The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-11-28


NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. scenes hn
Hewsown. l.. L., and Twcnty-frst
street, &c., &c.
SUPERIOR COURT.
Before Judge Garvin
Al TIM hour appontod for the opening OF the court
yesterday morning eleven o'clock) the large room
where tho trial proceeds was completely Glled but
shere was an absence Of all crushing crowdng such
~ Is generally witnessed similar trials. The most
perfect order preserved. Two policemen were at
each door, and persons were admitted except the
lawyers Witnesses, reporters and other parties con
nocted in somo manner with the trial. Tho accommo-
daons for the press admirable owing TO the exer
tons and polite attentions OF Mr. John Reid, OF the
clerks of the court
Among the notable parties present yesterday
Mr.. Peter r. Strong, the plaintiff Lieutenant Colonel
James IL Strong his brother; Mr. Stevens father OF the
defendant; Mr. John Austin Stevens, Jr her brother
Mr. Massey important witness, and two three
ladies occupying obscure positions among the spectators
AT the opening OF the of the counsel for tho
Acfence called attention TO certain inaccuracies in the
reports Of some Of the daily papers, for the purpose he
Ed OF warning the jury against being Influenced os
lhcm.
The Court, hearing the matters referred to stated
that they perfectly understood, both by itself and
Me jory.
A COVERINGS ON THE STAND.
Mr. Cram then called Miss Matilda Nlssehl, the 1rst
witness for the prosecution who took her position in the
witness box Miss Musseh is young and farooking I
German dressed neatly and speaking with very slight
Teutonic accent She was appears, governess in the
family OF the Strongs during the times OF tDe aeged
adueries charged in the complaint Her testimony
given low as to BIO scarcely audible render
ing IL very difficult catch what she said After being
sworn she deposed as know the plaintiff and
defendant, knew the plaintiff since october, $500;
was en- aged as teacher TO his little daughters he was
then residing IN the country near Newown Long Island
she house belonged to ms mother continued 10 the
the house Newtown; when first went there noticed
Mrs Strong and M Edward Strong very much togother
they together almost continually during heSvhole
they used TO walk out together much they
could they rode together horseback and in carage
they also went out slcighng together and sometimes
stayed out three or four hours at time; they
used to ride ont together very often; Mr.
EDWARD Strong did not 90 very often TO town;
Mr. Peter Strong in the habit Of going TO town every
DAY Of the week. from October $780, lived at Newtown
snt the summer Of 1851, and then for or
months Lenox Massachusetts, after returning from
Aenox went again to Newtown, and thence TO the
that they tar and Mrs strong) went to the house in
Twenty FIRST street. they kept house there the number
town during the whole period Of our stay there.
Mr.. Cram here offered in evidence diagram, purport
ING to be an accurate sketch Of the number and To-
cation OF the rooms Of the country house in Newtown
he desired to hand to the witness with view to as
certain whether or not it was truthful diagram.
Mr. Mckeon objected, unless the witness had prepared
che diagram herself
Judge Garvin decided allow the diagram, subject to
III.
The witness then took the diagram and at considerable
length pointed out the various rooms stating their rea
svo location by whom they occupied and for what
purposes appeared from her testimony that the
pants were Mr. and Mrs Strong Mrs Strong lmother OF
the witness nurses children and servants The nrst
1oOr was devoted to the purposes OF drawing room,
so.ar and small spa,s on the ssc s moor
sAxd was Mr. and Mrs Strons's bedroom.
Mr. Cram then gave the witness second diagram, and
asked her If il truthful map Of the rooms, &C., ~
the Twenty first street house
Wi,ness-h is correct with the exception that think
shcre was another story an attic ono, above; do not
know who occupied that story, whether II
ped at all; don't know that in IL; tho rooms
the first floor devoted to the purposes Of front
parior parlor library and dining room on the
second floor the large front was used Mr. and
Mrs. s,rongs bedroom; the little room adjoining was
used as dressing for Mr. Strong; the next
in the Of the latter the childrens bedroom
abe next IN the rear was the nursery on the third story
she front end Of the hall used bed dressing
room; the largo room in the rear was my own bedroom
and teaching room.
Mr. Cram-Did you ever see the defendant coming out
Of Edwards room al Newtowns
Mr. Mckeon objected to the question as being leading,
and said the proper mode was to ask the witness 10 state
what she saw in the honse.
Judge Garvin-The question Is rather leading
Mr. Cram said he had no desire to lead the witness
but found 1t very difficult to get along objections
Under the instructions OF the Court the witness was
asked TO state matters which she herself and not
what she might merely have heard
Witncss-On occasion saw Mrs. Strong coming
out Of Mr Edwards room in the house NJ Newtown;
cannot say saw her do no more than once knew her
70 be there 0ften first knew OF her being in the
ffom the very beginning OF my being there; can't re-
member the last time saw her in his room at New
town; think we left Newtown In the summer OF 1861
Jaw this going all the time in Newtown when
I saw her leave the room she looked very much
excited; she was flushed and excited remember
ing her leave the once and knew her TO be in there
three hours on another occasion; that occasion
don't know whether Mr. Peter Strong was in the house
not one time Mrs. Strong In Edwards room; the
servants informed me she was there were all assert
sing clothes in the hail. and suppose this kept Mrs
m II vi IN n hall
thTce hours; after Mr. Peter Srongs carriage
heard coming and Mrs Strong left the room, and came
locked the door after her. Mr. Peter Strongs carriage
ZANE home about sx o'clock; be sometimes returned At
pwo o'clock and sometimes at six o'clock
Mr. Cnm-Do you remember anything about sgnsls9
Counsel for Dcfendant-1 object 70 that question
entirely improper objection sustained, and question
witness-I heard Ma Strong while she was going
Gown stairs cough V make Tgn and M Edw war
Hd-ssd had the lock 81 bis room door !. Nswiown re-
kr Edward stayed there fosome time think for
days before he len for she war when he got furough
1s vent q The war very shortly before tie fSrloush
while A this house Mra Strong and Mr.. Edward used 70
good While Edward occupied the front bedroom in the
heuss W Twenty nrst street. remember one occasion
What the dooroel rang and some one asked for Mr. Ed
ward the waiter who had 70 attend the door clean
ing the silver and she 1.-THE waites asked me 70 tell Mr
strong about went up TO Mrs. strongs room, and
D~iu hof LicreS went 70 inc next story
70 see u Mr. Edward his room; his door open
md called him. but got no answer 50 walked In and
ROOM and found il locked went down stairs and
ssld the waiter could not find either Mrs. Strong
Edward; on going up again found Mrs Strong standing
IN her room dressing; Immediately went mp 10 my
room, and found IL unlocked again; Mr. Ed
wards door was open, and I could sec him
IN hts own room; when / went into my room
found disarangcd the bed II II had been occupied;
the bed was not opened II only pressed upon had
slept there the night before and had made the bed In
thc morning; this occurrence after had made up
my bed after going Into my room went down again.
and some time after met Mrs Strong with an inkstand
IN her hand, which she taxing my ROOM don't
know whose nkstand II was, when went TO my room
again the bed was arranged again; was before night
went up again; used TO make up my room myself; /
did not rearrange my bed again that occasion; Mrs
Strong and everybody In the house had access TO H. 10
luA.u