The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-05-03
Trial az Alfred Sears for killing nnJor Js L..
Gregg, Mt Jacksonville, Florida
EAsTRRN oIRcgIr or FLoRiDA-PuTHAM COUNTY.
Hon II. A. Putnam pvsSiiiDS.

ed to empanDe jury, who answered to their names az
follows
Charles Beck, James Eus.nts
John Register, N. j. Trowell
h, +. Strickland, Thomas B. K,,v
William Tbgpen, J. c. Burlington
Charles {. Leye, G. Hiesinbo.han
William Priest, j. H. Osteen
Tho first witness called was Mr.. T. r LOckermsn who
being sworn testified folows-was present at tho Jxd
son House in Jacksonville at the killing or Major j. I.
Gregg on the night Of the 10th March last Mr. Brown
TIE gentleman's paror into the hail. heard Bown say
ARE you Mr. Gregg" or something simlar toey then
Brown Gregg reply Gregg then won't up s.,rs
as be came down stairs he asked Gwhere is tne -
scopnares or wOrcs similar Gregg had hs haads la his
about that time Sears out OF the paor and passsd
Gregg some few eet and suddenly urrcd back and fired
at Gregg he fired balls popped the third can. "a
think the first fire took effect they were abort az
feet apart sroud ihak the second bail took effect; whsa
he first fred Gregg fell towards Sears putting han On
his shoulders; while IN that position Sears the So
ooDd ball into Gregg's heart; as Gregg falling he
gropned and Sears then a bm third time buf
cap poppeo Sears pointing his pistol Gregg as No
falling; noticed tho attitude Of the parties Gsegr
was going into the parIor the time OF the first Ara
should that Sears aked ten feed past Mr. Gregg
ana turned coming back about the Same distance, when
he fired; him out OF the parlor and back
and fire. the pistol IN Sears hand wheu he turned TO
go back towaros Gregg; did him draw the pistol
az the time sears came out from the paror remarked
"My God, they going 10 parable on him. meaning
Brown and Sears on Gregg
Cross examined by Mr.. Burritt-I had been in the han
thirty minutes before the affair took
rot in conversation with Gregg just prior to the murdar
Brown was in the hall at Tho time made the remark
about "psrahelDe tn'uk be "as near Sears Btown
then, or had previously been, walking and down the
ball. Witness here described the hall Of the Judsoo
House-asgrsm being shown him by counsel--aai poia.
cd out the place where the killing occurred rhi0ks It
five feet from the p2ror doors; mad had
conversation with Gregg Immediately preceding tAs
occurrence going the parlor with Gregg AZ
the time; bad such idea when Greggcame s,ars
and asked, "~here's the id acoUndre?' pointed -
Brown, and said There he is" Gregg seemed not
In pfUn In rtcns nAar I'd Graz
other remark 10 any at the time; close oehad
him. think the first bah fired Into the floor: Scars
was abou, opposite to Gregg wbea he fred mad
With the time (tne Court ruled the ques-
tion:Dd you ever hear Gregg make any threats 10
SeasO Gregg bad just down stairs before the A.
fair, and at the time was waking towards the parloc
door.
Direct resumed-Grerg had been ia the hall twice
that night; he was killed between and eight
O'Clock.
