The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-11
Tsial If James Shepherd for Arson tn TN
Ernf Degree
COURT or GENERAL SESSIONS.
Before Recorder Smith.

1
COURT or GENERAL SESSIONS.
Before Recorder Smith.
ntc lo-Aftcr the court was opened this morning.
reariy na,f an hour was occupied ia uansaotng roun
matters when James shepherd indicted for in the
first degree, placed at the bar for trial As the a.
f'Nce capita! one the counsel for the accused ex-
anncd each juror his knowledge OF the facts OF the
case, that jury obtained till after IL O'Clock.
Mr. Sedgwick, the Assistant. District Attorney, gavea
detailed statement OF the circumstances upon which he re-
He'd for conviction, The prisoner charged with e
lon!ously setting fire to two story frame house built and
occupied by himself corner Fifty third street aud Teuth
avenue, the morning of the 9th of June His wife
consumed in the iiames and the prosecution aegc
The accused intended take her life would he proven
that all the circumstances showed preparation for
mova from his house and that after he had procured
policy OF insurance he showed 10 stating that
"a fire would happen this house." In the
trial would be shown that statements made by the
cused false, from which tho jury to determine
upon the guilt or innocence OF the serious charge
forrcd against him.
wilhelmina ncker the first witness examined for
the prosecution. She deposed follows:-I live in Fifty
third street, between Eighth and Ninth in June
lived in Ninth avenue, near block from Shepherds
house could the roof from my window was aroused
by my mother about O'Clock the morning OF the
fire by woman haloaing Sire, y Fire; went and told
Mr.. Rogar to out; Shepherds roof burning
and accompanied Mrs Bogart the place. the house
burning all over remained at the scene of the occur
renee till three o'clock
Cross examined-Mr. Begart lived in the house with
mother aud yself; FIRST the fire when in my
looking out of the window can't say where the fire had
| its origin.
John May testified that on the 9th Of June he lived in
| West Fifty third street; that he fireman;
by his wife that morning two
O'Clock and when he arrived Shepherd house he
the root and part Of the second story fronting the street.
burning Shepherd sidewalk he had on shirt
and pantaloons, and hailooed My vrow,' sMy vrow;"
Mr. Geyer out from the lower part OF the house
Mrs shepherds body found at the northeast Of
the house, knew the wife Of the prisoner; she
woman think she got her living by washing
/ ACCOMPLISHMENTS house n small one T
remained at the fire about hour; there another
man whose name don't know, in company With shcp
Shepherd did not say My WIFE my wife, don't know
what countryman Shepherd Is.
Counsel for the prisoner asked the District Attorney
he would admit that Shepherd was an Irhman, to which
he replied in the Affirmative.
Witness continuing-A great many Germans live in
ncighborhood and the prisoner liked always TO have lit
lie funny talk in Dutch Shepherd said he wanted go
and rescue his wife, but o policeman prevented him.
Henry Trimer dcposed that he lived in Fifty third
street. and assisted shepherd to his house. O.
overrulcd) A. 1t worth about $50 $50; he offered
il to me tor $25 time last winter; ! leased the
nine monts rent, lMr sedswcn said tha, the psonor
insured the house for S275) When was awoke, Eeaw
the upper par, the house in mes had not much con-
versaon with Shepherd after the FIRE, but he said to
me few days after the fire that ne lost gold
watch and that his woman used to gold about her.
money found in the ruins except a five cent
piece; he did not tell me how the fire commenced; he
moved building materials to Harlem three weeks before
the rc such as could be constructed into shanty he
took bannistcrs of the stairs and put up pine boards
stead knew tnat he insured after the nro,
Shepherd remarked 10 that he thought insured;
Shepherds house had fiat roof; about year before
FIRE he said TO day tina, he wanted get his house
| insured.
Cross examined-I a carpenter; ! worked three
days and half at Shepherds house, (aughter) there
was no foundation at the time il built, bu;
made afterwards.
To the District Atorncy-Evcry part of the mate
rial second hand; Shepherd and his wife were in
the habit OF quarrelng almost night and day heard her
in the night une hin haul her through the
by the hair.
Gross. exainined-Cannot state positively how long
fore the fire had them quarrelng saw them
church together and eight days before the fire they
peared to be pleasant
Christian Geyer was the next wtness-He said tina. in
summer he worked at carpcncring occupied the front
the first floor Of Shepherds house, went to bed
about 81 o'clock the night OF the fire. aroused
about IL O'Clock by man who asked him what his door
open for the fire and the upper e the house
in flames; took my bed IN my arms and went into tho
entry but could not return again in consequence OF the
flames; witness hooocd fire. and Shepherd standing
about fourteen feet from the house he also hoood re
he bad shirt panaloons and white cap could
whether he shoes or not he crossed the street and
remained there the next morning the witness observed
that Shepherds beard burned and he had q
his face tho prisoner did tell witness the fro
commenced; witness said he hard e hearing, and
could not say whether Shepherd and his wife lived
happily together; Mrs Shephcd appeared TO be well al
o'clock the evening OF the fire. when Shepherd left in
the morning he always demanded money OF his wife, do
not know whether she gave him any witness could
not identity gold watch shown 10 him.
To the CourtDid not hear any noise in the house when
] awoke: saw Shepherd two minutes afterwards tho
prisoner made remark about his wife, who was in tho
house did no, his face, bu, heard him hooo Fire,
he wore pair Of black pantaoons, blue coat, and
white night cap
house with the night in question: Mr. Fisher woke
nj IL o'clock the fire occurred = O'clock Mr..
and Mrs. shepherd used 10 sleep osthe floor lived
the house from December till June.
The hour fer adjournment having arrived, the Court
dismissed the jury I'LL tomorrow morning. when the
| will be resumed