The New York herald., 1870-04-02
TEE SLEEPY HOLLOW TRAGEDY
Trial Of Isaac v. w. Buckhout ror Murder-How
the Prisoner Appeared in Court-Argu-
ments OF Counsel-The Case
Given to tho Jury.

Although yesterday was the eighth day when has
been occupied BY the trial OF Isaac Van Wart Buck
hout, In the Court OF Oyer and Terminer, az White
Plains, weschester county. the interest manifested
by the community since Its commencement was IN
no sense abated As u was generally under
stood thas counsel on both siaes would
give their case TO tho jury, the court
room ana gallery were packed to m
uncomfortable degree. fully one-na!f OF those pre-
sent being ladies'. The prisoner presented haggard
and care-worn appearance, evincnR that tho
fearful anxiety occasoned by tho ordeal
OF the past week had materially affected
his mental organization. He preserved how
ever the same Indifferent mien which has
characterized his demeanor throughous the trial,
except that when counsel for the defence, In sum-
ming up, alluded TO his asking for his mother on the
day OF the tragedy, while gtie had been dead two
years, Buckhouts eyes were suYused with tears.
MEDICAL TESTIMONY f0R THE PEOPLE.
While several eminent medical experts on the sub
ject OF insanity had been attendance for several
seaera Surprise @ at nat none Of them were placed upon
the stand. Tnis, 1t may be stated, has been ex.
planned by COUNSEL for the people, who assert that the
lneuica witnesses called by tue defence fully demon
stated, within the rules OF law the sanity OF tie
accused. thereby removing the onus oil proof from
me prosecution Trey however ELECTED the follow
DR.. Joshua b. Fowler, being sworn. testifed-r
esxe @ ane IN
his boynood; attended hun professionally twenty
years ago; last saw Tim in tue early part OF Deceni
stayed about half an hour; on that occa.
sion he asked me remembered hs
tnaE his health had always been good since. 1he
opinion OF the witness as to BucKhouts condition
OF MIND when ne last saw him was ruled oat by the
Court.
Dr. y. Fl. schmid, being sworn, testined--T have
been a practising physician for the past twelve
years; nave been jail physician at Wnte Plans
FOR four years; have had experience III cases
CT insanity; Buckhout tie jail Oh the THURS
cal disease as he Declined to no answer
any questions Administered ether as an eX-
pertinent generally found successful In cases of
felyned insanity; whlc recovering from the effects
OF the ether he became communicative Gud
appeared perfectly rational: an attempt was
repeat Buckhout's confession: but Judge Cochran
promptly ruled 1t out and stated that The inqusl-
unworthy OF this enlightened age. The prosecution
TnE CASE GIVEN TO THE JURY.
Crenville T. jerks addressed the Jury IN behalf of
the accused, dwelling particularly on the circum.
stance tnat the prosecution had failed TO show any
in committing the crime. lie then traced traced
the actions and expressions o. the ac-
cused from their commencement niue years
ago, down TO the day OF the tragedy, and
argued that those acts and expressions, as testified
TO Ia tho evidence. were positive proofs OF mental
cused In ell the eecentrices or his department. As
set forth IN the testimony ana labored with his well
| KNOWN uTXuucuitUSe elOQueuCe 70 convince the
jury that the accused was actuated by motive In
! Strengthening his best friends The address OF Mr..
jerks was Ingenious, f0rctbo and elaborate, and
occupied about three hours ia Its delivery.
henry l.. Clinton summed up for the prosecution
and IN logical, convincing argument, endeavOred
to sweep away the gossamer web whion the defence
had thrown over the acts and conversations OF the
prisoner. He dwelt orciDly on the admission OF Dr,
| the jury tnat when he lDr Blown testified tna,
ing knew rgnt frcm wrong, the death knell OF The
| defence was sounded. 1his was all the prosecution
wanted to prove. Counsel then reviewed the testl.
m01y, showing that Bucxh0ut had been q heartless
libertine, and 10 crown MS iDfamy no accused his
wife or inHdeiftv. According to bis own
statement he loved the woman whom he
mad ruined, better than his own wife, and be was
determined TO cut loose from the marriage tie. Was
tins, he asked, fnsanityf TIis was motive sufli.
clent for his awful crime. Step by step and Incl
dent by incident the counsel laid bare the career
OF the prisoner, showing that he man OF su III
cientiy depfaycd heart aud daring disposition to
perpetrate the slaughter pemedltatedly- and then
simulate insanity. Dir. CilntOns argument was
logical, exhaustive and overwhelming,
Justice faprcn, IN his charge to the fury pointed
our tine connicting portions OF the testimony and
explained the law by which they should be governed
Hts remarks on the testimony were decidedly
unfayorab.e TO the theory OF insanity ON
tho part OF the prisoner, which prompted
counsel for the defence to have the Court charge the
jury anew on intricate points OF law. which they
considered bore directly on the The Jury then
retired TO deliberate and had not returned With o
verdict az a late h0ur last night.