Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-01-21

The PHILADELPHIA MURDER TRIAL. -
Thomas w. Smith, on trial at Philadelphia,
for the murder of Richard Carter, was &C
Quilted on Monday night, and discharged
The defence was insanity, plea which was
urged with all the telling eloquenee of David
Paul Brown and Russell rhayer. The former
said that if a professional career of more than
forty years should be closed by the successful
vndication of the prisoner at the bar, it would
be the crowning point Of long aud laborious
life. 1t will be recollected that Smith killed
Carter on the 4th of November at the st.
Lawrence Hotel, where Carter had sought
the interview ,-Sinith having left his wife on
account OF her having four months after
marriage, given birth to a child, of which
Carter was the father. A few extracts from
the defence will tell the story:
"Mr. Brown narrated the studied system of
destruction pursued by Carter towards the
victim of his peridy. After solicitous and re-
peated opportunities to the father of Miss
McCauly to give him their daughter that he
might make her finished lady, she was TAX
en- from her home an artless, budding girl of
II or Is.
And he does flush her 50 far as any use
full work or purpose in this world is concern
ed. and If her temporal condition in any way
stANNSAS
ever Her eternal salvation is imperilled or
blasted He places her at college in an ad-
joining state, where she remains until he
sends for her as her guardian, her protector
She comes TO this city and they remain at
Jones's Hotel together. And one night, she
being unwel. as she herself says-and no
man shall doubt her word except the attorney
general-left her door unlocked. And then,
gentlemen, the man Of 48 years of age, this
foreign adventurer, who has come among us
and risen to wealth and position this man,
the guardian, father and protector, steals into
her room with Tarquin Strides and commits
an otfence-what shall / call it?
Richard Carter did this, and ought it not
TO be said of man who could commit this
vile-incest it might almost be called
"Never praJ more abandon all remorse
On norroi's he I'd horrors accumulate
Do deeds to make Heaven weep, all earth amaz.d
For nothing cans't thou to dlmnation add,
Greater than that"
Mr.. Brown then proceeded to describe the
character of Smith, young, ardent, impulsive
and buoyant, as he met Miss McCauley for
the first time, They met again in company
with Miss Smith and Richard Carter. They
became engaged to be married.
The speaker then drew pictures of the
married life of Smith, both when with his
vile IN Hhlladelphla and when away from
her in New York, when according to the evi-
dence, he is seen kissing her miniature again
and again and uttering joyful exultatons over
his happiness.
Mr.. Brown pictured graphically the cir
cumstances attendant on the birth of the
child, the dawning consciousness of the pris-
oner that his wife was false, and the utter,
boundess, soul rending grief and agony to
which the prisoner surrendered his entire
being. He spoke Of the conduct of Smith,
feeling like Cain, and wandering about seek
ing death everywhere to take the brand from
off his forehead. He grows worse and worse,
and he gives himself up to this horrible
thought; he goes to Virginia and northeast,
and we have shown his wild conduct while
there. He returns and we prove his exact
position and insanity; and on the fatal day
he presents himself at the st. Lawrence Hotel
with weapons winch he always carried with
him. he takes a seat on the sofa and talks to
Carter, when Carter said, 81 intend to 90 and
see your sster.'s These words were the
match by which the magazine was exploded /;
suddenly Carter springs up and receives the
ball OF Smith, whose eyes glow luridly, and
he says l will not give myself up to any
other than an officer. He was then a Inono-
maniac, a crazy man.
The speaker closed with pathetic appeal
to the jury to acqut the prisoner, although it
would seem almost more mereiful to relieve
him from a wretched oxistance which must
ever be forlorn, hopeless, and unhappy.