Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1867-04-19
TRIAL OF DAN'L HARRINGTON
For assault with intent 10 Kill his wife.

For assauI, with intent TO kin his wife.
Deters,. Insanity. Terd.t, nor guilty.
Tie tral Of Daniel Harrington, Of Under
hin, for an assault with intent TO kill, COM
mit,eI on bis wife, April % lsd6, took
rlace Saturday. States Attorney EnsIesby
for the prosecution, L. F. wilbur. J. French
and n Roberts for the defence.
TIE TESTIMONY.
.ur.. Harrington, wife Of the respondent,
was sworn, snd detailed circumstances pre-
cediDg the assault. She was at work aboui
the house, while her husband vas chopping
wood before the door Witness vent down
cellar after some soap, and remembered
nothing further till she found herself in bed,
suffering from severe injuries, which Lard her
IN for two months, and from which she should
never recover. Witness had had no previous
trouble with her husband lie had frequently
complained Of the cost Of living About
week before the assault her husband lad com
rlsinei Of trouble in his head, and she had al
yissi him to see the doctor about il. Witness
was his second wife and had been married 20
him six months when the assault took place.
Huyy Harrington, son Of respondent, sworn.
Had been cut Of the houEe fer an hour and
half On the morning in question. Returning
saw his father before the door, swinging his
arms and pointing into the house. lis iather
came au1 threw down lis wallet before him.
and then picked it up again. Looking into the
house witness saw blood al over the floor, called
his stcpm0ther and receiving no reply, alarmed
the nelghbors. After they came his mther az
u Lid er. D. ae
which he made several stTokes as ii 20 stab him
self 10 the bowels. The knife was dull and he
only scratched himself with IT, Witness seized
him and threw him on the ground and with help
Of others secured him. His mother was found
wing iuten sible az the foot Of the cellar siai-s
with several wounds on her head and shoulder.
Fer some months before bis father hai behaved
strangely, seeming gloomy complaining OF trou-
ble In his head, and was much troubled by
matters Of no consequences had q kind Of a n
one day. Witness hal told his father they should
have to send him 10 Brattleboro If De kept on &c.
His father never complained OF his wife but
said he liked her well.
Louis CARLTON was one Of the frs. 5n hand;
found the door OF the kitchen covered with
I blood and water. and q bloody axe Hsrring-
ton said hrs wife was leaI-witness lifted q
table from of q trap door leading 90 the cellar,
sud found Mrs Harrington covered with blood,
soap and dirt (Laying been apparently struck
| down while holding a dish Of slap) With several
/ axe cuts, from two 10 four inches long IL her
/ forehead. head and neck.
Harmon s.eru4s, was the first u. the neigh
/ b5rs called By the young man found p1.l CO
| blood Gu the Acor, which some one had tiled o.
/ sweep Up vitka broom iescritei luiiu- I'd.
Mrs IT. Harrington a.tc- thy hal seized -.---
[ said he was crazy.
Witness bad known respondent ior I'D yelrs.
/ He was peaceable man never knew OF any
difficulty between him AMI hIs wife
/ T.. u. Ha-olf. called ty defence. Lad
known Harrington fos 10 years, and Intimately
/ for years. lie was quiet aui Telle.t.e
msu. 4 year or two before this occurrence,
/ responded had come 70 witness, vLo vas town
/ Clerk Of Underhill. % have him ,r-E up the
title to bis place and see q il was clear Hsr-
riugton expressed a fear lest some one should
get his place away from him Witness found
title clear Subsequently, Harrington came
again. on the same erraui, ami continued 90
come, az often as once in ten days. all on one
Sunday coming three times ia one day. always
expressing great anxiety about bic title and re-
ius.ng 20 70 away I'll wines had looked 50 the
records and assured h.m it was al right Har-
/ r.ngtoa had ctteu sail he had good woman
D lur ttHlLA wiz anu 4.hAsA AalA W ~
ness considered Harrington insane, and had
often saii 60, before this affair took place.
Mrs. Catharine Gadnsy. Michael Gaiiney, a.
] l. Lane, aul 5. W. Mead, testified % having
/ known respondent from IL 60 - years, aIi 10
having noticed a great change in hiu aiter the
death Of his frst wife, and departure Of his sons
FOX the army He had become melancholy,
and moody complained Of trouble il his head
and had said his sons ought 90 send him 80
/ Buttlebcro. Witnesses narrated various iu-
stances Of strange conduct IN Harrington, 7ul
+ expressed the belief that he was not % sound
muL
o.. +. Big,'a-. Lad heard tae testimony
AMI from the facts mentioned should be inclined
90 infer tina, respondent was not q sane msn-
/ S1uV p. Bib, and Wm Wlucle.l, r5-r
uei-hbors Of respondent, called by the State,
AMI Nr Sherman ami M Carlton recalled.
/ testified that they had noticed 10 particular
I change IN Harrington. or pecuiariues such as
/ described by other witnesses.
Tie Jury were briefly addressed BY States
[ Attorney Englesty ami D. NJ. Wilbur for
the defence.
Judge Pierroin, charged the jury tLa.
the fact that the assault was committed On
respondents wife, no quarrel or cause being
shown, was pIesumptive indication Of in
sanity. The jury must decide whether the
responder. was q mere m5n0mauiac, OF SO
insane as to lie morally irresponsible Tie
jury. after az absence Of about FIVE minutes,
returned a verdict Of not guilty ly reason
Of insanity.
BENNINGTON Co. r. r. MA11zEs.-Oa the