The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-09-24

Trial Of Wallace EfcDauieIs for tho Murder
or Thomas IL. OOrvwin-Prsbablo Oonolasi0n
To-Day.

WHITE PLAINS. Sept a. 1889.
Tho murder Of Thomas e. Corwin by Wallace
MoDanieis, at the Rosendaie Hotel. near Maconb's
DAM M0rrisania, on the 22d OF May last, caused
great excitement In Westchester county. The
woman. Mrs. Andrews, alias Mrs. McDaniels who
kept the hotel. ana who it is stated. was on terms
OF criminal intimacy with both the deceased
and his murderer. was well known, ana her
house had o certain reputation. The accused
McDanlels man OF no very vicious APP
pearance, lived. until comparatively recent
period, In the western part OF the state where he
was much respected. C0rwtn was q man Of diff
ferent stamp, and was less fav0raDIy known. MUIR
ders are much too common N these days to excite
In the community more than deetng feeling Of
horror or interest," but this crime owing to the re-
putaton OF the parties TO it, a. much as to the CIR.
cumsances under which it was committed, made
deep Impression the minds OF tho people. The
day for the trial was therefore looked forward
to with great interest. It has been long
since this village experienced 80 profound
sensation a. that which ushered IN TINS morning,
when the trial opened All tho hotels were crowded
aud it was almost impossible TO obtain Ded for love
or money. Quito crowd or witnesses were pres
from the interior OF the State called to testify to
tine good character OF the accused. Among these
were Hon. John A. GriswOld NJ. c.. 4; General Beach,
State Senators ex-Distrct Attorneys A. N. Osborne
ana James l.. Olney; ". L. MOore, D. w. oumP5ous
ana other prominent citizens.
Long before the Judge (Gilherb took his seat on
the bench the court was crowded in evory part AS
IN the case OF the previous day much difficulty was
experienced In obtaining jury the entire forenoon
being occupied IN challenging and testing the gen.
temen called from the panel. me tria
opened ar half-past two O'Clock. Mr.. Dykemau.
the District Attorney, briefly stated the case for the
Observation-Disclosures McDaniels, the prisoner. MUIR
dered Thomas e. COrwin III MOrrlSania on the 22d
OF May last by four blows OF stave. Deceased
was ut the Rosendale House or HOTEL at Morrisanla
on that day. and, encountering Mechanics. who
stopped at the place, either as proprietor OF the
quarrel ehsued Corwin lived at the Roasndaie
Hotel also, and claimed TO be the husband Of the
aeon and s sSe
sas Of their dIGersncss ss to theIr, rights
intercnanged. On the day IN question Mrs. Andrews
was In New York with McDanlcls and they returned
a child in the yard. Mrs Andrews went into the
house, but the deceased began quarrel with
M 81 some me Corw Wcns into the ba
com with the child and returned to the door The
prisoner then tGok up piece OF WOOD or Save y
passed between them, but In minute more
McDanlels struck Corwin on the head with the
fell to the ground, and when in that position the
murderer struck him three more blows, which ended
his earthly career He was carried or dragged into
the house by the woman and McDaniels, where he
died in o few minutes. The arrest of the murderer
the inquest and post-mortsm examination followed
the people against the prisoner.
IL was intended AZ first that the woman Mrs.
Andrews should be tried with the prisoner having
been jointly indicted with him, and the subject was
fully discussed at this stage of the proceedings
W0man's counsel, the object OF which only known
to The gentleman engaged lor the defence. Judge
MIS- Snd H had eieceI to be tired separately
there would DO no necessity OF any further proceed
ing in the case until the November term: :,
The first witness called was Mrs. Anna M. Ora
vlsevat. She testified that on the afternoon OF the
I'D OF May she was standing under willow tree,
near the house, and about dfteen yards from tho
piazza OF the RoseIdale HOtel, when she observed
McDaniels come out and strike Corwin twho was
on the head with stick and fell him to the grounds
when the man was down ne struck him three more
on s ss Andrews this rsea a oas n Ys
said. "Tom. stand up ana took hold
dragged COrwin inside the house; my husband then
came up TO mo; after awhile Mrs Andrews came
with towel in her hand and the little boy also
out and stood on the stoop crying: my husband
went over in about ten minutes after this; knew
McDaniels COrwin and MRS. Andrews; Oorwin had
been living IN the Rosehdae House for seven
months he came there after Mrs. Andrews (wituess
called her Mrs. McDanlels) ana Mechanics TOOK the
house.
