The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-12-20
Trias Of Samue, sprSsuo for the Murder OF
rIrs. Furty-rne Case OF tho Defence
COURT or GENERAL SESSIONS.
Before Recorder Smith.


The court was Oiled at the opening OF tbs court
yesterday many Of the spectators being ladies friends Of
the accused. The prisoner attended by his counsel
and his sged father an bore himself il conscious OF
acquitis1. The defence opened their by calling
Dr. Charles j. Nordgriet who deposed as folo wsI
Physician was called to ate 81 Mrs. Furty attend
cd her for about six weeks called upon her daily; dur
Ing the time attended her tho first three weeks there
seemed prospect Of her getting well, but during
tie latter part o the time her bad; had din
Guilty in getting her TO take the medicine regularly; her
husband nur cd her Mr. Fnrty told me he would make
5000 600 out u the by sueng MIR. sp agus
for this of camagsto him In the loss of his wife,
this was after tho wife dead; tried 10 per-
sasde him not TO do IL, And said II was fool
ish: told him !, he could keep quiet Mr.
he; told Mr. Enrty that II no wouli 20 the
country and not appear here witness would get for
him $780, never told him snytieg like this in words
substance he said lawyer had told him he c,nid
make money ou. OF the suit; extracted the bullet
from the woman, assisted by DE-. underhil think the
heard the statement of the witness Furty yesterday that
the s fell ont; the ball did not fall out had to apply
Cross examined by District Attorney-I cannot tell
whether il a bali or slug; don't thnk there WAS
more than one ball In the woman; don't think bali
psssed through ber she had wound tina back till
made one from the appearance OF the wound think the
pistol not than two feet from the breast when
fred this Conversation With Furry Lad day or two
after the woman was dead; this conversation
in Furty's room; he commenced the
ton by saying he intended to sue spragus; / told
Mr. sprague Of this CHE father Of the ploncrJ three or
weeks after the woman shot Mr.. Furry told he
intended to spragus Mr. smogue never authorized
me TO pay dollar for him In the matter in any way.
by Mr.. Cnton--Shortly after she sick my instruc
tions in giving the medicine diso5eyed by Furty
ordered medicine for the woman, and the husband
refused 70 get ~ woman, who WAS by ssid shs wonld
get II she had to pay for Il herself this womans nane
wa. Mrs no ordered port wine aud porter to strength
about half and half complied with BY Furty; thuk the
would have been better II she had been attended
to; as coon "A noticed that Farty disregarded my
jers complained about it, and he said he had money
have heard that Mr. Furty had money from Mr. Sprsgue
Taty S. this was the second day after she was shot
John q. Cooper swOrn-1 am q locxsmth; | know the
prisoners have Known him for ten have knowa
him well all that time; he has always been peacea oils
man TO my lnoSledge; he has always been remarkable
Tor that; be has always been strict temperance
BY MI Hail. never heard Of anything against him;
heard amy difficulty him and his father
Idcnt know Why he left his father heard that he had
got married. he Is locksniih; visited him in
Delaney street; was not present at his marriage.
Charles Hicks sworni live At 262 Second street; am
paM in0w ,ns
lived near him; never heard anything against him;
have seen him perhaps dozen times year Tor the last
three four years he IL remarkable for his peaceful dis
position; believe him TO be temperance man; he
very absten,ious.
MIR. Hail. know not Why he was 80 abstemious; /
never visited him In Delaney street.
Eiies u Harris sworn am plumber; know sprague;
bsye known HIM since 1870; live IN sixth street near
1870 III his confinement his character has always been
good. very peaceful, and have always understood him
to be strong temperance man; never heird Of his
Mr. H.ll-I ney, visited him in Delaney street.
