The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-10
Trial OF Samuel Keys for the Murder or his


Before Judge Emott and Associates, Edmmons and
Shoemaker.
The of Samuel Keys indicted for the murder Of his
wife Mary, was tried yesterday. John G. Schumacher,
Esq District Attorney appeared for the people, and H.
A. Moore and Samuel Rey nos Eqs for the prisoner.
Keys was indicted for having the 9th Of June last
beaten and kicked his wife in such manner
her death He Was mason and she woman Of very
Incorporate habits. They resided in basement of
house il Hoyt Butor She had been ntoxi-
Gated nearly all day, and in the afternoon he home
from hi work early Two children, residing in the
house state that soon after he came in he commenced
Kicking and beating her, and afterwards she
found lying bed dead. When the officers went to
lin he expressed but little AZ the death of
his WIFE, and said that she ought to have been dead long
ago. He arrested aud taken to the station house and
subsequently indicted Both parties known to be Of
80 Of his beating her excited but little remark
the The prisoner rs man about IS years OF age,
and appears but little affected by the position in which he
is placed ,,. o,oro. "a. -, o,o.o,uon -, -, o.
lowing testimony taken
VIM H. Van Duyne physician-Resde at 3l5 Gold street;
conducted post mortom examination on the body of
Mary Keys about the 10th of June in Hoyt street
Butler the examination was made fourteen hours after
death found large confused wound at the outer edge of
the ie eye brow smaller al the outer edge Of the
right small confused wound at the centre of the right
cheek; smaller one at the outer edge Of the mouth
the lett sde three scratches about 4 inches the left
of the medan line OF the ueck in front one across the
medan line; one about an inch to the right; confused
wound 10 the mdde OF the left collar bone; two confused
wounds on the postoror portion of each elbow; after
removhg the skucap about three ounces Of coagulaed
blood found between the membrane and brain the
right SIDE about half the left side aud between
three and four at the base of tue brain the other
organs all healthy; she died from compression OF
the ain, caused rs extravasased blood these wounds
would have caused u
Cross examined by Ar Moore-Never saw the woman
before; went to her at request of Coroner Reddng
found her in room oil the kitchen of the basement;
these wounds might have been caused by falling against
q projecting BODY. the SKIN was not broken NJ
tho edge OF the lett eye; the scratches were sim
to produce such wounds by falling the sidewalk;
falling chair cradle would readily produce H. think
there ere three steps aown from street to the base
ment failing down these steps might have produced the
wounds n she fell against projecting body.
Direct resumed-Ihere was some tumefacton which
could have been produced by striking there rac
Of the SKULL beating would have caused rupture Of
3 blood vessel
post ortem examination; the wounds the back might
have been caused by blows or by struggling while on the
back.
Cross cxamned-A fall would be a more likely cause as
falling steps the wounds might have been caused
IN ways; the marks ON the neck should judge
were produced by finger nails but many things might
have produced such scratches, that should hesitate ~
swear they produced by finger nns there were
bru-es on the knees.
william wilson, policeman, sworn-Saw prisoner June
no. about six o'clock crowd at the corner OF Hoyt
and Butler streets then went into the house aud saw
officer Branngan there spoke to the woman and found
she dy ing the prisoner had child IA his arms, and
putting apron or something on IL said the woman
WAS dying he SAID sbc ought to have been dead long
ago. arrested him and sad to him, that II was an awful
thing for him TO beat his wife so he said sho deserved
all she had got' be did not appear To be Ia liquor.
Cross Examination resisted gong with me; he had
on overalis bu, saw blood his clothes there
blood the floor, but there was much trampng on the
floor; size was lying a mattress on the floor.