William Alsop corroborated the testimony Of the pre-
Dr. a S Baldwin sworn-Testided that he is a prac-
Using ply stefan in Jacksonville, and examined wounds II
Major Gregg after he Killed: there was wSuad on
left sice, between fourth and fifth ribs MADE by pistol
bali tbe ball entered the body between the carriages OF
the fourth ano fifth RIBS the sernum bgeastboae
ard entering the chest passed through the left OF
the heart laid open, and in its cut the pulmonary
artery, and yapsirg along the aorts, then
CT the Yetebre which changed It's course down wards,
and found lying unon the diaphragm at the bottom
Of the right lung this OF course took his life; had
VIBRATION with Sears the day OF the occurrence pre-
vcusy; went 10 his room; bad received q from him
requesting interview some days evious
absent from homes told him had received the note and
popoeed an interview that evening about throe O'clock
Sears said, "Three O'Clock may be too a,e he asked
me, 'Why rot have an interview pow?" to which
sented and with him hs room Sears then spoke
his troubles generay-sad should leave the coun-
try, reputation engineer, said
that before he left be should wipe ont all :spersons upon
his honor; Gregg that afternoon he came
on the the train did not arrive till past O'Clock,
which ater than usual by two three hours knew
both Gregg and Sears WE'LL should think Sears the
stonges, man physically Ga taest but Sears pro-
badly heaviest both Of Them civil epgineers Gregg
and Lake City Railroad, had been upwards OF two
year,; arrived at tae Judson House just after the kill
irg. (witness here produced the ball which he took
from the body Of Gregg the post norton
Bad exsDed also tre pistol with which Scar shot Gregg
Coss examined by Mr. Bnrrits-Do not know what
Sears meant when he told three O'Clock might be too
late; had no idea; my interview with HIM with regard
TO the canal survey do INST know that the maps were re-
turned To Judge For ward before three O'Clock that
ing at the time Of my interview with Sears knew that he
did not wish henry McRae to know of IT, the time the
remark made ny Sears about "spipg aspersions
upop hs honor thought he referred to the Fords
Railroad matter that mad been before the legislature
Senator from Duva county; was entrusted by Sers
with papers up legislature Sears told
me be should live in Florida eventually, but for tho pre-
gen, should leave the sa'e Mr. McRae left Jacksonville
on the Monday after the MURDER person would proba-
by fall dead in his tracks after receiving such
killed Gregg.
prisoner: him the evening OF the murder, about
five O'Clock, in his room with Brown; went into the
room Sears mad pistol in his hald also roll of money
he shook his pistol and said, money, money" noticed
that the pistol loaded and that II Colts 70.
peater; this was tho day which my uncle vas
killed, two or three hours previous; whea stepped Into
the room they stopped talking and looked me Sears
was nearest me in the room; there table tho
ROOM side Of which Sears and Brown on tho
other.
j. A. Alexander, sworn testified that he was present
at tucson House. Jacksonville the night Major Gregy
was killed; after tea that night Sears and Bro9a
meet st or near the paror door in the hail. they
terview together there m uutes So Them meet.
Brown the meet Sears; saw them
exchange some worss together came out from tina
reading room; this was some half hour before the
difficulty.
F. C. Barrett sworn-testfed tina. he was one Of tho
jury Of inquest on the body Of Major Grsgg assisted n
taking articles from deceased ctothes tnere were NO
weapons OF any kind found on his person.
+. l. Wheaton sworntestided that he also on the
Jury Of inquest; examined clothes of deceased there
were no weapons about his person at the time
Edward l.. Bill sworn-testifed that he hal bseu
" WIN e pom Hrgs ana was in the
engineer was assistant to Gregg he ca-r-
ed no weapons and owned none am confident that .
prisoner knew that he carried have heard
speak OF Greggs disposition he told me that Greggs
harsh words ought not TO be noticed: that his
TOO large for bis body told me repeatedly notice
what Gregg eaid that he hsrmess told me to notice
the shape Of bis tead and could thas his brain
Henry r. Sader sworn-Testiaed that he was in the
reading of the Judsou House the time Gregg was
killed by Sears heard the shots and ran out into tho half
saw Major Gfeggs body in the corner by the paror doors
went into the paror ana Sears there, pointing his
pistol into the areplace told him to band the pistol.
life was extinct then sent for officer learned that
Sears had gone to McRaes ROOM went up stairs and
iounu MN oln MN tn ne nau perpetrateu grea ouk-
rage, and asked him why he did it, telling him IL would
have been better II he had left the State;
Sears repRed, Why did not some person
prevent it?o "I have killed my best friend :"
be going to say something further, and requested
bin rot to- should have 10 be witness, &C.;
after went TO is room, 10 which place tho Sheriff
came took charge of prisoner he giving himself
up him. Sears then said, "ere, for the last three
nights, prayed God TO subiue my temper, but
night has rot the start Of me; examined his pistol it
a Colts repeater. four inch BARREL when first saw
Greegs dead body II lying near the parlor door:
his head was reclining against the door; had
spoken TO Major Gregg snort time previous to tho
occurrence; asked him pay game OF whist; he de-
cinco, saying that he had engaged TO play game Of
what with his wife and other ladies'.
Counsel Tor prosecution here announced that they now
rested their Gaze,
The defence then called their witnesses, OF whom
answered 70 their Danes
William D. Ward, oeiog sworn, testified he knew both
Major Gregg aDd prisoner; time of
the Killing of Gregg by Sears; Gregg on the roraiug