The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-09-16
the ALLEGED WIFE MURDER.
Conclusion or tho Inquest-Vcrdtct
Against the Husband, Sc.


Conclusion or tho Inquest-Verdict
Against the Husband, &c.
The investigation into the Of the death OF Laura
Mills the Eagle Office, Brooklyn last Monday night or
Tuesday morning was concluded before Coroner Barrett
yesterday The testimony Of Dr. wlctts who made tho
post morem examination, quite important, showing
that death caused from external injuries, and not
from any poison the prisoner stated after his arrest
The following is the EVIDENCE
James Leddy sworn-Reside corner OF Elizabeth and
Doughty streets and work at 20 Fulton street a
hoster was there all night Monday; sitting in
the yard about midnight; heard several screams; went
towards the fence in the direction of where the
came from: il the upper floor of the Eagle office;
the shutters open FIRST but shortly after heard
tho noise they were shut; heard u noise as
of something falling the floor; could not
tell whether the shutters shut by a
woman; saw Sr. De Mott that night; nc
the office than was can't tell whether il at tho
moment the screams were heard that De Mott ont
heard only two and then the shutters closed
Ir Dc Mott attended her the American Hotel I'D Join
ing the Efgye building; went into the hotel day
and heard that man IN the EJt office had lost his wife,
and replied that ~ thought there was sotnethine wrong
there that ght ~ think the screams in female
voice; could not say now many m nutcs elapsed after
heard the until tho shutters closed;
form coming to shut the shutters, but conid not tell
whether u was a man or woman; could not tell
whether the windows were up or down; the screams
Andrew J. Willets sworn, read the following state
ment:-I made post-mortem examination September
49, 1865, OF the body OF Mrs Lana Mills, AZ the dead
house in the city o. Brooklyn. The body in good
state OF preservation well developed and banched in mp
pearance On tho anterior part OF the neck were OBJ
served irrcgularly shaped dscooratiors the
right and the other on the left sidc and centrally
The ndpipe was third, about the size OF half dollar
On the left side OF the back from the shoulder blade down
the bones of the peyis black and blue dscolora-
ton which did not extend to the right side There also
slight brnise on the right temple, external to
md oth mi uIIeo rhn nllH naI en-, tU
seemed TO be very much dstendcd. Upon open
ing the body the following appearances noced:-
Bran healthy, with small amount o. serum in the
vcntricles; heart and lungs healthy, but pale; the
left side Of the chest old and very firm adhcsions;
liver fatty, exhibiting numerous points, the result OF
former disease 81 gh adhcsions old between that
gan aud the Diaphragm spleen twice the usual size but
firm in texture and OF normal color; stomach healthy in
appearance containing about -four ounces Of liquid; kid
ncys bladder womb and ovares healthy; in tho cavity
of the abdomen large cxrayasaon OF blood part
ly coagulated and partly not and of dark hue.
In my opinion the deceased her death by hem
orrhage caus by The rupture Of blood vessel in the
abdominal cavity.
Doctor willcts gave tho following testimony, explain
ING portions Of his written The bruse
on the temple might have been caused fall hruse;
II il was caused by blow from bottle the blow must
have been very slight one; found injuries around
the head sufficient 20 death; the discoloraon
kind or heavy fall blows from The bottle shown might
have caused IL; the heart ana lungs were PALE but
healthy the plcness caused by the loss Of blood:
blow or blows from the bottle shown would cause the
rupture OF the blood vessel think death occurred in two
or three hours after the rupture; in this case fall
from bed eighteen inches two feet high would not,
in my opinion cause the injuries described; do not
think thai one blow from the bottle would the dis
coloraton associate the bruises with the rupture OF
the blood vessel the brain perfectly healthy; there
was no appearance Of any poison-no appearance or
smell Of audanun was dsccrnble in the contents Of the
stomach the dsccoratiou could have been carscd with
Wr S s SSaH '0'n on provided TIE blows
This concluded the testimony and the Coroner pro-
ceeded 10 charge the jury. He called their attention to
the fact that the evidence all crcumstantia; that
tie prisoner and deceased lived alone IN the upper prt
OF large building, where couid witness what
took place the night of the occurrence VIII oh led 10
Mrs. Mills death There was 10 evidence to prove that
the prisoner had bccr to n theatre only the statement
made by him to Captain Jacobs after his arrest and his
statements on that occasion very contradictory and
conf citing The statement of thu deceased made 10 DR.
johnson before death and after being informed OF her
cond ton, very important point which he desired
them to weigh well in dolitcrating their verdict.
Here was a woman Just ut tho point OF death, and
il not likely that sho would 90 into the presence
OF her God with lie upon her soul She informed
by the doctor at me Time to be careful IN making
her statements that 10 woald place husband in very
critical position After being so advised, and being per
fccty conscious, she declared that her husband inflicted
the bows she pointed out The part Of tho body with cor
responded exactly with the result OF the post mortem cx
animation. These were facts sworn TO by eminent ply.
stefan, corroloratcd fully by another medical Of equal
stand ng in the profession He would therefore impress
upon the minds Of the jury the Importance 20 be given 10
thar particular poin. OF The case He also called their at,
cntion 10 the testimony Of Elizabeth Hicks who heard
tho prisoner on one occasion while he bad Knife in his
band, say that she wisl'cd IL through her Mrs.
Hn.s mart aitnoush tnat WIGS bot 10 DC ,ah,h az
erd In the present yet IL collateral fact
which they might consider 10 aid them in arriving at
proper verdict
The jury retired and after an absence OF an hour
returned with the following verdict: THAT the said
Laura Mills 10 her Il afh by henlorrlage caused
by the rupture oil blood vessel IN The abdominal cavity,
said rupture hcing the result Of injuries inflicted by her
husband, Francis NILS the morning Of the 18th INST,
NJ their residence in tho Il 'ge building Fulton street
The prisoner then arraigacd by the Coroner who
instructed him in The of counsel plead mot
guilty. In to the usual questions he said he
Ans y.n oil horn IA. tp npU
Ireland and machlnst and engineer by profession. He
stated ,ta. he owned no Sc and lana IN Columbia
South Carolina The prisoner then removed to the
county Jail to await the action Of the Grand Jury.