The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-19

of Mr.. Robertson, q man 4S or 46 years of age, and fer
about twenty years well known in this community. New,
gentlemen, think for a moment Of some man, in the towns
where you reside, who would not attempt to murder his
wife-a man who you know would not do it. II asked
why you think 50, you would reply: Why, 1 have know.
thai man from his boyhood up, and known him TO be q
man Of generous, liberal, high character, in all the re,a-
character all through his life. Suppose, when you return,
you should hear that that man had been overheard b
witnesses, placed in secret by the District Attorney, 10 81
licit one of the Beiglers 10 assist in the murder OF hs
wife. Are you TO believe is You say that it Is IN.
credible; that you have known that mans ena.acer a:s
this case; we believe q mans habitual character is more
to be trusted than these %suspicions: although Oviatt
and Scarf may think they heard words which 60 against
him. There must be other evidence, unless hearing and
seeing are the only evidences that can be addressed q
s about % ,Se evening" a gass at t %sn Ss ssSTle' House ios sei in August Sns' last,
and his return 10 his own house, and a scene with ms
wife, who is represented as having been excited and fn-
tated, and keeping up q turmoil from eleven O'Clock unit
two. If such q thing actuallyoccurred, you will say that
it is a circumstance calculated strongly To corroborate.
early hour considering the convivial scene he had been O.
gagged in, and instead of meeting with unkindness and re-
primand the inquiry. is, why did you come nome 90
early, John; why did you not remain longer2' what rea.
ance is to be placed upon teeir testimony But where ID
10 Biegler get the idea of his being at the Osburn HOueee
X he was connecting a plan. he must weave into his story
some probabilities, in order that the story may be such as
10 impose upon the credulity of men. 10. Bieger was in
tns city, and If he had a plan and oontrivance TO iTpIcnse
grace, he knew that he must be watchful Of his victim, fd-
lowing him step by step, making inquiry and finding sut
IVA W oh5Wct h6 N % 7. DHVSict - "
alone in this matter. He was asked how often he went
down to see his father, and he had it six weeks or TIVE
months; but when he brought his sister here to 4 testify,
she said it was rs often as once in two weeks. We have
here an intimaticn where the Georgia story came from.
Where dd 10. Biegier get the idea that Robertson came
went back, and then they returned together to live heree
They tell us that it may have been said because il was
true. Here is a question Of some moment. Suppose tho
evidence in this case is that eighteen or twenty years ago,
when Robertson came from Georgia, 10. Biegler and
Robertson occupied the same house and ate at the same
fable. their rOOme being eide by side Y SuDOOS9 w 20 On
TO prove that 10. Biegler visited Robertson, and pre-
scribed for him, it would not be extraordinary IL he knew
all about his coming from Georgia. But you ask what Is
the use of presuming that, when it was known that joseph
Biegler was in France or Germany at that timer But
right behind him another is visible enough, assisting and
aiding in. making up this whole story, from begin
ming TO end. II is true that Robertson came from
visit to her friends, and after a while returned; that
when they came here to reside Robertson was in straight
ened circums tances, which did not permit him to take the
best rooms at q hotel He took apartments on the third
floor Of the Eagle Hotel, and right along side Of him was,
not 10 but A. p. Biegier. (Applause) Mrs. Robertson
went to visit her friends at Saratoga, and Mr.. Robertson
was taken sick, when old A. p. BiegIer prescribed for him.
Is it at all strange then, where the young man got the sketch
of the history which he relatesY So many years ago. Il
would be expected that some parts would be forgotten and
be told wrong. The truth is, Mrs. r.. did not return homo
in the spring, after removing to the north through the faA
and winter; but she returned in the fall. Biegler might
have forgotten that incident-Mr. Robertson never would.
Another thing to which l propose to call your attention i,
what possible motive could Robertson have for the at
tempt cbargedf Is he not q respectable mann Yes. Has
be not a high character and does he not know the beneoAs
of a good reputation Yes. Had he not the comforts
Of a good homer Yes. What motive then could he
have hadf The prosecution have utterly failed 70 give
any, and give us instead nothing but words
throw light on this subject. They say he desired
10 murder his wife; but there are no circumstances that
show any motive for the act, such as to be relieved from
an incubus which made his life q perfect hell. Now sup
pose that a woman lies sick in the night time, the lamp of
life almost going out-doubtful whether she would live
from day to day and night to night-her friends appre-
hensive that life might depart at any uncomfortable y.
ing thus, q wretch comes in who wants her life-actuahy
designing murder. every unholy passion stimulating ban
kilt There lies his victim, the light Of life just going ou&,
unable to resist, and no one TO suspect the deed. Why
does he not STRIKER There must be a cause for this; for
night after night he did thus watch over his sick wife.
