The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-04-09

ous cOuCtiuo UcIOtc TIC ldtdI OCOul
renee, Richardson insured his Ii g for the wife
OF ms Client and she is now rioting in the pro-
ceeoS OF the insurance. At the time Richard
son was pistolled by Mcfarland, he (McFar-
!and) was not responsible for his actions either
IN the eyes of God or by the laws of man. 1t
was necessary to look into the antecedents Of
the prisoner, in order fully to understand the
case and arrive at satisfactory conclusion.
In this inquiry it would be proper to regard
the history of Mcfarland, his ancestors and
family, and the circumstances immediately
preceding the homicide.
The counsel then alluded to the cases o! Cole
and Huntingdon, and commended that men,
apparently sane, in moment of surprise and
excitement, were liable to yield to an uncon-
troIlable impulse for which they were not re-
sponsible. He then proceeded TO give a de-
tailed history of the life of his Client in which
he stated that the prisoner was of delicate
constitution and of very sensitive organiza-
ton. His client was one who would make an
idol OF woman he loved, and woe TO him who
should rob him of his wife and children.
The counsel then proceeded to show up the
marriage, saying that Mrs Mcfarland was
young and beautiful, and she little thought
that the husband she then loved would be ar
ralgned for numbering her lbertine seducer
ant, the counsel said, they were prepared to
refute by uuimpeachable testimony. McFar-
land had been successful in his enterprises and
furnished his wife with all she desired; but he
subsequently, UcCdm0 uuIOEtuudL0 ana door,
At this time his wife wanted money to make
her an elegant lady, In the summer of 1866
this woman became acquainted with Free
Lovers and Fourierites, and went to their par
ties and unions, while he remained at home
caring for his children.
Inc counsel continued-James Mcfarland, a
brother OF the prisoner, was the next witness.
He testified to McFarland's early life in this
country, bis business ventures in the South,
bis lecturing at the North, his studying at
Dartmouth College, and his visit to Europe in
1856, to prosecute scientific studies. He re-
Sage, and called upon them after the marriage
IN jersey City When next the witness saw
them they had child, Jessie, and afterwards
had two others, Daniel. and Percy. Witness
next saw them in 1850. and after that not un-
til July or August 1867. when Daniel looked
careworn and appeared to be in trouble and
his hair was getting grey. Francis Mcfarland
was first cousin of witness.
TIE next witness was Lille Graw, a niece
of Manager Graw, who testified that she resid-
went to lodge at her mothers house in Octo-
Der 1859. HIS little boy Percy was with him.
Sometimes he cooked bis meals in his room
and sometimes he got them OF tside. He paid
$3.50 per week for his room. Her mother and
she always retired about ten o'clock. If Mr.
Mcfarland was out after that hour they would
not be aware of it. The prisoner never had
much intercourse with her mother or herself
dis hours were very irregular. A gentleman
was in his room about II o'clock one night
about week before the homicide. He went
out early one morning during that week, about
l o'clock; he returned in about an hour Re-
member of Mcfarland having paid a week IN
advance for his room the day before the occur
renee.
Anna 81. Burns testified that she resided in
Boston and bad come on to be witness. She
had known prisoner NOR ethan twenty years:
know Mrs. Mcfarland and was present at their
marriage 1t occurred on Dec. IA, 1857 The
marriage ceremony was solemnized by DR..
Theodore Parker Saw Mrs. Mcfarland at
Woodside, n. j., where she went under the
name of Mrs. Richardson. With her was
Richardson's children and one of her own
Mrs. McF's father keeps small periodical
store in Boston. He has kept the store for
about two years.
George A. Simmons, an officer at Black
wells Island, testified to the admission to the
tnnatic asylum Of Francis McF, though the
register contained nothing to vindicaIe the
kind of insanity.
brook'yn; was q physician; knew Francis
Mcfarland who died in 1917. He lived in
Brooklyn with his mother aud his daughter
He was about 46 years old when be died.
John OBrion, clerk at the Westmorelaud
Hotel, testified that he saw Mcfarland on the
night OF Nov. %, 1859. He came and asked for
a room. He was assigned one and asked him
It he would not 60 up. He said no; waiting
for gentleman. Afterwards he went up to
his room, and subsequently two detectives
came and arrested him. Mcfarland appeared
to be very nervous and excited.
