The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-02-21
THE BEAVER STREET TRAGEDY.
Trial OF james r.. Dram for the Alleged
Murder OF IJoseph Van Doren.
COURT or OYER AND TERMISER.


FEs. 20-Tho trial OF James +. Dram, who stands
charged with murder Joseph Van Doron in Beaver
street In this city the 10th OF July 1855, was com
mencod yesterday
TX Attorney General John Coohrane and Mr.. Cunning
s Bedford Jr. Assistant District Attorney appeared
conduct prosecution and the prisoner Ia defended
by Messrs Chaunooy shaner, j. 7 Brady and winfield
The jury who had been sworn In the day before,
called and answered TO thor names.
orESIsG STATEMENT PROSECUTION
MIR Cunning s Bedford Assistant District Attorney
in opening the for the people spoke az follows
Your Honor Gentlemen OF the Jury-James r ornm,
tho prisoner the bar has been indicted for the murder
of Joseph Van Doron, the afternoon Of the 10Th Of
July last at No 40 Beaver street. IN this city Before
the Commonwealth claim n conviction In this case
you must be fully satisfied that the prisoner only
killed Joseph Van Doron but that hc intended to XIII
him; for tho true legal meaning Of murder liz the
killing Of human being with the intent 10 kil Tho
circumstances surrounding the homicide for which
the prisoner trial and the issue Of which ~
momentous TO him. present fearful interest TO every
indyi dual IN this community The facts which tho POO
pie VIII prove briefly follows prisoner up
10 last May and for some time PRIOR thereto "ns 10 TIE
employ Of the deceaed that they then separated, AMI
prisoner went into business for himself When hey
parted IL not on friendly terms ~ feeling existing
between them, and, besides other thing, the prOucr
ind abted TO the deceased IN certain amount Tor
which he gave his note; Will prove that only two IN
stalmonts the note had been paid. leaving largo
balance unpaid The III feeling existing on tho
part of the prisoner II would seem increased until the
10Th OF July last On the morning Of that day we VII
prove the prisoner went to pier No 80 North river.
there 10 gauge a number of cirkg and most uufnrtu.
natey for hum he left his work visit No 20 Beaver
street to seek Van Doren There he went thrsting
1t were. FOR tho blood Of his victim and WA
he for the preparation Of the decd that hc did
seek the mantle and quctudc Of the night but tho
contrary, nsrcd for the time being, inneSiby bent
mischief, and armed for the occasion, ho enters tho
onse OF the deceased nnda him alone ,iit ne his dek
and Immediately fires his pistol two shots at An interval
Of i've seconds, and the deed n done. HIS victim
lay the agonios of death No adfnon,tion, heradnF
eternity given 10 the unfortunati deceased lac
suddenly stricken from earth, and now sleeps IN 1T
grave. But few moments before the fatal deed was
p.rpcrated Will that The deceased said O. hm
clerk, Fairbanks, 40 TO Markothod street, aud weigh
two terccs-I viii be there shortly IItte did that I"or
man think, when be uttered these Last words that hs
end was near. what shadows We and what sha.
dows We pursue II appalling, gentlemen, 10 funk
that In civilized community like lours, Influenced
M It should be by the instincts Of human.
y, aud governed by the principles Of
rahty and religion, such an outrage could bc
committed In open day and under the full meridian
We will prove that the porpetraoro this foul deed
his object achieved, dropped his revolver
and eBdnayorcd 10 make good HIS escape but fortunately
for the ends of justice he immediately arrested by
policeman Riley The ~ much nerve and coui
sge a few moments before, gave way before IA
.rrng potency Of conscience for ho observed u hy
hope no E not dead Such tho ample facts Ia tb-
IL dcyolscs upon yol Ia desernsino by your
the deed with which he stands charged Ia
one word, whether lac has murdered Joseph Van
"A
the life OF the prisoner a in hands the soar O
justice In your ke,ping, aud you potc then ~
will be the issue In the examination Of this cas-. yua
10 absoiyo your minds from all prejudice and you
should remember that the cardinal ohl" OF tho as u 90
y,niicate right The law seeks no ,cnscancei hes cole
IL Justice You not Ia be influenced ia your vrr
dict ny the penalty ased Ia the rriDio for which the
prisoner indicted It Is Tor simply u cay after
conscientious aud searching Analysis ~ the eyid"nre
whether your vcTdic viii convey u The prisoner IN ~
nfcanl aud truthful language, those emphatic words,
Thou shalt do no murder
~ Pun
william II Kirby oxamined-l reside az No lal E'-l
July vas Ia stone street, No o., that dry then
a person running through Mlil lane u was the prsaL"r
Mr Dram, who camo down "a" centre u tho lane aud
turned into stone he TONED round a. the cDrnor
TO II any following him be went mt" tho
No 81 stone street occurred 10 me that the pr
oner had done somoihing. 70 proceeded 70 arrest ban
went into the store by tho entrance South william
street. and found the prisoner At the bead u the stain.
