The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-19
Country Purity Against Metropolitan Cor
r~uIsiOn-IAe Biegler Case.

INV
Our rural contemporaries are fond Of expa-
tiating on the intense depravity and corruption
Of this metropolitan community, and of quoting,
in support Of their theory, the records Of such
cases as the Burdell murder, the Cunningham
baby, and the numerous murder and garrote
cases which have latterly garnished our crimi-
nal calendar and our city papers The usual
theory among the rural papers u that New
York, which is a large place, even larger than
Auburn or Springfield, Is depravcd in proper
ton to its size, and would speedily go to Gehen-
ma bodily but for the influx Of pure blood from
the rural districts. In relation to these latter,
the prevalent notion Of the rural press is that
innocence, truth and piety; that crime is I'M
known there, save when committed by drunken
immigrants: and that but for these immigrants,
and an occasional visiter from the crime-steeped
metropolis, there would be no necessity for courts
or jails outside of such cities as New York.
This cheerful and charitable theory Is slightly
| at war with the facts Of q law case now In pro-
| cess of ~developement at Rochester, N. Y; which,
like the Palmer poisoning case in England, and
the Madeleine Smith case in Scotland, seems to
have been the production Of a rural atmosphere
unde6led by any city faint.
To begin at the beginning. Some time ago,
one DR.. Biegler, of Rochester, was duly con-
victed of causing the death of a young girl by
procuring an abortion upon her, and was SEN
fenced according TO law to expiate his offence
in the State prison. II appears that Mr.. John Il.
| Robertson, a banker, took much interest In the
| case Of Biegler, and became his security for a
sum Of $500, which he required to raise, proba-
bly, for his defence and for The support Of his
family. This sum is still due 10 Robertson from
Bieglcr. So much for the first act Ia the
| drama.
DIR. Bieglcr, late Of Rochester. now OF the
State prison, has a son, also a doctor. who
during his fathers imprisonment has lived On
terms of close intimacy with Robertson. This
| BIGGER Junior now comes forward and makes
oath that Robertson tried 90 hire him to poi
| son his (Robertson's) wife; who, according
to Biegler's testimony. had become hateful
| TO her husband and was the banc of hfs
life. She was suffering from q nervous
disease, and consumed large quantities
Of medicine; Robertson Is said by Bieeler to
have frequently suggested to him tha IL would
he easy to give her medicines which would opc-
rate rs u slow poison, and carry her off without
attracting attention. He is further stated by
| the same witness to have made extensive inqui-
| ry of him as TO the effect and character Of va
rious poisons; and to have expressed indigns-
ton and anger that Dicgler did not more readily
respond TO bis wishes and get him rid of his
wife without further delay. DIR. Bicglcr further
adds Sbat feeling Vt , be his duty to expose and
bring to justice 80 obvious a villain as this
| Robertson was showing himself to he, he FOL-
loved eminent recent examples, and fcigncd to
give q partial consent to hts proposal; con-
irving d, the same time to make Robertson re-
! pea, biz projects within the hening Of tso Per.