Thomas White sworn-I Il shoemaker; I
Of the persons alluded to by Furty yesterday; had
front on Delaney street, was living there witch my ia
my; recoect the oc :urrence of the dog in the yard
was away that day 10 lock for my little boy and
home with friend named Smith, about O'Clock In the
evening when into the yard furty, his wife, child
quesied both Furry and bis wife to take the dog o.
james G Wllett, Sheriff elect sworn-T know Mr..
pIaeus have not seen much Of n a for seven or sight
Mr. White recaliei-Wlen requested Furty ana his
wife TO take the Cog of they both laughed me; said
] would kill the dog, and then old Furry said he would
hil me; then wsnt up and asked hun what he meant;
be then clirched me- and being powerful man called
know whether he struck Furry or not. but i he did
she him II the only blow struck during the whole
ARRAY side; while Furty had me clnched, Mrs.
inrty gasped tie long Dutch pipe, viii III he smok
ing, and struck the with It; the fire
out Of the pipe and burned my cheek then re reated
towards the door abe followed; then Smith, who had
cup OF water threw il ON her. saying hs would cool her
or she then got club and followed me into my
and struck three four tines she struck Inc once
Knock her down, but did not want - strike her, be-
cause she wssa woman ] felt the effects of her
blows upon my head for two weeks afterwards;
Smi went into my with me; she did into
my room, but stood 1T the door and srnck while
In my room; then told her wouli knock her down
was in the yard all The time, AID he did not follow
me me 10 my did not sc, spagu. yn.
Old not srrngue Till after the shooting; did not
know sprague at that time Furry talked to me in Eng
hsh; heard no ray whip that Dutchman," butt
heard say, "why don't you knock that woman
DOWN" ,hi. remark think came from some on in the
crowd in che street, who had gathered around there
many people gathered in from the ST. eet was not
drunk az that lime don't think Smith was drunk:
n'ver hnfw Of sprsgue drinking while he in the
house.
BY Mr.. Hail. had seen the deg before II was heavy
deg i annoyed inc much that going to kin IT,
DID Lot strike old Iuriy the woman, any else;
did not rear the report Of the pistol Il ten minutes
after our stfiay that sprsgne care doyn stairs the
TlIaothy kerGlasa sscrn--I live in Rivnston street;
heard the Last witness the first saw OF the ARRAY
Mrs Furry licking White With pipe; worked with
whitei td not go out Of the room could out Of
the door into the yard sbe struck him tho face and
struck more than once -he afterwards had cla6 and
the club lo ked Ike small haiche. handle saw Wait
lie conf into hi own when size followed htm up;
she hit him The head and breast; he shut the door
Crosse xamired by Mr. Hall afterwards saw Mrs.
came back again bcecing this the first knew che
had taea shot heard the report Of the pistol did not
know Spfsgue sprsgue came into Whites after
evening lie n the yard; Il during the ARRAY;
did not sec him do anything did not White strike
Ma Johns sworii-I resided IN Delaney street a. the
rim. 81 this ARRAY; MAS In the second story al the time
Of This afray: from my window ! could see the whole
aifiay when looked out o. the window Furry lay
his pre- down and clLch the shoemaker. Mr. Whittle;
hn Jaw The woman running with stick In her hand;
Jaw the woman strike the shoe maker In the yard saw
n, noie 81 the ARRAY; knew spragnc by sight saw
him that night ty the door, but he seemed u have
nothing 10 do with the aray Mr. spIagus seemed 20 he
an mmodating, ftaceaLIe, quiet neighbor:
lntw Of his drinking any hing thought the shoemikcr
sober.
by Sir. Hail. he,rl the report o, the pistol then
Jaw spsguc vh'n they t9tk him away: then tbs
woman, hut did not in5v she was shot, saw Mr..
Fufy tshirg her up stairs.
snfpn Aikerr ssorn-i owed az go Delaney street
when Mrs. Eurty thc IL in the same house in
which Mrs. inrty lived: dii no. any In the
yard, but 4 In the entry; heard y noise,
and want Gown Ia What K. ing on the
woman sth piece a wood ia her and sttkiog a. the
sh .niaker, when the struck Whitle she
front Of bis door she struck the shoemaker the head
NJ IN how ,f'cn she sirucs him; did not the
shoemaker shnt Lis door heard the pistol hrei Mrs.
Bugiy looked VERY angry.
Crcss examined BY Mr.. Hs1-Ihts row in the yard
two minutes before heard the pis'oi fired.
Franz kicin sworn-T n carpenter in June las. 7
hyct "a tie same house Wits Mrs fufty the fracas
in ne yanS; Lizard tn. ps,ol shot up ssir-; before