The New York herald., 1869-11-19
THE MINISTERIAL MURDER TRIAL IN ttiy0s
The Defendant Acqnitted-Revfew of the Evil
slence.

fFrom the Chicago Tribune, Nov. 1871
The verdict OF acquttai rendered yesterday in the
case OF the rev. Isaac b. Smith, has been generally
expected by those who have watched tue testimony
ana the manner in which the prosecution has been
conducted. The evidence was singuary clear on
points which were not made p.blic before the trial.
IT appeared that Mr.. Smith and his wife had hved
happily together, and conducted themselves always
with afectlonae Kindness towards each other;
tnat his wife had urged him to get the Insurance
on her life, on the ground that IN the event OF her
death no would be almost without the means OF
giving her respectable burial; tnat on the mornng
OF the fatal day Mr. Smith abandoned the intention
OF going to she conference at Elgin, ana was oaly
induced 10 do when he found his wife had her
mind upon IT in order to make 1t the occasion of
visit to her sisters tnat night that when they
about TO return from the conference, Mr. Smith twice
urged brother clergyman TO drive TO her sisters
with them, thus showing that at least up to the hour
OF the accident Mr.. smith could have had no tnteat
TO take the lie OF his wife AZ the time and place at
which her death occurred.
Mr.. smiths father also testified that the funds
necessary TO pay for the house his son was building
were 10 nave been procured, sas as practicable
from the sale OF hls farm, and IN the meantime no
seems to nave relied on temporary aid from or
two members OF his congregation. These facts dis.
prove any previous intent, and 90 very far to mega
tive the assumed motive.
In some respects, mystery. The depth OF the
water, owing to rains just previous is, indeed, IN
e alleged Sy nces 81 aboa o
twenty y-lour inches But the inability OF Mr..
the BODY OF his Wife, or even to lind her In the
wafer, and his state OF intense bodily and mental
exhaustion when he arrived at ber brothers Rouse,
nre not explained IL is TO be regretted that, while
the Court allowed every trivial pecuiiarity OF the
character OF Mr.. smiths horse to be put In evidence,
II ruled out all testimony relative to MIR. Smiths
own physical condition and pecularties az MAD.
missiDle, unless tho defence would plead insanity,
which OF course ther ala not IL would throw some
light on this brauch OF the had the defence
proved, as they offered 70 DO, that Mr. smith
was weak, imbeeiie, nervous man, whom the
sudden fright of being thrown into the water and
n few minutcs' wadmg around to for his
wife, or perhaps the consciousness that she was
drowned would have reduced to sucn a condition
Of pro5tratl0n and heplessness as that in which he
was foand. Tue Jury however witl Mr.. Smith
before them, could not fan 10 Judge accurately OF
hts physical strength, with or without other tcstl-
mony. While II is very remarkable IL Is not impos-
sibe that the accused should be so proStrated by
the sndden danger and exposure that, even IN two
feet of water iust alter dark, no would be too hep.
less to DO more tnan drag himself to land. People
Thoroughly agitated ana frightened can drown In
very 1tic water Whatever the belief or tao Jury
may have been, the verdict need express no more
than that the cnarge was not proved. In this the
publlc VIII generally concur.