Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-07-19
LOCAL NEWS.
THE MARY HARRIS TRIAL

-1e----
When our report for the first edition closed.
the Court had taken q recess.
At fifteen minutes past one the Jury came
into court, when Mr.. Darlington, District At
torney, commenced the. closing argument for
the prosecution. ...r.
Miss Harris, who had become very much
exhausted, was not in the court room this
afternoon. .
Mr. Darlington commenced by congratulating
the Jury OH the rapid termination of this trial,
and returning his thanks for the attention they
had paid to the evidence. 1t was work of
superogation T. remind them that they should
discharge their duty in the fear of God.
There wac on trial woman, and this was
case somewhat unprecedented Go 10 yonder
church yard and see that mother weeping over
the grave of her only boy who has fallen III his
fallen in his conntrys cause She Is nobody
by the side Of Mary Harris, the heroine of the
day Look at the little girl who says that she
has been Wronged and is told to arm herself
and avenge her wrongs. This Mary Harris is
held up as a model to mothers, tins Mary Har-
ris who carried pistol, and said other ladies
carried them!
Mr. Darlington proceeded to depict the true
woman ministering by the side OF the wounded
soldier enabling him again to shoulder his must
ket or If he dies soothing his last moments.
Where then was Mary Harris, the model of
female excellence. Aiming herself with q
pistol, going to the house of assignation on
Quincy street without protector, and 1T last
imbruing her hand in the blood of one who had
periled his life in the cause of his country.
MIR. &. then spoke OF what should be the con-
siderations influencing the Jury, and askeax
them if they would say that the woman who
had armed herself and murdered man IN de-
tense of honor not betrayed was a model for
girls, or could they by their verdict vindicate
the cause of the laws. Great God what al
array of counsel!
Mr. Darlington proceeded i'm humorous
terms, alluded to the array of counsel opposed
to him. Was he not with a single assistant, an
object of commisseratlon He stood on tho
side of Justice; the principle OF the vlndicatton
of the law should be indicated What cared
he for Mary Harris. They may put her in a
handbook and send her home, but not to the
Devlins God forbid but TO her father
While Mr.. Carrin gton was speaking Of the
counsel, there was some laughter, when the
Marshal cautioned the audience to cease, or he
would arrest them for contempt.
Mr. Darlington said let them laugh Judge,
they have right to laugh.
Judge Gooding.-1 will regulate that matter.
MI. Darlington WE'LL will not quar-
rel"
Mr.. Darlington asked if they We're going to
,shut their eyes TO the evidence. What doctor
has sworn she was insane! None. Ii tho
jury acquit this woman fact that Will make
them ridiculous will go upon the record
There are four questions submltted-lst Was
this homicide committed by the prisoner at the
bar !, I'd. Was it committed within the juris-
diction Of this courtl Sd. Was it a justiflable
homicide 4th. Was she guilty of murder or
manslaughter The scene is laid In Chicago
we find Mary Harris meets Mary Devlln, who
keeps millinery establishment, and he asked
what kind of establishment it was.
Judge Hughes called the attention OF the
Court to what he considered peryersion OF
the evidence. o.. -.
Judge Wylie informed the District Attorney
that he should not retaliate by reflections upon
the Miss Devlins. because the defense had at
tackled DR.. Burroughs There was nothing in
the evidence against the character of the house
of Miss Deyhn and he would not permit him to
make an attack npon the house. He might
comment upon the character of the Devlins as
much as he liked.
should say that he was ever seen to cover in
the discharge Of his duty in the fear of God and
not in the fear of man.
The Court here interrupted Mr.. g., saying
he should not go on in that manner, that he
would put him in the custody OF the Marshal
Judge Hughes said he did not desire TO inter
rupt the District Attorney but he had come
with the express purpose TO see whether in the
closing speech the evidence was not misquo-
ted. -. 3D.
Judge Wylie said it was very unpleasant for
him to interrupt the counsel, but III the closing
argument the counsel should keep themselves
in bounds.
comes to this city for the purpose of insttutins
suit for breach of promise. She does not give
the writ to the Marshal, but in conversation
with her lawyer says her love for Burroughs
has turned to hate. She goes 10 the Treasury,
writ in one hand, pistol in the other, inquiries
for Burroughs sees him at the desk, retires be-
yond the clock takes her stand and there
waits. There was time for passion to
abate, for insane impulse to pass
away. She fires ut him when he appears and
endeavOrs to escape, cool, calm and collected.
She accomplished her purpose, and showed no
emotion until the mangled corpse is brought
INTO her presence The counsel say this is in
sane impulse, and if this jury so find, it is in
effect saying when you shoot a man, tear your
hair and cry, and We win acquit you, because
you was laboring under an insane influence!
This being a case of murder, she is not scien-
tifically insane, paroXy smally insane, or hypo-
thetically insane. They say that she is OF
sound mind, but at the time was insane, and
he proceeded to argue that shelwas not insane
at the time The Judge said that the insanity
must bel lie out afirmatively, and that by a
preponderance of proof. Have they done so =!
In relation to the brother he asked, if any Of
our ministers should 60 to Chicago, and they
bring a woman without character to make a
statement derogatory to his character, what
would be thought of it. Mr.. Darlington spoke
of DIR. Burroughs character and incidentally
mentioned that he was the President of the,
university in whose grounds the remains OF
Stephen A. Douglas rest.
Mr.. Hughes.-Yes, and DIR. Burroughs made
a speech against it when they were placed
there.
Mr.. G. continued Would not any man do
as DR.. Burroughs had to vindicate his deceased
brothers honor.
DESPERATE RIoT.-Yesterday afternoon a
riot occurred at the railroad depot, which for a
time bid fair to become very serious. There
We're engaged in it large number of the 95th