Cross-examned by Mr. Chauncey shaner-I was
Tom C0rwn was killed; Mechanics had the stick IN
both hands; the blows were Struck as quick as
Fidel Grayisevar, who is also known rs Sweirzer.
being called. testified to seeing C0rwn dead IN the
Rosendaie Hotel, after he was taken In from the
front of the house; standing behind the barn
when he heard q noise aud child crying; when lie
reached the place where ms wife was stand
ing he saw tue group on The piazza, Corwin
laid out apparently dead, aud McDaDlel5 and Mrs.
Andrews standing over him; witness entered the
room and then saw that the man was dead; Mr..
ana Mrs. McDanies pulled the body into the entry
and dropped it there; there were no other persons
there beside these.
Crossexamnod by the defence-Slrs. McDaniels
Andrews) asked me to go over where they were, on
the stoop she told the coiored man, james Jones,
to go for tho doctor, and he aid.
Eliza Ilannery. who nal been servant at the
Ro3endae Hotel at the time OF the murder testified
that she saw CorWn lyliig on the toof Oh the Dar
| room with his legs and arms extended. lie was
pulled into the entry by McDanels and Mrs. MEDIA
nies Andrews); did not see him afterwards ana dd
| not know whether he was alive or dead:
| Cross-exam,ned-Nns Andrews asked me to wash
! up the blood that covered the n0or which did;
saw no stick about the house. Some discrepancies
| in the evidence Of the witness, differing from what
she gave at the coroner's inquest were pointed out
| by Mr.. Sha0er.
James Jones, tho colored man ailnded to IN the
| evidence OF Fidel Grayseyat, was next called.
| Having corroboratsd the evidence already taken as
to The manner OF the death OF COrwin he testified
s0@ Se tSSa d
hotel during which COrwiu used very abusive and
opprobrious epthets toward his opponent, and that
| then McDanies ran in, brought out a small pistol
| and pointing it at COrwin's head snapped It
| twice. wnen it was taken from him. The
| prisoners cOunse enucdVOrcu 10 SUeke Ills testi-
mony by O series Of skiifu questions but, although
embarrassed, he held to the main facts. Mr.. Grayis
| ovat was also recalled with view of upsetng the
| testimony Of tho negro, that witness having been
given the pistol after &c was taken from Mechanics but
| without effect. Thomas Mclaughlin was also
| called with the same view The evidence Of the
previous quarrel, showing the feeling Of hatred or
dislike between the men, was given 70 the jury.
| Michael Leonard police 0iicer, and onlcer John
SAVIOR who arrested McDanies were called to testify
10 the position OF the body the finding Of the stave
piece OF wood and the arrest OF tue prisoner ana
| Mrs. Andrews. Leonard said, "MoDanels you nave
murdered the man." and the latter answered, "fes,
| but IL can't be helped"
| DR.. Henry l.. Horton was called by the District
Attorney, but Mr. Chauncey Shafer said that Il was
unnecessary TO offer any further testimony OF that
Sort the defence, with the consent OF the prisoner,
| acknowledge having killed Thomas C0rwin in the
manner stated in the evidence already taken. some
| discussion ensued, and finally the doctor TOOK the
| stand ami described miausely and at length the
| wounds on the head OF the deceased lie mad the
skull OF the murdered man wrapped up III new s.