The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-05-28


Ass Understanding Testimony,
COURT OF GBNBRAL enseI0Ns.
Before Recorder Ho6mas.
Mat the opening Of she court this morning, the
Juror was obtained 70 Try ,he Indictment against
Hunter, who is charged with killing his vile by
fer on the head with Ratchet, a his residence,
Seventh avenue, on the 1oth Of February last.
hs the publicity given 70 the TRANSACTION at the
he newspapers that Il was with the utmost dim.
jury could be had that were perfectly free from
ons about the guilt or innocence Of the accused.
hree days were spent In the examination Of
Nc majority Of whom had expressed an opinion
merits Of the case. The prisoner is an elderly
apparently respectable man, and appears 10 feel
BILE position he occupies. His daughter and sons
tendance, attired In deep mourning; and while
them were giving their evidence to-day both
the father were moved TO tears. The sight was
betting; for rarely II ever, In the history Of tho
ration OF criminal justice In this city, has the
ion depended upon the members OF the family Of
1dant to prove its case
understood that tho main witness against the
VI be bis little son George, who has not been
on the stand YET. The unfortunate accused has
this bright little fellow repeatedly Stree tho
cement Of the trial Az has already been re
the details OF the investigation had At the Coro-
luest were published in iuh In the HERALD when
edy occurred, so that 1t will be only necessary
recapitulate the vital facts testified to by the
witnesses, with such additional testimony as
Adduced ~ the trial progresses. II will probably
he middle Of next week.
brief opening Of the case by Assistant District
Stewart, who conducts the prosecution, the
hess sworn and examined was
p W. Hunter, married son Of the prisoner, who
be resided a. 3S9 Seventh avenue, with his
40 same house with his father, the prisoner;
less occupied . room on the top floor, while the
ived on the middle floor; for six months before
OF February hts mother 1.-THE deceased) had not
III his father, but with his graDdmether; bis
ID mother had some words In January, when she
had no iaducemens 70 60 back homo again, she
d 70 live at his grandmother's up 10 the time OF
Nth. The witness said that there had been
al quarrel between his father and mother
last four or ave years, he accusing hsr Of i'm
onduct with other men; she was forty. two or
,r years at the time of her death; she replied 70
low can you say sosn On the evening OF her death
her came 20 his (the witness) room about half.
clock the accused was thsre when the wit
HE wHe and some frieads left 70 20 10 the
bis little brother George and biz own baby were
be room With the father and mother; they 70.
between twelve and one O'Clock and met the pri-
the custody Of IN offcor ~ the corner q
avenue and Thirty first street: proceed-
his room and found hs mother lying
The middle Of the door; she bad big spit OH the
her head. "A Ratchet was shown 70 the Wit.
hlch he identified ~ belonging 70 his father.
bis ips ,rument, said TO have been used In causing
I'll Of bis mother. was presented IN court, The
and the accused burst into tesrs.) The Ratchet
I In . stable the prisoner u carmsn) and used
bping wood.
Witness sas cross examined Al gre,t length BY
ton who brought out the TACT that the prisoner
his wife with improper conduct with Peter
and George Sopor; that his mother was always
nmiabe towards the prisoner, except she called
ugly brute: that the witness, who had boon en-
bn nearly all The stage lines in the city 40 driver,
n "spotted" for not giving In the passengers that
ID; be never said TO anybody that he would ike
hold OF the rope 70 hang the old SON Of b-h
g his father), but did say hanging was too good
The witness admitted that he WAS arrested for
and also on Q charge connected with bounty
= he admitted TO getting drunk pretty often.
Elizabeth Hunter, the wife Of the last witness,
Is examined Her evidence was mainly corfobo-
N her husband. The pssOoer accused the de-
! son; mother asked him what hs did with The
Ind he said he gave II 10 . person ne thought
bout than her and she (the deccssed) sah she
nut him 40 far 40 the Aw would allow Tor using
language towards her.
rSSMxoNY ~ NARY . HUNTER.
Elisabeth Hunter. quite IN Interesting looking
ady, wss then called 70 the stand and testified -
Pu are the dAossssr q tho prisoner and the de.
! A. Yes, sir.
I've you always lived nj bomef A. Yes, sir.
s you rscollect the evening Of your mothers death
hat time was Il that you saw your mother that
! al my grapdmothsr's FIRST.
b. vent 70 yeur grandmothsr's for hsri A. Yes,
Ia you return with herf A. Yes, sir.
here d,d she 60 when you rcturnedf A. she went
" sister in. laws house ana I went up with her.
lou and shs went both into your sister in-Aw's
a. Yes, SIR.
Pa. time was that, A. About half pass Ave. l
That time was IL when you went down - your
lou and ysur mother returned about half.pass hvef
Ia you sss your father After you and your mother
|ov long afssr9 A. He came in about nve minutes
We started 70 20 70 the theatre.
Ie came into your brothers. roonf A, Yes, cir.
I'd you have occasion 70 90 into the woodshed
lzou went 70 the thcatref A. No, sir.
|ou did nes 80 in there y get wosd or cut any
~ you DO anything Of tina. kind' A. Not that day,
la you take dinner or tee after you came homo
|our mothsrf a. Yes, cir.
Do stairs9 A. Yss, cir.
Who was sberss A. there was my brother, my sis
law, my brother George. and my mother and me
b,d you sit dow. 70 the table before your father
Eome Of them were sitting At the tAbisf A. Moshss
Itilna A the table, believe. N
N Won know whether your father sat down a. the
br notf A. he sat down Al the table; doa't know
hey no ate anything or NOT. "a
b,d YOU ooservs whether he spoke 10 your mother
Ia came In A. Yes, sir; hs bid her good evening
81 x' you know whether she made any reply a. Yes
bsx 'y You bear ssy ooe-srsasioa between tbsmi A
Won In shortly arterwardsS A. Yes, sir.
What vas your fathers appearance 20 70 scbriety q
Iiras, A. He did MOI loek - II he bad drank a. all
VIM vent away with you when you went 10 th'
ESi A. ny brother and sistsf.in-lsw and Mr.. ans
nssr vou ,efs your father and mother theref A
IA and broshsr George and the baby.
D,d Won observe what they were doing whom yo'
|our A. Mother was holding ths baby and lathe
| |'sI You oSssrvs what George was doins A. No
4 "a when they were together was u . large or
table. A. Asmall one; mother Was ssandisG b.
Dsroom door 49,. -
r. vss walking up and down With ths baby.
Your father vas sitting 81 the tablef A. Yes, SIR
Were they saying anything 10 each other DO 20
|, A. M sir; when ] was gsipG out father va
L. IN mo and vas not takins 10 her.
y ss-s ss4 ~ yss ,sessscs~-. - sASsssssssn u