the room remarkiug: w6at would
my husband think II he you in this roomf" lie did
leave in a moment two after she went down stairs
and observed Byron seated upon of the steps, she
passed him and into the water closet backhouso;
while there this Byron attempted force in hedoor
and il was then her husband came up; he wtness dis
posed of the requiring the prisoner security
keep tho peace he did not that occasion observe
that she pregnant but did in few days after upon
aeeing at his residence it his knowledge Of this
net that induced him upon hearing Of her DEATH TO
Ger the Coroner to hold inquest her he believed
warrant was issued e., for the aTrss q Byron but
Rev John feeling Roman Catholic curate Of this city,
mas next examined, by Mr. John H. Gilmer counsel for
bar the best Of my knowledge him at the Hust.
fuRr court and believe had previously him at the
house where attended the deceased lMrs cr9nin2 at
Fifth street said TO be the house Of that per
son called to see sick lady in that house In my
capacity a Roman Catholic priest.
Mr.. Giimer--Did that woman make any declaration to
Wtness- cannot say that abe made the declaration to
myself particular she made declaration In the pre-
Of her husband and myself at least the person
represented as her husband.
Mr.. Gmer--What that declaration
witncssShe declared well as can remember, that
ahe had never known any man but her husband since
their marriage; in other words, she denied having
had connection with the individual mentioned In
tcn with the charge made against her by her husband
anybody else.
Mr.. Gilmer-why did she make that declaration in
your presenter
wnness-I don't know what prompted her TO do 80
~ that moment; there several persons In the room
when she was about TO make that declaration but upon
her saying al confess'a term which III my church has
peculiar signhicatio ordered her To stop, and
ped all TO leave the except the husband she then
closed her hands together and uttered the denial which
have already detailed; whether she addressed herself to
ne or 70 her husband will not say positively
Mr.. Glluer-Did understand you rs having regarded
the words confess In q sacramenta sense or AZ pre-
Atery declaration of something sacred, not proper
- be heard by those presently
WituessI regarded them In that instance rs intro
rctory to declaration which she about 10 make ~
me something appcrtainng TO the charge made against
her by her husband, which, however, deemed IL i'm
proper that all should hear did not regard the words
- used In a sacramental sense.
Mr. Gilmer-Did you not say 70 her "stop," when'she
vss about make her statement and when she uttered
enc words " I confess'f
Witness--I believe 40.
Mr.. Gilmer--Dd you address her a. her prestS
Wftness--I did not do her father confessor; ut
se confessional allow person 70 be present except