The New York herald., 1864-12-09
THE CORN EXCHANGE srAsBlNo CASE.


90 Ruia Him-A Venerable Spiritual.
ist ON shs stsnd-Prodsce Msrchsnts
and spiritusIistsin Court, 80.
COURr OF GENERAL SESSIONS.
pefors Judge Russell
The court Yocm crowded yesterday by members OF
she Produce Exchange, and other citizens not the
habit OF attending the criminal courts, having been
derstood ,ba. Mr. Luther q. Tbbets, extensive
merchant, snd ex.member OF the Exchange. would be
tried on an indictment charging him with committing
fecnous assault and battery with a knife upon Cornelius
Wander bt The jsntor Of tho building, last February
Our readers viii remember that as the time Of Tho &c
0urrence great excitement occasioned by the
OF Mr. Tibbeu aud the particulars were published IN
these columns.
District Attorney Hall conducted the prosecution, and
the defendant was represented BY eminent counsel.
Mr.. Hail opered tho briefly and proceeded to call
witnesses 10 sustain the indictment.
Mr. Cornelius Vanderbilt testified that he was the
1,oior OF Produce Exchange building, and knew tho
defendant that on the morning OF the sn Of February
last. which Monday, Mr. Tibbetts presented himself
for Produce Exchange aot he about
hm that Board had suspended him from
msnoernr. ana 90 could not be admitted when the de.
fe0jrt became vesy much excited the de endnn SAID
nothing. but dropped on the door two or three small
paper boxes containing samples Of corn, and
Ineo drew kniie or some sharp instrupent
from his pocke,. and stabbed Mr. v. In the
shoulder, cu,.ns through tho shirt, but nnctns only
moment knne was Afterwards picked NJ by one OF
Ine members, no handed II TO the clerk The witness
subjected TO long or ssexamnatiop, but nothing
particular elected. excep. that the lsui.or received
Instructions 10 prohibit kr rbbetts from entering the
stepped aside and the defendant proceeded stairs 10
the Exchange where he arrested by policemen
called 10 for the purpose
Mr. James Bougn,on, the clerk OF tho Exchange, who
the stairs at the time OF tho assault corroborated
statement OF the anitor When Mr. Tbbets ascended
tho stairs Mr Bcughlon informed HIM that he bad been
suspended by ine Board but he attempted 20 pass up
when he resisted by Mr. Vanderbilt standing frm
He aid press any further. Immediately dropped
the boxes from his hand thrust his left hand into hs
paotaoous ~ se drew out knife and thrust at Mr.
Vanderbilt tho drst second thrust closed the knife
partially be then opened the knife upon the stsrs and
thrust at Mr. Vanderbilt again, who tried 10 catch his
hands TO arrest the blow.
Mr. Boush,on also examined at great length,
stating anewer TO question put by the counsel that
no any Of the members OF the board throw
dough or gram at Mr. libbet,s.
Mr. Hall about 70 call other witnesses in support
OF the indictment when he requested by the Court to
suspend their examination until the evidence for the do
rHg CASE roa THE psrEvcw.
Tho for the people having boen closed, Of the
counsel for the defendant stated that they would attempt
establish the ract that Mr. lbbets was aborng under
Temporary Insanity as the time the alleged offence was
perretrated.
Mrs Eza NJ. Neal an elderly lady was conducted 70
the stand and In exceedingly rapid tone gave
count Of The manner OF Mr. Tiobets Immediately
cedng the staboiug She resides at 81 West Fifteenth
street. where the defendant rded for year previ us
she ccd that Mr. Ibbets was distracted and excited
on Thursday previous occurrence; he
had anoui busines1 that poopis on the
Corn Fxchanee had been gambling which annoyed HIM
very much, leading him the presl.
