The New York herald., 1867-02-13
COURT or oyEa AND TERmlMen..

Trial for Murder-The Law Of Marriage.
Before Judge Ingraham and Jury
Charles Wreiglsr was yesterday put his trial. before
Mr.. Justice Ingraham and jury. for the murder Of
Francis No 236 East Houston street. on Friday
November o. 1865.
The prisoner is q man Of middle sze He was dressed
in the garb Of a workman and his features though
rough do not indicate ferocy or desperation OF char
acter
The prosecution was conducted by Mr.. Cunning 8.
Bedford Jr. Assistant District Attorney and Mr. Will.
liam r. Kintzing Jr, with A. s. Cohen, defended the
prisoner.
considerable time was spent in empaneing jury.
Prisoners counsel challenged several jurors peremp-
toriy One was excused the ground that he did not
wish to serve on case of this kind, he objected
altogether to capital punishment
OPENING STATEMENT FOR THE PROSECUTION.
Mr. Cunning s. Bedford Jr, Assistant District Attor-
ney, IN opening the in behalf Of the people, ad
May It please the Court--Gentlemen OF the jurv.
George wreger the prisoner at the bar stands indicted
for the crime Of MURDER being charged with having viii
fully and with malice aforethought stabbed his victim
Francis Bansa, in three different paces-in the FORE
head in the lett arm and in the breast. These stab
wounds were inflicted the evening of Friday Novem
Der 8, about quarter before SIX O'clock at 235 East
Houston street. in this city The unfortunate deceased
died early the following morning from the effects of
these wounds The details OF this cruel murder are
very few, but they will disclose thirst for human blood
almost without parallel in the records Of this court
previous to the murdera period remember of full
daysthe prisoner called at 1856 East Houston street. on
one Of the witnesses Cstharne Fuller, whose testimony
will be presented to you the stand and while she
was sitting at table with Bausa the deceased, the
prisoner deliberately remarked ~ will murder both of
you yet" and Immediately left tho Nothing
was seen OF the prisoner until the following Friday
afternoon, when, knife in hand, he enters the
identical room at 235 East Houston street. where hc had
six days previously given warning OF his purpose he
finds Bans the deceased and Catharne Fuller seated
table, quietly partaking Of their evening meal. The
Of hat CHI nhar
without utterng word, he approaches the deceased
and nficts the three wounds already described, and
Fortunately however for the ends OF Justice the latter
wound not fatal, and the witness, Caharine Fuller
is here day to tell you in simple language the story OF
The prisoners evil doings Gentlemen Of the jury there
Is ono remarkable fact connected with this homicide
IL bears almost the impress Of romance 1t is usual,
when murder Is contemplated, for the perpetrator TO
seek the quetude OF night q mantle for the accom-
pishment Of his deadly purpose and keep buried deep
within his breast every circumstance which by
possibility could lead to detection. Not So however
with the prisoner before you He repudates al secrecy
there Is indeed in one sense, ma2nanimy about the
mamie is veritabe hero he calls upon his victims,
and, in no measured phraseology addresses them in
equlvoca language his speech is Short but is to the
misappt ehended He distinctly SAYS, 81 will murder
both Of yet" True to his instincts, and true too
t. his promises we find him six days subsequently, at
the room 235 East Houston street numbering and
wounding the other Of the parties Catharine Fuller
will tell thar when the prisoner that fatal Friday
afternoon entered the at 2S5 East Houston street
che instantly, quick lightning stabbed Bansa in the
breast and then stabbed me.'' He, no doubt thought
with Macbeth in his murder Of Duncan
If it were done, when 4 Is done then were well
IL were done quickly
The people will also prove that four DAYS after the
be committed the deed cooliy replied 81 did Il and
would have been satisfied had also killed the woman.
Language like this, gentlemen, needs no comment; 1:
Carries its own Interpretation, and it for you to give
It its true import 1t cannot be necessary for say
more have presented you with the prominent facts
Of this case. You will hear the details from
the witnesses themselves; and It win be for you
to determine from the evidence the guilt or the
2, the Dc duty"
Office 10 perform; and while you should guard you
would the apple Of your eye the rights Of the common
law, his rights Also Judge him truly by the evidence
withou. fear favor and you will then have eectuay
under the scemny your oaths carried out your high
TR.TmoSY OF THE WITNESSES.
Caharine Fuller called the first witness for the
prosecution. and having taken the stand,
Counsel for the prisoner objected to her testimony
being received She the wife OF the prisoner and
therefore, incompetent as a witness against him
Mr. Bedford said they should see how that was.
The Court directed counsel for the prisoner TO examine
the witness as TO the relationship that had existed be.
tween herself and Wreiger.
Catharne Fuller was then examined by counsel for
the prisoner folowsI have known George Wregler;
have lived with him four years and half; have lived
with him his wife, he has introduced me TO his friends
his wife have introduced him to my friends as my
he ean maj went 70 live WITH him Was nv
intention to live with him as his wife,
Mr. Bedford-Were you ever married to George Wreig
ler, the party on tralS
Objected to. Objection disallowed
Question repeated Witness-l was never married TO
O. Then you we're his mistresss A. We were to live
together as man and wife,
TO the Court-The understanding was when went 10
live with him that should live together and
wife forever.
Mr. Bedford did not think matrmony was sufficiently
made out TO dsqualfy the witness from testifying
She left the prisoner whom she had lived with mis-
tress and lived with another man, as the evidence
would show.
The Court said that they agreed to live together as
man and wife would be necessary for any require
ment Of the law, to show that they were married by
reserved this question for the present and told Mr.
ford to go on with his other evidence
Mr. Bedford frankly confessed that he would not be
able to prove the sabbing without the evidence Of
Caharne Fuller who had told him she was nothing but
Wreigter's mistress.
Charles sufei sworn-I reside in East Houston street;
in the afternoon Of tho 9th Of November saloon
a. IA East Houston street; Cssharfne Fuller came IN;
where wreigler and Bansa lay the bed; Bansa was
the top Of tho Others Wregler asked me TO take the
be ess Also took on
Of wregler's hand pocket knife produced this Is like
the knife the biggest blade was open the knife was IN
Wrcgers right band did not see anything In Bansas
hands; went after policeman and could not had him;
returned and wrciger said he would himself to the
COURT Bansa did not say anything. but 70 take them
apart; when returned woman, who lives up stairs,
n anr s hn,s ss booa 81
and forehead asked him II he wanted doctor; he
did not give me an answer; when asked that question
wregier said nothing did not Bansa after he
dead
Cross-examined-I found Bansa on the top OF wreie.
Ter; took them apart, aud then saw the blood on
Bansa; cannot recoect that wresler said TO Bansa.
''For Gods sake let me up" do not remember that
wrcgler cried whom went up TO the station house
heard wrciger say something about Bansa taking his
wife away from him. the knife produced is like the
saw In the prisoner hand.
To Mr.. Bedford-when he went TO the station house
the prisoner said he lived with the woman long thst
be had had three children by her. that she had taken
Bansa again, and that that the OF the "muss
that had made him mad and that he had had failing
out with her.
To Mr Kintzing-I am sure he said she had taken
Baufa again.
Thc witness, at the request Of the Court, stated In
German what wroigler said)
A German gentleman the jury said what the witness
had stated In English the what he had just
mentioned In German
Another German juror said II was not the same, but
very nearly the same.
The Judge ordered the regular German interpreter TO
be sent for In the meantime short recess taken
by the Court, and when the trial was resumed