Did he act ike a murderer You will have an opports-
nifty to Judge, gentlemen Of the jury, whether be did hover
over her sick bed designing her death, or night after night
exhibited the care and watchfulness Of . friend and hus-
band. We give evidence Of the scenes that ~transpired at
that time, to show whether there was a wicked scheme
concocted by the husband against the wife. In this case
we might rest satisfied with the evidence produced by the
prosecution as TO the kind ofmedicine administered 10 Mrs.
r. for Biegler does not claim that they were not such as
were appropriate TO maintain and not to take life. He
would have US believe that, and We might rest there; but
IL : not proper that we should rest there. We are told
that Mr.. Robertson was engaged in study ing medicinal
books aboutthis time. There rs so much OF truth in the
peoples testimony that IL demands our careful attention
to untangle II and find out how much Is false. Mrs. Ro-
bertson had been sick at different times, and had been al
tended by Drs. Fly and IAngworthy, and others, and like
all other persons in such cases the wife finally bcccmesa
physician for herself. and her husband for her too. In
that unusualf After Biegler was employed by R~obertson,
he did study books, and was at Joseph Begler's house, In
curing ano looking, to ascertain the character OF certain
medicines. Mr.. r. knew the medical effects OF sambuous
when he was at Bieglers house he did ge, a bottle Of sam
bucus, as Ovatt swcars saud that II was just a. innocent
less as bread and water. Why, gentlemen OF the jury, u
he was seeking TO murder his wife, did he procure
this harmless stuff and carry IL home TO be dropped
cut and administered to his wifes After Joseph
Biegler was called to attend Mrs. Robertson,
finding no symptoms Of organic disease, he pre-
scribed no medicines. Mrs. Robertson did noS
know Of his doubts and suspicious expressed in that mys-
FERROUS shake of the head, rs though he would say, "f
you could guess at my reasons, you would find something
them here with a solemn air. This Jos. Bicgler e a man
Of mipd"f a certain character, there is no doubt Of that.
The manner In which he recited his testimony here shows
that be has a faculty OF that description ut least. He OK
bibhcd what McLane, more honest and straightforward,
admitted On all fours, that be had committed II 10 memory
and recited II ON the stand. The medicines administered
10 Mrs. r. bad their natural medical effects, and were all
right and proper. The symptoms Of Mrs. Robertson were
of a serious character. She exhibited a strong predispo-
stion To %apoplexy, and suffered occasionally from nausea
and sickness, and q great prostrstion. The first occasion
when the dangerous symptoms became apparent, was
upon receiving intelligence that her brother, r. q. Bcne-
dict, was probably badly injured upon. the railroad.
Wherever startled or frightened, these symptoms er.
hibited themselves. But Mr.. Robertson exhibited a great
deal Of interest in old Bieelcr and performed many kind
Offices Of Kindness for hin-indecd, IT. he had been
a ministering angel, he could not have done more;
and when he was arrested, and his wife and children
were left without their protector, Robertson goes " see
them, proners assistance, and shows them the utmost
kindness; and that kindness Is produced here az evidence
agaipx him. II IS true he did advance money-true that
Biegler administered for Mrs. Robertson, at her request.
Afcr she bad suffered, without relief, from the attendance
OF other ply scisns, he was called, and his prescriptions
had the effect 20 relieve her pains, aud thus confidence in
his ability was established between Mrs. n. and her physi-
clan. Mrs. r. " the only sister Of the family. There are
two brothers-the eldest unmarried, and In the habit n
visiting at his sisters house, on the kindest and most A.
fcctonaie terms. When Bieglcr was arrested, u became
a subject Of interest and concern 10 Mrs. Robertson M W
her husband and brother; and she says 20 her brother,
when on a visit 10 her house, about this time, "Roes, NJ 4
cannot have the personal attendance OF M. Begier, I sban
never leave this bed slive;i' and Ross, actuated BY
affection for his sister, undertakes TO see what he can do
IN rclease the Doctor. Don't you think the husband,
when the brother Ia rushing forward n benefit the
sister, would be very csreful 70 stop and FRO
cure bond and mortgage as security for bis advancesf
No; but prompted by the same affection, and setting
under ne strong an impulse ~ the brother, he undertakes
10 procure individuals 10 20 on the bail. but there are
dark suspicious against Robertson on account OF II. II h
nN conceived that be helped Bseglcr because he wanted
To Kill his wife, but because Robertson had seduced Emilio
MUIR, and he expended money because he was under
obligations 70 Dr. Begler on that account The evidences
dscloses that Robertson had advanced from 5000 10