Board Others, who refused him hear
| ing he was AFRAID they were gong to crush him and
hs business he said he had been grossly nsued
Change-dough, corn and pellets having been thrown
him. Mrs. Neal endeavored TO sooho him. but no wood
Convinced their only object was 10 interfere With biz
business ard prevent BIN from carrying his purposes;
stated how he conducted himself In the house, refusing
sleep 70 eat anything except rce she eujenvored
on tho saturday 10 dssuade bin from going on Change
hoping that ne would d. nothing Ho repcd--sThore s
no telling what VIII do. they drive 1t and they
him in .hes Police court the Tombs. nnd whom
spoxen TO in reference to the stabbng said he
knew H. he was tied IN tho cell On the Thursday
viouf he bad knre 10 his hand and when asked what
he was going 10 DO with It he said, IL am
VIII Dp' rns ne' than Saesi suo so0' ,hro%ss Sros
i any who tries TO keep ma from my property" On
Saturday ne had dreadful his head At the
earnest request however Of Mrs. Neal be church
on Sabbath evening: the defendant nas 10 and six
l est three and a half years old
In 10 or questions put by Mr. Hall, Mrs.
Neal said ,he did not think Mr. Tbbets used angry or
harsh terms when he called the members the Corn FL
change devils did she think unusual for him
that he going knife; she did not think Mr.
Tibbeis dangerous at that time sthoig hs
might become by further persecution. There q
dniculty between Mr. Tboets and his wife; she does
Mr. oliver Lowell q venerabls looking msn. was tho
witness He said thst twenty be had been
mber OF the City Council In Cincinna,ti and helped
TO buld the city be knew Mr. Iibbeits for the last
eighteen months rs no boarded In the no with
him. The witness speak Of his devotional
habiis-tba he had beon in the habit Of reading tho
Bible every day, and inviting Mr.. rboets 10 loin MIN,
but he paid no attention TO the chapter; be appeared
| TO be extremely excited, and, drawing knife no
remarked, ''lf ! am msestei. will plurge IL INTO
| ths man who win modest mo Mr Lowell vas
proceeding 10 say that no had great deal Of
l experience OF humanity, and WHOM be came 10
OF course" the District Attorney objected to
spending ,hs time OF the Court in hearing the
discourse. The Court decided that u was irrelevant Tho
/ witness said Mr. Tibbetts very quiet and peace
able man, bad grent ienaciy for truth and operated
took that way OF telling tho jury the cefendant
Mason One o. the questions pat TO the wtnsss
was believer in Inc bic nod bsIlevsi that spirits
revisit this earth and talk wihsprs He believed that
reporter would state that leaving the court he
| saw Tho old lady 10 converse with Andrew Jackson
Mr. and Mrs Fletcher aso testified 10 the condition OF
Mr. ribbens' mind u appeared from Mr.. fletches's
and Spectator In gram he probably held between
and Hve hundred thousand bushels. The counsel was
than that when Mr. Hall fscetousIy 70 marked that
somc bold good dcs Of coro and stand under ~
On the sunday Mr.. Fletcher batned hr Tiboetts head
and wrote from dciAIon letter the vito Of the do.
fcndant In which be recouned the troubled condition OF
the Corn Exchange TO hsn ana threatened violence "a
sbsm Mr. y. did no, think that The accused would per
form the act, or be would have hpprhsd The aulheries
Or. simmons. OF the prison physicians was called
and ssd that from an nss,vew .a'ca ss nad With Mr.
porAy insanity ous 10 ivo or three days hs recovered
HE eQuanmIty.
Dr. John welsse a. bis opinion, dsduced frUn.
the testimony OF the previous witnesses that s tho time
OF the occurrence Mr. Tbbcsm was In ssis Of 1tsmpo
rary maniscal hailucination, which ne defined 10
state whore acts were committed contrary TO reason.
on bis cross examination by Mr. Hail. wno questioned
him closely as 20 h. experience 10 treating cases " in
sanity and his familiarity With the vsrisus STANDARD
works medical Jrrspruderee sppcned that Tie doc
tor had made insanity specially pncs ne left Eu
He said tAat temporary insanity might be iuduced
by anger
ROBBERS cuupingham. one OF the keepe Of the city pr
testified thar when NJ TibpeiF brought in ne
violent that be had 10 be strapped down 10 the
bed
The counsel on both sides having sgreed 10 close the
At ths Juncurc the court adjourned I'll this
Ing, when The summing up viii take place.
Arrivals INA Departures.