About this time q WON IN appeared in scene.
MIS- Calhern, conspirator, q panderer and
procuress, who commenced the work of rem
lering Mrs. Mcfarland dissatisfied with her
husband, and in the train Of that feeling came
ruin and misery. In 1888, Albert D. Richard
.on was born, in an evil hour for this man.
de was correspondent during the war, taken
prisoner and subsequently, published several
interesting works. He was a man well calcu-
lated to charm the woman with whom he,
sbout this time became acquainted. Then
commenced the plot to ALLEVIATE Mrs. McFar-
land from her husband. Notes were excbang-
ed, and through the instrumentaity of Rich
arson she procured an engagements at the
Winter Garden theatre. Richardson Fl was
who used to accompany her home after the
theatre was out When Mcfarland was awav
Richardson and this woman would 90 out to-
gether and often locked themselves together in
the same room.
cumstxnces OF the intercourse between Rich.
ardson and Mrs. Mcfarland; Mcfarland claim
ing that the defence would be able to prove
satisfactorily that it was an adulterous connec-
ton. Richardson became boarder at the
same house with Mcfarland. That was in
1867: On Tuesday, 21st of February, 1867,
Mcfarland came home and discovered his wife
coming out of Richardson's room. He expos-
tulated with her, and to his remonstranc.s she
returned evasive answers. She then moved in
circles where she met such men as-COlfax,
Elton and others. Her ambition was excited
to that degree that she would not be satisfied
with her husbands humble home. On the
2lst of February, 1867 he went out of his home,
his wife bidding him an affecti0nate farewell,
and he returned to find his home desolated and
his altar shattered.
His wife had fled, taking her children with
ner. What then was the state of the prisoners
mind? His hopes were broken, his life rem
dered desolate. and darkness and ruin encom-
passed him; There was nothing in McFarlands
est function of woman is to console the man
she loves ia the hour of his misfortunes. She
deserted her husband when he most needed
her ministratiOns. At this time Mr.. McFar-
land was accustomed to 60 into the Tribune
friend; and one day while there he was hand
ed letter. 1t was in the handwriting of
Richardson, addressed to Mrs. McF arland, and
Mcfarland, as he was justified in doing, open
ed the letter.
In this letter Richardson ridicules Puritan
scruples, and tells this woman that he, often
in the night, thought of her and longed to
clasp his darling in his arms. Was not this
enough to make any husband with the heart of
. man in his bosom mad?
The counsel had wife whom be loved and
whom he believed as pure as the angel that
ministers at the throne, and if he found such o
letter from any man to her, he would meet that
man and shoot him dead. Applause.
Soon after Richardson went to live at Saml
Sinclair's. She follows him, and they occupy
apartments adjoining, and every morning finds
them hugging and kissing one another.
Meanwhile Mcfarland goes to his wife's last
boarding-house. He breaks open her trunk,
and out tumbles the portrait OF Richardson,
and several letters from him. What then was
his condition of mind and what was he to do?
She first takes proceedings to get his children,
and they defeat him. He sues out a writ Of
hdbeas corpus, and Richardson fights it. His
money fights it, and poor Mcfarland loses
$4,000 in his struggle, and gets into debt. Then
his mind gives way. He goes about restlessly.
pouring the story of his grief into every ear.
All the time Richardson was going about with
his mistress, forgetting that the wages of sin is
death. A gentleman met him one day and al
luded to the matter, and Richardson said, !"
can't help it; this is luscious woman, and I
intend to marry her If can procure divorce"
When this was told to Mcfarland, he bowed
his head and wept like child.
The next step taken was to obtain one of
those infamous Indiana divorces, which were
not only q libel on the law but terrible wrong
TO the individual. III
Mcfarland is told that divorce has been
procured and that Richardson is about to mar
~ his wife. This was the last drop in the cup
OF his unfortunate clients sorrow. They now
come down to the week preceding the homl-
eide, and during all that time the defendant
was without reason, bro0dlng, despondent and
heart broken, with wild and dreary longing
for his home, his children, and his lost happi-
ness oppressed him and his excitement was
terrible. The load of his misery was too great
to bear. There was nothing to parallel the de-
liberate cruelty of Richardson's conduct. The
unhappy Mcfarland cannot sleep. The i'm
n mi in f1,a hart 80