The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-06-16
TIE EUDoRA TRAGEDY.
ssnIetion Of the Negro Wilson for the Murder
Of Captain Palmer.
SENTENCE oE DEATH PRoMouHcEp.
scEHEs IN coURT,

>->>>~>~~~>>~~~>~~>ss>~S~
SCENES COUNT,
&C., &c, &c.
Court 81 Oyer and TernAlneY.
SECOND DAY.
Dssse Circuit Judge Strong, Justices Robertson, Van
wyck and Rrdsall
orR SPECIAL RxroRrn
wHnD1Ars westchssser co.. June Is, 1885,
- trial OF the negro, George Wilson, for the murder
aCApA william Palmer, Of the schooner Eudora lmogene
w. continued today. The Court House crowded
ever and tie greatest excitement existed among The
DsstHors Tho prisoners demeanor during the trial did
- vary materially nom that Of yesterday. he looked
sisue and gay by turns and many times laughed hear
~.
Aefe examined to-day, support Of the case for
- prosecution, Capt Arnold, Capt Baker william Beck
wssA, Alexander ylandereau, Or. John G. Bayis DR..
Aha. Prince John N. Sanders Charlotte Palmer Uhe
wsssw Of Capt. Pamer), Ethan Warehouse Joshua A..
Ksvnas, Charles NoCaennan Nathan C. Bell, Alexander
lsab and william a. williams. As the evidence Of these
Dsssoe has already been fully given is not necessary
- 70 Yecapitulate It, The moet important points in
- testimony Of the medical that the wounds on
- body appeared 10 have been inflicted before DEATH
- that possible that variation in the heghtof
D~ssn might take place after drowning. Mrs. Palmer
ssaed the clothing produced that Of her husband,
that Ahe face Of the deceased large, and
~ INV hong. He had marks traced in India ink his
nrms and legs when last she him alive.
De District Attorney proposed BY four or Ave additional
wesees eorroborate the testimony Of Captain Arnold,
- identity Of the deceased but the Court decided
49, sulcient testimony had been presented that
psAA
Ne District Attorney then rested the case for the pro-
sssuoon.
M Bailey for the prisoner said that be had wit
examine He asked that the good character Of
- prisoner previous TO the present transaction be ad
ssted and also that he discharged from custody
. writ OF habeas corpus and lastly, that the prisoner
was arrested when applying for his clothing at the
Veeed States Aarshals office in New York
The District Attorney having objection, the above
Ass were submitted 70 the jury evidence and the
sase for the defence here rested.
The Counsel for the prisoner then proceeded to up
he evidence for the defence in an able and impressive
he chief points raised for the defence by Messrs Bay
aDa Iarkn were as follows
nat the identification Of the body was not made out
mat the crime, if any, committed without the ju
Tedction Of the tribunal before whom it brought
mat the body found might have been marked and ont
BY recreant and sordd person for the purpose Of
sng the $500 reward offered for the recovery Of Capt
That the captain or mate OF the Eudora might have first
assuted the prisoner in which the prisoner could
- be convicted Of murder even though he did kill the
That the entire theory Of the prosecution was blown to
e winds and that there existed no proof against
- trial for his life.
The speeches OF the counsel for the defence were very
ahe, and were listened to with profound attention.
The District Attorney then addressed the jury.
