Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-05-22
GRIMM COURT.
WEDNESDAY, April 81, 1853.

WEDNESDAY, April 81, 1853.
The court took up the case of John Essex,
for the murder of Owen Quigley, on the day
succeeding the last Mayors election
j. H. Bradley and R. Ould, Esqrs., for the
defence.
The indictment was then read to the pri-
soner, who plead the general issue of not
guilty.
The court then proceeded to form jury in
the case out ofthe regular panel. ...
James Rhoads was qualified and sworn in !;
Daniel Barry had formed an opinion George
S. Noyes, do; Thomas Galligan, do W. B.
Spalding was qualified, but challenged by the
defence; John B. Turpin had formed an opin-
ion; Theodore Mead was qualified, but was
challenged; Christopher Gill had formed an
opinion; Thomas B. Larner was qualified, but
challenged; Richard Butt had formed an opin-
ion; Peter Hepburn, do; B. Hutchins was
qualified and sworn in; Thomas Robey had
formed an opinion; Martin P. King do
Thomas Riggles was qualified and sworn in |;
w. II. Perkins had formed no opinion, but had
a bias in his mind; Washington WaIlingsford
was qualified, but challenged; jeremiah Smith
was qualified and sworn in; Albert Hurdle,
do; Joshua Hilton had formed an opinion;
Thomas Barclay, do. Seraphin Mast, do. /;
Thomas Baker was qualified and sworn in !;
John G. Baker, do; Edwin Knowles, do John
H. Trunnell had formed an opinion; George
d. Spencer was qualified and sworn in; Will
liam Cooper was qualified, but challenged.
The clerk here announced that the regular
panel was exhausted with but nine jurors en-
pannelled, and the court ordered twelve more
talesmen to be summoned
After some delay the court proceeded to bus
mess.
James Towles was qualified and sworn in;
George w. Hinton was qualified, but was OPP
posed TO capital punishment; James W. Bar.
ker was qualified and sworn in; George E.
Kirk thought his mind was BIASED against the
prisoner at the time of the occurrence Robert
Cohen was qualified and sworn in, thus com.
pleting the panel
Mr.. Key opened the case 10 the jury in a
short speech, stating what he expected to prove,
&c.
Mr.. Bradley waived his remarks until the
close of the evidence for the prosecution had
been concluded. .,.
DR.. Elliott, s,oorn-I made an autopsy Of
the person Of Quigley on the 3D. day of June
last; discovered fracture of the skull near
the base and postcrior cranium It was about
an inch in extent; one portion Of the bone was
knocked out at the base of the Uranium, and
entirely detached from it; the skull was I'M
commonly thin, about the thinnest have ever
seen; there was no other fracture but this the
body was examined the day of the injury, and
was subsequently examined the next day, and
a thorough examination was had, and there was
no bruise about the head, neck, nor breast;
the only injury at all discovered was the one
first stated
Cross-eramined-We did discover bruiso
where the fracture was, Immediately under the
skin at the place Of the fracture the examina-
ton on the second day was particularly d.
rected to the throat and breast; the body had
been kept in ice for several hours; there was
no evidence Of any injury or bruise upon the
throat; If he had been stamped upon the neck,
throat, and face, | think it would have discov.
cred itself the next morning there was no dis.
celebration under the skull nor the neck, il was
remarked particularly; it is clearly my opinion
that death ensued from the fracture on the
back part of the head, and was Of the most
fatal character; the deceased appeared to be in
an excellent condition Of health he had a very
thick suit Of hair, which might protect his
skull to a certain extent, and might compen-
safe for the thnness Of his skull from its thin
ness, a simple fall would have been sufficient