The New York herald., 1868-05-31
HISTORY OF THE CRIME.
He Dies Fearlessly and Asserting
His Innocence.
Interesting Scenes and
Incidents.

HUDSON, N. w. May 30, 1858.
m the spring Of 1857 man calling himself Joseph
Barney, painter by occupation, and his reputed
wife, Josephine, were living in Dayton Ohio and In
the same city there also resided woman in humble
circumstances named Mary H. Stewart and her only
child Angeline pleasing little girl Of about eleven
years Of age An acquaintance was formed between
the Barneys and Mrs. Stewart, which soon ripened
INTO neighborly intimacy, and continued for a
period OF about five six months. During this time
they visited each other at their respective homes,
and Mr.. and Mrs. Barney evnced warm regard and
fondness for the little girl which surpassed only
by the fervent affection Of her mother. Early in
September of that year Barney, who had not been
IN regular employment, expressed an intention OF
leaving Dayton in quest OF work and stated this in
tention to Mrs. Stewart, informing her also that he
had resolved that his wife in the meantime and dur
ing his search for something to do at his trade should
make brief visit to her friends who he stated re-
sided at Hartford Conn.
THE VICTIM ADOPTED.
He subsequently prevailed upon Mrs. Stewart to
allow her daughter Angelne, or Angie as she was
famiary called to accompany his wife on this VISIT
as he was not going to travel in an eastery direc-
ton, adding as reason for his request that he
thought she would be protection as we'll as o CON-
paniOn to his wife, from the fact that the presence
child might serve to repel advances of unprinciped
men toward lady travelling alone. An arrangement
had been made of q similar purport with
another family and consent given that the daughter
OF this family should go with Mrs. Barney to
Hartford, but sudden illness eventually saved the
life Of that child. After some importuning Mrs.
Stewart finally gave her consent, under pledge
that II her daughter desired at any time to return
she should be sent to her home and on the nth of
September the Barneys left Dayton with Angie.
They next made their appearan ce at Cleveland Ohio,
and here Barney insured Angles life in the sum OF
5000, In the Hartford Accidental Insurance Com
pany, the policy being drawn to insure her as his
natural daughter, and under the name OF Brown
and to cover period OF three months only.
ceeded In company to a village in this State known
as Caanan Four COnners, situate in Columbia county
ana a6out twenty-tnree miles from Hudson north
Whilom Barneys and under that name they there
Known. They then rented the basement Of wooden
Brown went to work at his trade obtaining employ
ment from his newly formed neghbors. Soon after
some extent by the villagers on account Of a
T1mor r1a viii which , had obtained credsnce that
house Sf IL me IN Geen the Sons
had been an inmate previously Spa'is Of Srothe So
the people in the village, and but little notice was
taken Of them more particularly so as they were not
THE PLAN IN oPERATIoN-rHE MURDER.
On the night or evening OF the 9th OF December
went to the hotel In the village, the little girl % Angie,
remaining at home alone and shortly afterwards the
house was discovered to be In names the re origi-
mating In the tenement occupied by the Browns.
Yhe re extingushed before the basement was en-
tirey destroyed, and on the pantry floor dscov
ered IN an almost unrecOgnizable mass, the crisped
ana br0iled remains Of what had once been mothers
darling-Angie Stewart alias Brown The body was
found under lot Of burnt and blackened rubbish,
and narrowing description OF lis appearance was
given by Dr. Azarah Judson, one of the parties who
discovered it, He stated at preliminary investiga
went to the house. and after the flames were extin.
guished he saw on the moor by the light OF lantern
what appeared to be human being, and
Of Angie Brown. The left leg. was entire
with the exception Of the foot, which
having been scalded The knee and lower portions
Of the right leg had been entirely consumed and the
nm6 was broken at about the lower third Of the
three inches beyond the nesh The bone had the ap-
pearance OF having been broken by something fall
ing on It, II was plain fracture and had not been
burned OF. Both hands and the arms nearly TO the
elbows were gone, and the skin flesh and ribs were
20 that they crnbea to peceS epon being toncbea
The contents OF the bowels were also exposed and
considerably charred The skull cap was gone and
portion OF the brain also, the portion OF the brain
remaining looking somewhat fresh and the face,
though entire, was much blackened. The skull was
% burned that 1t was In crisp and crumbng state.
Mr. and Mrs. Brown had, at the time they first went
70 Canaan, boarded at the hotel for time,
HAMS or his family from the time they
left until the evening in question, and
they Claim that they had merely called to
make a friendly visit and return a few magazines
which Mrs. Brown had borrowed. A coroner's jury
was summoned, an inquest held and verdict was
rendered to the effect that Angie had died from burns
the origin Of thelnre being unknown. The remains
were taken by Brown to CRANKY, Conn.,, for burial,
and he there took immediate steps to collect the
amount OF his policy OF life insurance the child.
About fortnight afterwards the body was exhumed
IN consequence OF some suspicion, and the ply
n nndQ nm
examination OF the remains DIR. Carney, one OF
the physicians, next proceeded to Caanap and made
and the evidences there developed in connection
with suspicious previously entertained induced him
TO telegraph to CRANKY request that Mr and Mrs
the prisoners were brought TO this city requisi-
tion from the Governor and confined In the county
JAN On the 3oth Of December last they were taken
before Recorder Miller and examined. Nine wit
nesses were called, and II was at this mves-
legation legation that Dr: Judson testified as to the
The prisoners were both remanded 70 await the ac
ion OF the Grand Jury. Two bills OF Indictment one
being charged in the first degree-were presented
against the prisoners by the grand inquest on the
the session OF the then sitting they pleaded not
guilty.
THE TRIAL.
Joseph Brown, alias Barney alias Matthews was
brought before the Court Of Oyer and Termner on
Monday, April 13, and the trial was commenced on
.nat day but IN the case OF Mrs Brown the trial was
-
Mr.. Justin Rufus w. Peckham, OF the Supreme
Court Albany county, presided at the trial; Attorney
General Champlan and District Attorney Welsh con-
Quoting the prosecution, and Mr. II. N. Andrews and
Cyrus Marcy OF this city, defending.
,ria n1ry,nve ye witnesses were examined during the
ual-thrty for the prosecution and fifteen for the
oeience-the most important evidence for the prose-
cuuon being that OF the physicians who had
examined the body OF the victim. All the medi.
cal witnesses testified that from the appear
ance OF the remains on exhumaton they
nau no uonpt whatever that the child was dead be-
fore she was burned, from the fact that the lungs
presented no indications OF having been scorched or
ourneo as almost Invariably is found TO be the case
Wnere person ~ burned to death, this being the
suit OF the inhalation Of the flames and heat. They
were also OF this opinion from the further fact that
the skin was not blistered by the action of the fire.
as II would have been II she had been alive when
burned. The physicians had also discovered an in.
dented fracture Oh the SKULL apparently produced by
large number OF witnesses, residents Of the viii
laee oil Canaan were examined, who testified that
klsh very strong smell OF turpentine was easily de-