sad ~ him You arc NY prisoner &, 'erry yell. sad
he ~ will 20 with you" then handed no prisoner 10
a policeman
To Mr. Bfady-There woro several young men hind
Mr. Dram, chasing him aud "boicnng Mr Dram bad
not his hat do not know what bcraine ~ The has
Nc Dram Was much agiIaicd his p'fson temtisd mon"
FERDINAND II Croscn examined ! i've how at Yon
ksrs lived at 81 Beaver street tho ph - July ilsi
wa 0n that day leaning against ny ecsk hear tfp
shots the prisoner and the docenscd together I tae
doorway 81 NJ Van Dorcn Office the dscraasd hal be
hands the prisoners Shoulder and in feN MINUTES
after saw the drceassd sway baak a. " ia great
pain, aud the prisoner thcn started down and sent
into store IN south william street started
after him and found the pnsouor coming bars
when taken 90 tho station house d. ssd he
did n q taw nothng In tho handr Of a.. decoassd dii
not the prisoners hands NJ Van D0fen a. tha
doorway APPARENTLY dying sa~ the 1is'ol 10 To hands
To NJ Brady-I had known ur Van Dorsn Zee ~ 80
ycaps ago a wegb.r and gangcf IN hDufs dd bud
ness for Mr. Van Dofens once after bis body
when "a. the parties the roar Mr. Van D0rvn
on the top step and Mr. Dram the lower ssp ibnk
that W.. Van Doren had hand ga Zach - ofafD'F 4
shoulder pushing him. The sboo ."e "a immediate
sucrstsiOn
Was IA ms the deck anf the oihsr fAcing tha.
Frederic Mcgee etamincd i afn hooskcsper al NO Il
20 Beaver street and reside a sorth More sitesi ta~
VI Ofsm between eleven aud tselve ocss, standing
on the iron grating the door ~ No 20 Beaver stre
the once Of Nr Van Doren beor, uudrf my ohes
heard shots the nrsi alo, prusiucsd ssnsson 10
me thai I cannot dsscrbc the shot one Aftsr
another. between haifpssi or and two ciock
heard tbe shoss when heard the shots ven, bciou
b. .ee wha, had hayp~uod sw VI Van frrsr "a tho
last step Of the stain and they It'd me ho ~O csed Do
VS. IN aropy =. wc bad vines and bfanses 10 ne
houss oncred hm sine but ~gfns one sai uas ure-
les NJ Wan foren w0 dying W. Ven bofcn as
lying on step n 80 s,airasr and ~ 90 ne DOOR siep
there we're shout thirty fnry rfrr0us TIER 40
NJ Dram tslt u.4 shen be- sffsftsd dd Dot |
80 Mr. Orsm uhen hrri sas W Van Iiorsn.
To NJ brady -Fwm %" time nv W Ofnm siahdirg |
on the gratns unt heard ~ sb0s aipt go houff ~
hour and laif masi have eiapsod 40 no' lD's
Tbomas Rob.a-on ersminea = an ptyseian !
made pas morem erannaion q ne I'D q J,~sph
V.u Drsn on tbe z9th 81 Jolly, he ciofhus "a mafh
saigraisi 80 NOD ioasa 80 40, sogbA - us
,bss thai .an1 r4s.sd etaihv found 90 a. FAR -
the rfanff fcrn'rh.a 90 Ne Mr1 hrFHf ~ We
IN t,rd thHf. ua. nifd blister ~ alt have u~ruf.
I'd az ans re Hliun 500 threH Vlrs "a scrairlss
sis1 hsi re ni sFrearance D. s.ab h.l form %
them
M W nfttf Thf fnesafsd was at1st 90 feet h.sh
IL casa arse framed man there wna notblng Inst !
etyl fer o. shus lat b. bad at Ne o. - bls hmhs
b. 80 a mltralar man bot 10, "a ~ sas between
fyfv a.r l'iY years n age ne sfarhFa afo pretty
we isareI t.ey tst euded from To- Forehead W tha
syrtf4ss
70 NJ B.tf9rf W attention 80 not particularly ~
tfsrts1 70 ths iegs ~ a.. tsrsassd
Ia aHraH Ne 49, II a
a SO ] south NAlam gfrsi betwesn ons ahf TOO
o tiss "a me 1sih " Joy sa~ rf0ud fsnnirg from
Bea street scot sith them ioicnn1an having
4 man 10 sit Tassessi0n met Dr Gsnn AMI ia hin !
49, sad shtA hssFsF ffesi