CAtharipe King sworn.-Kcys' wife slept with me the
children and myself in the family my husband was alb
sent in Boston had boy II years old next March; girl
syears did, defendant 6d not see her n my apartment IN
with he child in her lap the child appeared sick; about
10Y O'Clock her, ana she was drunk; the child was
also drunk Keys not there about noon saw the child
again and lis face was bloody though II had fallen; th
child VA, about two years old; the baby was about three
Lame Ring sworu-Knows Keys and wife; saw him
Kick her in the face head and the side the day she
died great while before sue died that he kicked
her him from back window II thought he Kicked
her because she drunk he said nothing when he kick
ed her he told her To lie down. and she would not when
he gave her kick and made her lie down; she tried 70
get up when he gave her two or three kicks and went
away; told my mother of the him after
wards sitting by the table, and she sitting up In the
bed this was long while after he had kicked her her
hair hanging down; neither said anything, and the
little obid was lying in the cradle; Mrs Keys eyes we're
all BLACK and blue and the jaws were broken.
Cross exsmned--This was after dinner time; did not
SEQ Of the house after he kicked her. called out
90 my sister, and she looked IN the Window when he
came home hc had white overals not there when
fhe officer took him away when he came home she was
Tying Oh the he'd getting sober; was drunk all day.
John Branagan, policeman, testified TO being called on
10 Keys house the evening OF the 10Th June;
he WA sitting with his back 20 the mantc In the largo
room; two children thereone standing at the foot
OF the bed went into the other room and saw the body OF
1he woman lying on mattress came out and said,
ftReys, am afraid you have got yourself into bad
scrape afraid you have Killed this woman he said,
a. Killed and be d--d she ought to have been dead
years aso" when he came home be said she wa drunk,
and be found bottle Of brandy In bed with her he asked
me be should 20 for doctor; witness told him no. and
said he should consider himself under arrest. he seemed
quite composed and sober.
Cross cxaminaton-Ihd not say where he came from,
but said that when he home he found the bottle OF
brandy ia with her and she IN bed; gave reason
Tor wishing get Of the child he had on white over
als, bu, there no blood on his clothes he made
resistance 10 going with Wilson, but made no objection 70
going with me- when went there he was sitting by the
crib Of the child and rocking H.
james Berry-knows Keys and Jimmy King; knows the
day on whirh Nrs Keys died went around % jimmy
Kings house, and he called 20 look into Mrs. Keys
room when saw Keys who saa 70 nm ns s ,an la oa
room did not her there clothes hanging up
then closed and defence proceeded to OPEN
when tn law stated BY H. A. Moore ana the case Of
The People Butler cited.
Judge Emott--Under the decision Of the general term
this win the fourth degree by the de-
gson OF the general term IN the OF Jeremiah Butler
The DEFENDANTS counsel proceeded 10 open the case and
called Anna MallonSaw the child of Keys coming up the
street with blood ON her dress, crying took into the
house aid the baby in the cradle saw Keys sitting
down Mrs Keys was lying on The bed her clothes were up
IL WAS past ave; after that about six O'Clock, he
going into the station house smiling saw him In the charge
The defence here rested the case stating that they had
number Of witnesses which they would like 70 examine,
The Court Thought that the case ght as well be closed
ths afternoon ss 70 occupy another day He suggested 10
counsel that they should both up the case aud be
would charge the Jury to morrow Mr.. Reynolds then
proceeded 10 up the for the defence. He con
cnded that there nothing 10 the evidence 10 substan
Slate the allegations made BY the District Attorney in his
pcune Mr. Reynolds proceeded 20 analyrc the testimony
given The case, and contended that there was nothing
IN the case show that the prisoner was guilty Of murder
and ruly OF anything that OF manslanghter In the
third or fourth degree He coniended that the conduct Of
Che rsouer al the Of the commission Of the deed
was not that Of person guilty Of killing bis wife. He
ronsended the prisoner innocent Of the crime that
that been charged upon him.
The District Attorney followed at some length when the
court adjourned. ..,-.
The case will be submitted 10 the jury this morning
Cour< Caleudar-This Day.