New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-09-21


ELLswoErH and P,hK
TRIAL or WILLARD CLARK FOR The MURDER or
RICHARD W. WIGHT, At NEw-H,yEN, CT,
LAST APRIL.
From Our Own Reporter.
NEw.HAvEy, "Wednesday, Sept 70, 1855.
The celebrated Wight tragedy il doubt familiar
70 the readers Of THE TRIBUNE in the Northern and
Eastern States. For atrociiy and dclberateness II
has seldom been equaed in the criminal record OF this
country.
ON Saturday. April IS, 1855, q. o'clock in the
evening Willard CLARK grocer OF this ety. en'eted
the house of John Bogsrt, in West Chapest, IN ths
civ. and deliberately shot Richard W. wight
Young man who had become rival sntor Tor the
hand Of Misc Henrietta Bogsr and, agains. tho pro-
tests,ions OF Clark Rad married her. He walked into
the room where The newly married couple were,
placed pistol TO the head Of Young Wight ana de-
hbe,a shot him. He felt 10 the door aud WA sup,
nosed TO be dead, hut upon examination was iouai
brrsfbipg and was placed upon co. and ne 'l.'i IN
Great scorv until the TUESDAY morning when ne
died. The jealousy Clark entertained for Wight was
The cause of his committing the fatal act Nus hen'
rietta had broken oil her engagement win I'arA !"
consequence of his improper conduct toward ber'
Il was claimed that Clark was partially insane WON
he committed the act but this story Is not gener hy
believed. Both parties moved IN respectah'e society
and hence the more interest In the case. NO pre'ou7
murder ever made hslf the excitement IN ms clty
Great interest is felt in TIE 10 consequence me
brality and d.ibera of the murder. fhe best
counsel in the State secured for the prisoner ana
ihey will try 70 prove the iosanity of Clark.
The case came up in the Superior Court by previous
assirun,nt on Mon az The rtroom was
crowo.d 70 suisocaiion, and every avenue ha'ing 10
the house was filed with spect ,tors Jury was"m-
rar.led TINT Az after some difficulty and the conn
s for The deierse stated e The Court that he hal nm
derstood that the state Attorney woGd Object 10
certain fepositions being received 10y the tour' and
wished that the question mi ht then oe settled whether
tbev were to be received or not before petc'eiiDg
fn.ihcr The S,a;e Attorney seid that these cepoeI-
tiops were thbeu without giving him any previous
notice, snd Gs they from hslne, Massachuse'ts,
and Iowa be- should certainly object 10 having them
received. Tn, nothing moe ranspfed IN Coart
on Mon day Of any interest 40, II,
Yes,, rday morning at O'Clock. Judge Ellsworth
decided that the depOsi'iODs were admlssoe ana ue
Court proceeded 10 hear the testimony Tor me oa,e'
The first witness called was Mrs Henrietta Bogart
the mother of Mrs. Wight. She appeared TO o. deep
Iy affected and much If her testimony could not be
heard either by the Jury or the Ieporters
Sbo seufed that Clark called nj their house on sat
urday sfior Don, April p, aud not hnding hehie,a
nj home went away az ain. He came again just before
7 clock ihnt g, enrg, aud came into the room AMI
bid her coed evening, and then passed INTO alront
room where HenrietIa and her husband wer'. She
coon heard The report of pis'ol, aud iieDreaa came
rur ning into the ball ga, ing, Mober, mother Clark
has killed Richard dead She sent for an officer
md bad Clarl arrested, Who quiedy walked ou' OF the
house sfer he had shot Wight, and went TO ms store
She testified 20 many other particulars concerhpS 'he
murder.
She was cross examined by the counsel for ,he de-
fep.e the remainder of the forenoon, and nearly all
the afternoon.
Mr.. Henrietta Wight the widow OF the decoased,
was ~ X Called She IS very genteel, delicate look
ing Young LADY, apparently about II years Of age
She wept bitterly when CALI to the stand, and seemed
under much excitement Hud IN great distress OF nind
She testiied TO the particulars connected with the
Of Inn N tall
On tic cross-exemnation che related the clrcum-
s'auccs concerning her early engagement TO marry
Clark and much interesting nater IN reference 10 The
ATTEMPTS of Clark TO take improper liberties with her.
wIIer little sister Isabella Bogart, next testified to
usIy of TIE particulars cOnct niOg the murder.
The Court opened at o'clock this morning, and
q lumber OF witnesses have been examined up to ths
tine Their testimony coiroboraes the statements oil
llrs Boat and Mrs. Wight. It is OF use % give
s,no $40 Of IT, as it is OF the character as that
jusi related.
The crowd To day was even greater than yesterday.
and the interest in the continues. This afternoon
very important testimony is expected. Ahis eS-
tmoby you will have to morrow.
sECoSD DAY.
NEw.HAyES, Thursday, Sc IT. 20, lr5j.
Tie excitement concerning this trial is greater now
than at any day since IFS commencement There has
been 10 trsl in Connecticut equalng this in interest
for great number of years. The Court Room is
continually ded to it, utmost capacity, and hun
dreds 60 away daily, unable 20 gain Abundance.
Ire state Attorney closed the testimony for tho
prosecution yesterday andthe witnesses Tor the defense
were called Mrs. Henrietta M. Wight, the widoF OF
the deceased was called and testified Ia many partcu'
lars Concerning the marriage engagement, and the
reasons why il was broken of. She admitted her
early attachmen, TO him. and alec admitted That they
were engaged to DC married the Sumner OF lsj2; the
epeas enent was considered valid for about II MONTHS
he Their became dissatisfied wi bis conduct, aud de
clsred she would not marry him? she finally rejected
bis Addresses and broke off the eng igement on the
evening of January !, lsai
She ,id TO. form a. acquaintance with NJ. Wight
u.,il about year from that time. She finally mar
red NJ " i,lt the 18th Of March, 1853 Clark en-
feI "a the house ard shOt Mr.. Wight the 2sh day
Of April ar O'Clock IN the evening.
To-cay tbo witnesses have Continued b BE- exam.
ir,a To- TIE defense. Thcbsiimony as general thing
wss somewhat Unexpected. Several witnesses tes.i-
fed TO the 0oraDg emoBt Of ClErks mind aud his sun
4 u,ar aud sirsrse coudu 60 various times. Ms.
kboda Peru,,e, with wnOm Clark lived 1T an ea:ly
n,e testified "a bis good conduct and good harEc'er
mother affected hun very much. While she Civ
irg IN ibis TESTIMONY 10 reicre-ce 10 his motnsr ADD
cum the whole une that she VAS speaking Of ns
mother Clsrk observod 10 thgf tears freely, and
he sister by b. side W, pt most bitterly.
Up to this lour further rery lmpor4E. testimony
hos been received Ia cay.
number Of depcsi'iOns from several persons who
reside ia thcopt,. hiasa were read by The counsel
.or thc defence u Court daring the afternoon y.s,ss
jsy. Hey ,-i.6ei 10 certain courtship Car. had
:ht', with u Niss Emira Scott, who aier yards went
20 Maine and there married Ar Spencer. In cOnse-
qrSrCc of this occurrence CLARK became gresuy
c,trtesej /, spu.'s anu Of the depOnetts testify
ia, BOB fleir o,.uon be Was iDsaae. - her dsposi.
cis rom Braclcy Maine. we're ad ,estiyiug 10 biz
81 su.sr couduct piie tbere. These aave suecal
lrs.ir- o. the case. the counsel for the defense
r,o,.., 10 oruVc that he ne when he shot Mr.