The Hon. Justice Strong then rose and 10 clear voice
dehyered lis
CHARGE TO THE JURY
Gentlemen Of the jury said the Court you have been
saRed upon to decide most important You have
been TO try George wilson the prisoner at the bar
1Dr the murder OF Captain William Palmer, at City Island
~ Me month of November last The prisoner il true
not well prepared for trial. there strong preu
oCes existing against him, and view Of that fact you
sAcuid look upon his case with degree Of favor. 1t has
Been argued here by the counsel for the defence that the
erHne any was committed was not WITHIN the Jursdc
I'm Of the county Of Weseheser and that the prisoner
snnct be legally tried before this Court That s ques
I'm Of law. Whether the offence committed in the
county Of Westchester or not is mere question Of law,
which the Court has the right pass by the
gwucQns Of the Court upon that point you must 60
verned AS to the question of jurisdiction in the matter
ysu that City and Hart Islands both in the county Of
Weetchester lie short distance from the main shore
there is water between both islands, and then there
river separating City Island from the main
Ind. Where there is chain Of Islands the
between them is considered inland bay only,
md not of the The crime was, therefore,
committed upon water separating a number Of Islands
IRON each other, all Of which included within the
Jurisdiction and charge you upon the evidence adduced
AGAINST and in favor OF the prisoner The main question
Or you to settle here the guilt innocence of the
accused now before you charged with the most horrible
Of all crimes, the murder Of his fellow In order
convict the prisoner of the murder Will be necessary
shall be first convinced Of the death Of Captain
Palmer secondly that his death procured the
hands Of the prisoner with premedated design. II IS
nct necessary that there should be positive evidence Of
ne murder having been committed by the accused it is
emily necessary that facts circumstances conclusive of
guilt should be brought forward to warrant you in
rendering verdict OF guilty. IT. the other hand there
reasonable doubt give il for the benefit of the
prisoner II is his right After the circumstances
proved TO your satisfaction will be duty to render
verdict accordingly Some persons say that crcun-
Untal evidence is the best kind of evidence because cir
esmstances cannot lie, while witnesses might state this
you because rogues murderer and other rangressors
sometimes systematic in the commission Of crime
that 1t would be impossible to convict them not cir
sunsaI tal evidence to be relied upon. Criminals gen
orally perform their deeds Of wckedness when no one
licking at them they must be judged according 70 cir
sumsances II necessary therefore for the safety Of
society that Jurors should rely upon circumstantial
sence where i tends strongly TO a conclusion. You
would not be authorized TO acaut the prisoner upon any
slight Doubt must be good and reasonable one.
There doubt that the schooner Eudora lett the port
kom whence she hailed for Patchogue T. L. from thence
- Brooklyn, and from thence back to her original start
Dg point There board but three persons-Cap-
tam Palmer Gilbert Pratt mate and the prisoner George
wilson, who acted IN the capacity OF cook. From the
testimony OF very near relatives Of the deceased ap-
peared that he on board of the vessel when she
cleared from Deep River and proceeded on MS voyage
On the list OF November last rs the Eudora was proceed
hg 10 her place Of destination, she 10 anchor AZ City
BLAND The WIND blowing freshly at the time other vessels
came TO anchor in the immediate neighborhood OF the
Eodors. On the 22d, of the soops which 70
anchor Captain Pamers vessel put up her sails and
preceded her voyage. The Eudora being heavily la
aen and the sea being Somewhat rough Capt Palmer il
supposed decided 10 remain until the weather abaed
capt Palmer was seen on the afternoon Of that day
walking up and down the deck in his shirt sleeves The
vessel SPOKEN Of started in the morning Nothing oc
Cured board Of the Eudora that day TO excite the
attention OF any person. There nothing seen or
heard that would indicate that anything unusual had oc
surred board the afternoon Of Thursday the I'D.
There nothing unusual observed board the Eudora
sn Thursday night. Capt. Palmer and the mate were
alive after Thursday. OF the three persons
who were on board Of the Eudora, but one remained
ahve, and that George wilson the prisoner The
absence Of the captain and mate from their vessel s
extraordinary thing That the captain and mate left the
vessel Themselves and went away knows where,
or that they accidentally drowned after leaving the
Endora, Is not probable by any On Friday
ping the vessel was observed to be eareenng and
m few minutes afterwards she sank at her
anchorage ground of City Island. II that she
n consequence OF certain anger holes beng bored her
bottom Who bored these holesS II there
board but the prisoner that afternoon then s.
very strong circumstance against him On Friday forenoon
persons went board the Endora and asked for
Goals; the prisoner although he had authority part
~ ~.